The votes have been cast and Melissa Gormley has been named at the Young Designer of the Year 2016
Derry/Londonderry fashion designer, the incredibly talented Melissa Gormley, has won the 2016 Young Designer of the Year title.
A delighted Melissa was announced at the competition winner on stage at the live final which took place at Wedding Journal Show, Belfast this weekend.
Launched by Ireland’s Wedding Journal magazine in May, the annual Young Designer of the Year competition invited creative young designers across Ireland to design a wedding dress. From over 80 mood board entries, ten shortlisted dress designs went on to compete for a place in the final. Who made it into the final was the decision of the public who voted for their favourite dress designs online. Over 4,650 votes were cast, nominating Ellise Richards, Katleen Amazonas, Melissa Gormley, Roseanne Mc Namee and Zoe Murphy as the five finalists. They had only six weeks to make their dresses, which were then showcased by professional models on the International Fashion Catwalk at the Wedding Journal Shows in Dublin, Cork and Belfast.
A celebrity voting panel featuring international bridal designers Ian Stuart, Charlotte Balbier, and Amanda Wyatt chose Melissa’s gown as the winning dress. This is what Ian Stuart had to say about Melissa’s design:
“I think Melissa demonstrates a natural flair for proportion, silhouette and elegant detailing. Her design is both classic and contemporary. The creative use of feathers makes the design more fashion forward that commercial bridal looks, but mixed with a simple silhouette, allows the modern bride to make a stylish statement without going overboard.”
Multi-award winning designer Charlotte Balbier said:
Melissa’s design stood out to me for many reasons. I loved the style and fabrics used on Melissa’s design, the combination of the chiffon, lace and marabou worked really well. The gown is fashion forward, fun but also stylish and sophisticated, a delicious combination of all the right factors. The attention to detail really caught my eye too; the sleeves and little pearl details won me over. Congratulations Melissa your gown is fabulous!”
Those flattering comments were read out on stage by goQradio presenters Stephen Clements and Kathryn Wilson, after Melissa Gormley was announced as the Young Designer of the Year 2016.
A delighted Melissa said,
“I’m surprised, shocked and obviously really pleased. I actually can’t believe it!
When I found out I won my legs started shaking – it was overwhelming.
I love what I do. This award gives me the confidence to try and dive more into the bridal industry. I’m incredibly grateful to all of the people who voted for me online, and it’s surreal to think of the international bridal designer judges who have seen my dress and voted for my design.”
“We would like to congratulate Melissa, and thank all of the finalists for the hard work they put in to make their dresses on time for the Wedding Journal Shows in January,” says Wedding Journal magazine editor Tara Craig.
“The competition to design a wedding dress was launched to give students and young designers across Ireland a high profile platform from which to showcase their talents and we had a fantastic response this year. Each year we are amazed by the high standard of entries and this year was the same.”
The Wedding Journal Show
Launched 19 years ago, The Wedding Journal Show is Ireland’s leading bridal exhibition. With a proven track-record of success the show is the ultimate must-stop wedding destination for any couple planning the perfect wedding day.
Attracting over 40,000 visitors annually, the show is expanding in 2016 with the addition of a new date in Cork. Centrally located, the 2016 shows will be held in the exciting new Titanic Exhibition Centre in Belfast, Citywest Convention Centre in Dublin, and the Clayton Hotel Silversprings Convention Centre in Cork.
Over 300 of Ireland’s and Northern Ireland’s top wedding suppliers and businesses exhibit at each event providing visitors with a one-stop-wedding-shop. Wedding dresses, cakes, stationery, venues, cars, venue styling – you can find it all at The Wedding Journal Show.
The very latest wedding dresses, bridesmaids’ dresses, occasion wear, grooms wear, and Young Designer of the Year dresses are showcased on the acclaimed International Bridal Catwalk.
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