The Costume Society’s Patterns of Fashion and Patterns for Performance Award 2023 Winners announced

The Costume Society’s Patterns of Fashion and Patterns for Performance Award 2023 winners announced on the 15th July 2023 at our awards day at the Art Worker's Guild.

The Patterns of Fashion winner and finalists are:

Winner: Beth Lacy, Arts University Bournemouth, 1610-15 embroidered jacket worn by Margaret Layton.

Joint Runner Up: Leonora Almeida, Wimbledon College of Arts (UAL), 1827 silk wedding dress.

Joint Runner Up: Remi Lever, Arts University Bournemouth, 1670 Ivory taffeta bodice.

Joint Runner Up: Tara Seyhun Park, Wimbledon College of Arts (UAL), 1898 Afternoon dress.

The Patterns for Performance winner and finalists are:

Winner: Clara Tenfelde, Wimbledon College of Arts (UAL), 1660s gown for Helena in The Rover by Aphra Benn.

Joint Runner Up: Emily Pieters, Wimbledon College of Arts (UAL), 1906 bolero & skirt for Sharp-ears in Cunning Little Vixen by Leoš Janáček.

Joint Runner Up: Sofia Escobar Saldarriaga, Wimbledon College of Arts (UAL), 1670s gown for Helena in The Rover by Aphra Benn.

Highly commended: Bethan Gudgin, Nottingham Trent University, 1720s man's suit for Constant in The Provoked Wife by John Vanburgh.

This year, the standard of entries was so high that four finalists were chosen for each award, rather than the normal three; with the successful students studying at the Arts University Bournemouth, Nottingham Trent University and Wimbledon College of Arts (UAL).

The Patterns of Fashion Award honours the work of the dress historian Janet Arnold (1932-1998), a founder member of the Society and Patterns for Performance awards encourages students to design a period garment for a character in a performance. Both Awards are an important part of the Costume Society’s output that promotes the high standard of craft and artistry that they produce.

The Awards were presented as part of the society’s Annual General Meeting at the Art Worker’s Guild in London on Saturday 15th July 2023

The finalists were judged by Hollywood costume designer Michele Clapton, know for her work on Game of Thrones, The Crown, The Nevers and The Peripheral. Michele is a huge supporter of the awards, taking particular pleasure in encouraging the next generation of costume creators. She is always excited by the quality of work produced by the students and has in the past taken on winners in her work room. Michele judged the designs alongside her costume design colleague Alex Fordham who also judged out 2022 awards. 

“The Patterns of Fashion and Patterns for Performance Awards are just one of the ways the Costume Society engages new generations with the wonders of fashion history ensuring the skills and techniques of the past remain relevant for the future. Every year we are blown away with the quality of entries and are delighted to present these Awards to those students demonstrating the highest of standards in craft and creativity.” said the Costume Society’s Vice Chair, Professor Natascha Radclyffe-Thomas.

For more information about both awards including past winners, please see: The Patterns of Fashion Award and The Patterns for Performance Awards.