David Nieper fashion design scholarship promotes British design and manufacture to Nottingham Trent University students and provides vital financial support

British fashion designer David Nieper has launched its first ever scholarship programme, offering a Nottingham Trent University Fashion Design student the opportunity to focus on fashion that’s ‘Made in Britain’.

Ten students from the university have been shortlisted for the scholarship, following intense competition to design garments with ‘British Flair’ for stylish 40+ women. Just one winner, will be selected to receive the David Nieper award, which includes a trophy and a £3,000 scholarship to help support their final year of study.

The scholarship is a collaboration between Derbyshire fashion house David Nieper and Nottingham Trent University. David Nieper has been at the forefront of British fashion design and craftsmanship for more than 50 years, and is keen to inspire the next generation of fashion designers in the textile and clothing heartlands of the East Midlands.

David Nieper, which employs 230 people in Alfreton, Derbyshire, is one of only a small number of fashion companies to ‘Make in Britain’.  The aim of the scholarship is to provide the students with real-life industry experience to help them secure employment once they graduate and show just how viable design and manufacture is in the UK.

Sean Prince, lecturer in Fashion Knitwear & Textile Design from Nottingham Trent University, says: “The support of David Nieper is extremely valuable to our students as they approach their all-important final year. The £3,000 award will make a huge difference to the chosen student who in addition, will have the opportunity to benefit from the real-life practical and commercial experience of working with such a successful and well-established British fashion company. It will complement their academic studies and enhance their employability in the extremely competitive fashion industry.”

In the first round, 78 students were challenged to design garments for women aged 40+, an often-overlooked market. Students were asked to take the concept of Britishness and ‘Cool Britannia’ as the inspiration for their designs, and to investigate how their garments could be made in the UK.

David Nieper Managing Director, Christopher Nieper, says: “We launched this scholarship to encourage young British talent, help with university costs and provide the students with behind the scenes experience.  The future of British fashion is in their hands so it is very important to showcase the importance and quality of local manufacturing to both the fashion industry and British jobs.

“Made in Britain has always been key to our success, and as we design for professional 40+ women, we chose this ‘British inspired’ challenge to get the students thinking about designing and making well-made, high quality clothes for this discerning customer base.”

The student chosen to receive the scholarship will be announced later this year.  To help David Nieper reach its final decision, each student will be asked to outline their plans for their final year, highlight their career aspirations and explain how the scholarship would help them to achieve their goals. In addition to the £3,000 scholarship, the winning student will also receive a trophy that has been specially designed by Nick Pankhurst, Fine Arts masters graduate from The Royal College of Art, London.

Shortlisted students (left to right) : Jelena Fursman, Melahat Uskuri, Natasha Gilliland, Lucy Goffin, Amiee Dunn,
Leah Bertram, Nga Mok Mok (Kitty), Lisha Fantus, Emily Bull. Missing from photo: Chanel Folkes

For more information on David Nieper, visit www.davidnieper.co.uk