Imaginative variations on the theme *The Pure Thrill of Living* were the focus of attention at the 9th Smirnoff Young Designer Awards which took place in Trinity College, Dublin recently. Twenty finalists from fashion colleges throughout the country competed for the prestigious title, a cheque for #1,250 and the opportunity to represent Ireland at the Smirnoff International Fashion Awards in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil next October.
Philip Treacy, a former NCAD graduate who has been described as the *Rembrandt of millinery*, attended the show as special guest judge. A capsule collection of his exuberant creations which have attracted the attention of leading designers including Rifat Ozbek, Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel, Marc Bohan at Hartnell and British Couturier Victor Edelstein, were shown during the show.

Philip was joined on the judging panel by Liz O'Donnell TD, Mary McLaughlin (Head to Toe Senior Researcher), Robert O'Byrne (Irish Times journalist) Kip Carroll (Fashion Photographer), Paula Hughes (last year's winner) and singer Gavin Friday.

Smirnoff invited the students to create an aura of thrill, excitement and adventure through the concept of purity, using pure natural fabrics and clear colour to express the celebration and joy of the *pure thrill of living*.

The judges initially selected twenty finalists from over 60 entries:two from National College of Art ... Design, two from the Grafton Academy, two from the Barbara Bourke College and 14 from the Limerick School of Art ... Design. Each student received a financial contribution to produce their three garment collections.

The judges awarded the Smirnoff Young Designer Award '93 to Wendy Hoey, a student at the National College of Art ... Design in Dublin for her collection *Ecdysis*. Wendy received a cheque for #1,250 and next October she will join students from all five continents when she represents Ireland at the final of The Smirnoff International Fashion Awards in Rio de Janerio, Brazil. The overall winner of this leading international fashion event will receive a grant of US$10,000 to continue his or her training, or to assist with a business initiative.
*Wendy Hoey from the National College of Art ... Design winner of the Smirnoff Young Designer Award '93 with models Paula Callan and Amanda Byram.

Nicole Clancy from the Limerick School of Art ... Design came second with her imaginative collection *Zaboo*. Marc O'Neill from the National College of Art ... Design secured two out of the three places for the college by coming third with his collection *Those Opulent Darlings*. The judges were highly impressed with the overall standard and made a special commendation to Elaine McLoughlin from the Limerick School of Art ... Design for her collection *Anemone*.

The Irish Smirnoff Young Designer Awards have earned the reputation of being one of the biggest and most innovative fashion presentations in the country. Organised entirely by students with the support of Smirnoff, the combination of imaginative staging, the very best of young Irish design talent and the enthusiastic non-professional models, reflect the extroversion and freedom of expression that has become synonymous with the show.