Designs For The Future

Dunlop Tyres has linked up with the London College of Fashion, challenging students to design a ‘ready to wear’ collection inspired by motorsport. The winning designs were unveiled at Birmingham’s Air nightclub on 11 January during an exclusive Dunlop brand event hosted by Radio 1’s Sara Cox, which also kick-started Dunlop’s presence at the annual Autosport Show.

Design and materials for the students’ collections are based around Dunlop’s key brand ingredients of high performance, the motorsport environment, ‘Great & British’ themes and the company’s distinctive yellow, black and white colour palette.

Students revealed their ideas to the Dunlop creative team on 9 December and 57 designs were chosen to hit the catwalk in Birmingham. Four designs were chosen plus one overall winner.

The students’ work was judged by London College of Fashion lecturers and the Dunlop Tyres creative team. Each of the winners received £1000 and selected items will form part of Dunlop’s future merchandising collection.

Geraldine McGovern of Dunlop said: “Dunlop’s merchandising collection has been given a new look for 2006 that combines the experience of the quintessential British motorsport brand with an innovative design outlook. This project gave students the chance to see their work become part of the new Dunlop collection and gives us the opportunity to dip into the creative pool of some of the UK’s freshest design talent.”