by Jenni Horn

jhorn@thekmgroup.co.uk

A student from the University for the Creative Arts in Rochester has won the top award at Graduate Fashion Week.

Myrto Stamou, from Arta in North-west Greece, was presented with a prize of £20,000 for winning the gold award at this year’s show in London.

The 23-year-old will see her womenswear collection displayed in the shop window of River Island’s flagship store in London’s Oxford Street.

More than 300 students from 21 universities and colleges took part in 18 separate catwalk shows at Earls Court.

Just one gold award winner is selected from the winners of 13 separate categories including, menswear, womenswear, textiles, accessories and fashion journalism.
Myrto was presented with her award by Caryn Franklyn, presenter of the Clothes Show

Richard Bradbury head of River Island, the sponsors of Graduate Fashion Week, said: "This year, we have seen the best collections ever. The overall standard was very high.

"Myrto’s collection was elegant and beautiful, her collection showed such a such a clear vision. Some of the judges even commented that it was better than some of the collections that are out there already. It’s good enough to be sold."

Myrto Stamou began studying for a Fashion Design degree at the University for the Creative Arts in 2006.

She said: "I was confident my collection was good, but I never expected to win."

Winning the gold award at Graduate Fashion Week is seen as a golden ticket to success in the fashion industry, often leading to many exciting job offers.