Another designer competition?

The future designers to be have just increased heir chances of hitting the market. Mywardrobe.com, online fashion boutique, has launched the Design Incubator Project, a competition to find the next big thing. The winner, chosen at a ceremony in January 2008, will have their collection produced and sold in the website. Among the judges are fashion power-players Hilary Alexander (fashion director at the Daily Telegraph), Sara Hassan (fashion editor of Sunday Times Style), Lauretta Roberts (editor of Drapers), The Clothes Show presenter Louise Redknapp and designers Nargess Gharani and Vanya Strok. Fledgling designers are being asked to upload an eight-piece capsule collection for spring/summer 2008 and the lucky three to make the short-list will be given £1000 to produce the garments for the judges, who will then choose a winner in January. Sarah Curran, founder and editor of MyWardrobe, will also be judging the competition. "This is such a fantastic opportunity for us to discover and nurture new fashion design talent in the UK and provide that all important retail opportunity," she says. For Hilary Alexander, a pioneer for new talent, the competition is a chance to find those who will "represent the future of fashion".