News / Rhea’s winning design
SHETLAND College first year contemporary textiles student Rhea Kay has won the prestigious Bradford Textile Society award for one of her designs.
The young designer was the first student from Shetland College UHI to ever win a first prize at the design competition, although several students had previously received recognition at the Bradford Textile Society.
Meanwhile students Joyce Leask won third prize in the Clothworkers Foundation Award and Dorothy Fraser received a noted commendation in the same category.
Rhea Kay’s winning entry of three hand-machine knitted fabrics took inspiration from the ‘grunge’ aesthetic.
She experimented with different threads and embroidery techniques to distort patterns and used both V-Bed and domestic knitting machines for her project.
Fitting with the ‘grunge’ theme she took inspiration from rust tones, which came through in her finished pieces.
She said she was “absolutely delighted” to have won the competition and added that it was important to “focus on your inspiration and see how far you could take it”.
If suitable sponsorship can be found, she is hoping to attend the ceremony in person to collect her first prize.
College lecturer Faye Hackers said the college was “fortunate” to have a very strong group of students across all four years of the contemporary textiles degree, who are dedicated to their creative development and professional practice.
While the second and third year students are required to enter the Bradford competition as part of their course, the first year students volunteered to take on the extra commitment required to take part.
“The work produced here year round is absolutely excellent. As a new lecturer at the college I have had nothing but the highest expectations for our university students – it is fabulous to see this recognised nationwide in something so esteemed as the Bradford Design Competition.
“I can see big things coming for our winning students within the textiles industry in Shetland…or wherever they choose to take their careers,” she said.
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