Winner of this year’s Nokia Young Fashion Designer Award went to Michelle Wilson from Limerick School of Art and Design. Entitled “Iconic reflections”, Michelle created a dress with an urban silhouette on fabric that reflects like chainmail.

Here’s the official description:

Michelle’s design consisted of asymmetric layers of fluid, elegantly draped shimmering fabric, which hung from architecturally built-up shoulders. 800 fire opal Swarovski crystals clustered on kingfisher blue chiffon adorned left side of the garment. The asymmetrical layering of the kingfisher blue and the shimmering black provided beautiful, tonal changes and flashes of colour within the garment, which came to life on the prism inspired catwalk.

What do you guys think? How do these designs measure up in terms of style and wearability? Would you ever buy/invest in an upcoming designer’s collection?

As a result Michelle wins€5,000, a Nokia Prism handset and media opportunities for the year. Congrats to Michelle!

FF was there to cover it all. Check out some of the finalists below including designs by winner of the UCD Young Fashion Designer Award Laura Faughnan and by Simone, daughter of John Rocha. This year the design students were asked to submit mood boards inspired by Nokia’s latest fashion handset: The Nokia prism.

Scroll down to see the designers interpretation of this.

All photos: Sarah McIntyre

Simone Rocha

National College of Art and Design

Entitled:“Blackout”, the shine of sequins and shimmer of silver inspired by 1950s cut crystal.

Louise Devereux

Limerick School of Art and Design

Entitled:“Zip It Up”, rebellious 1950’s motorcycle pin ups combine with hard-edged 1980’s leather wear.