Canadian designer Thomas Tait has won this year’s Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize. The Montreal native’s all-black sculptural collection beat off stiff competition from knitwear pioneer Louise Goldin, shoe designer Chau Har Lee, Central Saint Martin’s graduate Hermione de Paula and recent London Fashion Week favourite Mary Katrantzou to scoop the prize at the event’s final held at London’s Dorchester Hotel last night.
Tait was announced the first ever winner of the competition after all five shortlisted designers showed key pieces from their latest collections to an audience of industry insiders and press. A judging panel, which included Manolo Blahnik, Yasmin Le Bon, Daphne Guinness, Stephen Jones and Giles Deacon, then voted for their winner.
Yasmin Le Bon said: “I know it sounds like a cliché, but all five shortlisted designers are winners. Having said that, Thomas is making really beautiful clothes and could really do with the exposure that winning this award will bring him.”
Manolo Blahnik added: “It’s paramount that these types of awards exist because it’s the only way young designers can start a business with any creative freedom. Thomas is brilliant, his work is perfection. I love the boy, he is a real talent.”
Not only is Tait crowned this year’s Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize victor, but he also scoops £25,000 in prize money, as well as a show slot at a Dorchester hotel of his choice.
Tait said of his win: “I didn’t expect to win, but if feels great, if a little surreal. The judges pointed out that it was my attention to craftsmanship that swung the vote my way and that means a lot to me. It’s so important for upcoming designers to have this sort of support. Around 4,000 fashion design students graduate each year, so competition for jobs is fierce. Awards like this give you a platform to work on, with well respected industry insiders believing in your work. I’m really honoured.”
And has he given it any thought on where he would like to host his Dorchester hotel fashion event? “Going to one of the Dorchester Collection hotels in New York would be cool, as I have friends there and it’s quite close to home in Montreal,” he said. “But there’s something about LA that’s kind of sexy, so maybe I’ll have a wild time in LA.”
Congratulations Thomas!
Picture: Thomas Tait and Yasmin Le Bon at the grand final of the Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize.
