Gareth Godfrey-Williams wins Hainsworth-MMU design competition

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Jul 30, 2024

The challenge set by Hainsworth earlier this year was for students from Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) to design a garment representing transeasonal fashion.

And now the heritage textile producer and woollen mill owner has announced the competition’s winner, with Gareth Godfrey-Williams chosen “as the worthy winner” of the £500 prize.

He designed a field jacket made from wool shell, featuring a taped nylon hood, back vent, lightweight linen lining, 14 pockets, and adjustable cuffs and sides. 

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Also selected as runner-up was Vivien Li with a raincoat that could fold down into a bag, winning £200.

The 23/24 ‘Live Brief’ competition centred around the slow fashion movement, encouraging third-year Fashion Design students to craft an item of clothing that focused on timeless designs that can be worn across the seasons. 

Students, of course, used Hainsworth’s wool fabrics for their designs.

The company said the idea behind the slow fashion movement is to “reject excessive consumerism and mass-produced clothing in favour of ethical clothing production and consumption, focusing on high-quality designs made to last”.

Ivana Noon, Business Development Manager, added: "Gareth’s final garment, made from [our] Military Lightweight Cavalry Twill, was truly remarkable. We were in awe of the unique construction of his garment, which was inspired by the machinery that Gareth took photos of when he and his fellow students visited the mill earlier this year. His attention to detail was second to none.”