TikTokLast September, we announced the launch of our very own #TikTokFashion design competition. We asked our community to create either an upcycled piece or a brand new, original design, document the creative process from start to finish, and submit their finished video on TikTok. With no previous experience required, the hunt was on to find the next creative to take the fashion industry by storm.
Our judges then had the hard job whittling down the thousands of entries to one final design. They were overseen in this by an amazing panel of creators and industry experts including Andrea Cheong (@andreacheong_), Bernard Garby (@bernardgarby) Verona Farrell, (@secondhandhuns) and Charlotte Collins, Editor-in-Chief of @sheerluxe.
One entry caught the judges' eyes, blending a unique approach upcycling with high fashion . . . So, without further ado, we are thrilled to announce Eva Clarkson as the winner of our 2024 #TikTokFashion design competition!
Eva's winning entry was showcased at an exclusive TikTok fashion event on Thursday, 15 February at a central London location, and who better to model it than TikTok icon Sabrina Bahsoon, aka Tube Girl!
If that wasn't enough, Eva's winning design and the garments from her wider collection have been produced professionally, and she'll be represented by SheerLuxe's brand new fashion talent agency Blush Talent Management for 6 months. She'll also receive funding towards creating a brand film to help build her portfolio
About Eva
Originally from Bicester, Oxfordshire, Eva studied Bespoke Tailoring at the London College of Fashion for three years. She was inspired to follow a path in fashion by her nan (who had a career as a seamstress) and after graduating, she secured an internship with British retailer Hobbs. Keen to continue learning, Eva returned to university to study for a Postgraduate Diploma in Fashion at Central Saint Martin's. Studying there motivated Eva to create her own brand and inspired her to try new approaches with tailoring and explore unconventional materiality.
It was this combination of unique tailoring and material reinvention in her submission that caught the eye of the judging panel. Working with an old saddle, Eva upcycled a piece of riding equipment into a bespoke corset. Retaining part of the original structure and detail, Eva's design reinvents old materials and has transformed the saddle into a wearable fashion item fit for the fashion front row.
Eva said:
"I believe TikTok is an amazing platform to support emerging designers and creatives, because you can come from a trained or untrained background. You can also showcase your work with like-minded creatives, who are all very supportive and intrigued by the end result, but most importantly, the process".
TikTok has paved the way for social media and creativity to come together through hashtags such as #TikTokFashion, #LondonFashionWeek, #NewYorkFashionWeek and #ParisFashionWeek which I know, from personal experience, is how I look for motivation and inspiration."
Yazmin How, Head of Lifestyle & Education, TikTok UK said:
"The TikTok creator community continues to amaze us with its creativity, and we were overwhelmed by the quality of the designs submitted to the UK's first TikTok Fashion design competition.
Eva's eye for detail and passion for pushing boundaries with tailoring really impressed our judging panel, so it was only right that she has been crowned the winner.
There's an new generation of creative talent flourishing on TikTok, and we're proud to help connect them with opportunities to turn their passions into careers. We're so excited to watch Eva's next steps as she starts to build her creative portfolio."
Imagery credit: Designer: Eva Clarkson / Photographer: Anett Posalaki (TikTok: @anett_posalaki / Model:Sabrina Bahsoon .
New to TikTok and want to explore #TikTokFashion? Getting involved couldn't be easier, simply download the app for free via the Apple App Store, Google Play or Amazon.
