Isobel is top of the tops in the fashion world
(From The Orcadian dated June 21, 2001)

Isobel Mowat (centre) with two models showing off her outfits which helped her become Scotland's New Fashion Designer of the Year. (Picture: Scotsman Publications)

An Orcadian fashion lecturer is set to follow in the footsteps of celebrity designer Stella McCartney after winning a prestigious national title.

Isobel Mowat reached the top of the Scottish fashion world after clinching the sought-after title of New Fashion Designer of the Year.

The 38-year-old who comes from Longhope, but now lives in Edinburgh, emerged the winner after competing against eight other leading designers who have been in business for less than two years. She was voted the winner on Thursday after two days of intensive competition in Glasgow.

"I was absolutely gobsmacked," she told The Orcadian. "I was convinced that I hadn't won it, because there had been bits of snags in the build-up to the catwalk show. The competition was judged on two special outfits which were displayed on the catwalk, and eight other outfits in a portfolio. I definitely will have to take up designing full time shortly, but for the next wee while I'll carry on teaching, because I need my salary to support building up the business.

"It was such an expense to put together the items for the Designer of the Year Awards, and I found it hard to get the money for it, but having won this award, I will hopefully get sponsorship from various Scottish companies whose yarn I use in my knitwear garments and things like that. I will target them for sponsorship."

The £11,500 prize-money from the competition will also help Isobel, and part of the prize is also to receive free business advice from one of the judges, Liz Merton of the Glasgow Apparel Group, who is helping to develop the textile industry.

Isobel explained that there were a number of buyers from shops and manufacturing companies in Scotland and the north of England in attendance at last week's Intervention Fashion Awards, sponsored by Railtrack Scotland and The Scotsman newspaper.

She noted that another of the judges was the womenswear buyer for the Cruise chain of designer-label stores, which stock international brand names like Gucci and Prada. Another judge was a cashmere producer and another a fashion writer.

Isobel said that the next major step for her would be London Fashion Week in September. She intends to visit buyers in advance of the event, with a view to producing a collection of garments for show next February, when that year's autumn/winter collections are launched.

Isobel Mowat's background in fashion is well-established, having taken an MA at St Martin's College in London following her initial degree from Dundee School of Art.

Top British designer, Alexander McQueen, was on the same course as her at St Martin's College, and between 1997 and 1999 Isobel worked for him. She was also in charge of designing the couture knitwear collection for the French fashion house, Givenchy, for a time, and has worked with Hussein Chalayan, who was voted British Designer of the Year in 1997 and 1999.

For last week's Scottish competition, Isobel produced ten outfits in different fabrics and innovative textiles, which were mainly tops. She used a variety of textures as well, including net and transparent material.

Her brother, John, who farms in Brims, Longhope, and his daughter, Johan, were in Glasgow to witness Isobel's success.

He told The Orcadian: "We weren't sure how it would go at the catwalk show, until we saw Isobel's outfits, and quite frankly, they were pretty much in a league of their own. It was tremendous when she won, and the phone has never stopped since. It has been pandemonium actually. She is so much in demand, from folk who want her to work for them. I think the next thing will be for her to get her own website, so that she can show off her designs to a wider audience, and let more folk know about her work."