An Edinburgh based fashion designer has been revealed as the winner of the 2010 Jolomo Arts & Crafts PSYBT Award.
Bespoke womenswear designer, Judith R Clark (26), was presented with a £3,000 cash prize by renowned Scottish contemporary artist, John Lowrie Morrison [Jolomo] at the awards, which are organised by The Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT).
The Jolomo PSYBT Awards were launched in March 2008 with the help of a £10,000 donation from Jolomo to inspire more young people with arts and crafts backgrounds living in North West Scotland and the Highlands and Islands to set up their own businesses. This year the awards and the prize money were extended to include eligible arts and crafts businesses throughout the whole of Scotland.
Judy Clark completed her internship with fashion designer Alexander McQueen in London in 2006 and she now runs her own successful fashion studio in Haymarket in Edinburgh, thanks to funding and advice from PSYBT. Her bespoke designs, which have been showcased in the UK, New York and Tokyo, are made using Scottish wools and Harris Tweed, which is sent from the Hebrides by her great-uncle Donald Smith who produces hand woven cloth on his loom in Shawbost.
As well as being inspired by her Scottish heritage, Judy’s travels also influence her designs and choice of fabrics, which include exclusive Nepali hand carved buttons, hand-dyed silks, vintage lace and other trinkets collected from foreign shores. Judy was nominated designer of the year at the Scottish Style Awards.
The designer is off to New York in April to attend Dressed to Kilt where she has been offered her own prestigious slot on the catwalk. Judy will be attending with her colleague Alison Macleod of Tiger Textiles to address the American market place.
Judy said: "I was thrilled to win this prominent award and was delighted to meet ‘Jolomo’. I am very proud to have received it and be given such great feedback about my work."
