Po-Chieh Chiu wins Swarovski Catwalk Competion
Up and coming Taiwanese designer and winner of the Swarovski International Catwalk Competition at 2017’s Graduate Fashion Week, Po- Chieh Chiu, has won a prize that will jump start his career. Po-Chieh Chiu is a graduate of Shih Chien University and former intern at Jason Wu Po-Chieh Chiu, receives a £1,000 prize as well as the chance to show his collection at Fashion Scout over London Fashion Week in September.
Muted, tonal tailoring was taken to new levels through tempered knitwear. Rough edges, oversized collars and shapely shoulders were topped with bespoke headpieces. Po-Chieh Chiu’s collection stood out amongst the thirty-two participants that were invited to compete for the award from all over the world. Participants included designers from The New School Parsons in New York, Donghua University China, Bunka in Japan, Accademia Costume & Moda Rome, and of course universities across the United Kingdom.
“Over the past few years it has been fun watching this international element of GFW grow. As International Trustee I have really enjoyed bringing different institutions together under one platform. Today we have over thirty top institutes from all over the world showing in London, in a contemporary world where collaboration has replaced hard competitiveness, united in sharing all our successes and celebrate our differences. The culture of fashion has many different aspects in different parts of the world and each country enjoys expressing their own identity.”– Adrien Yakimov Roberts, International Trustee at Graduate Fashion Week.
The judging panel (including Michelle Duguid, Senior Fashion Editor, Elle UK; Myriam Coudoux, Head of Communications at Swarovski and Jane Rapley, Head of School at Central Saint Martins), said collectively: “The collection was considered and mature. The panel felt it was relevant to the times and make of the highest craftsmanship.”