Antrim student is announced as a finalist in national fashion design competition – Wedding Journal’s Young Designer of the Year 2016

Voting has closed in the Wedding Journal’s Young Designer of the Year 2016 national fashion design competition and Antrim student Ellise Richards has been announced as a finalist

Launched by Ireland’s Wedding Journal magazine in May, the annual Young Designer of the Year competition invited creative individuals, young designers and fashion students across Ireland to design a wedding dress.

From over 80 mood board entries, ten shortlisted wedding dress designs went on to compete for a place in the final, with finalists dresses being showcased on the catwalk at The Wedding Journal Show in Dublin, Belfast and Cork in January.

Who made it into the final was the decision of the public who voted for their favourite dress designs online at WeddingJournalOnline.com.

Over 4,640 votes were cast and the finalists have been revealed as: Ellise Richards from Antrim; Katleen Amazonas who lives in Dublin and is originally from Brazil; Melissa Gormley from Derry/Londonderry; Galway student Roseanne Mc Namee, and Cork finalist Zoe Murphy.

Antrim finalist Ellise Richards attends Belfast Metropolitan College. “As the Italian name ‘Bella Bianca Rosa’ suggests, the main inspiration for my dress is the beauty and elegance of a simple rose,” says Ellise.

“The dress will be made from white satin suggesting the softness of white rose petals, and it will have a long white chiffon train. I will sew ribbon and beadwork onto the shoulders, waist and train end. The ribbon work will consist of white silk ribbon twisted to make rose buds, and spider web rose embroidery.

“The shape, length and recurring use of white give the dress a simplistic elegance and the plunging neckline allows the dress to be a little more modern and daring, without taking away from its gracefulness.

“From a very young age I have always been creative and passionate about fashion and design. I can’t explain how thrilled I am to have made it through to the final five. Studying fashion and design at Belfast Metropolitan College has opened up many amazing opportunities, this by far being the best and most exciting. I am eager to see my finished creation at the Wedding Journal live shows and hope it’s an indication of things to come.”

What happens next?

The finalists now have six weeks to make their wedding dresses, which will be exhibited on the bridal catwalk at The Wedding Journal Show in Dublin (9th and 10th January), Cork (16th and 17th January) and Belfast (29th to 31st January).

A celebrity panel of fashion judges will chose the one winning dress and its designer will be named as Wedding Journal’s Young Designer of the Year 2016 at The Wedding Journal Show, Belfast on Saturday 30^th January.

Celebrity voting panel

The celebrity voting panel features international wedding dress designer Ian Stuart; leading British bridal wear designers – mother and daughter duo Amanda Wyatt and Charlotte Balbier and Louise Kennedy,  one of Ireland’s most successful fashion designers. The fifth judge is a Wedding Journal representative.

“The celebrity judging panel adds an exciting new dynamic to the competition,” says Wedding Journal editor Tara Craig. “It’s great to have the support of these internationally recognised wedding dress designers whose input into the judging process will be invaluable.

“From the 10 shortlisted designs, the public have chosen the five dresses that they would like to see on the catwalk at the Wedding Journal Show. It’s now up to each of the students to turn their design from a mood board, into a masterpiece, and I look forward to seeing the results at the show.”

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.