Student designer's creation graces New York Tartan Week

IT STARTED out as a few simple sketches for a class project.

Now budding student designer Victoria Cameron's dress will grace the catwalk of the prestigious Tartan Week fashion festival in New York.

The Edinburgh Napier undergraduate is the only Scottish student to feature a design at this year's Dressed to Kilt, which forms part of the Tartan Week celebrations and takes place on Monday.

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The 20-year-old graphic design student, from Linlithgow, will join thousands of people, including a long list of celebrities, models and fashion experts from across the world, in the world's biggest celebration of Scottish fashion and culture outside of Scotland.

Miss Cameron's dress is a modern take on the traditional tartan attire and has been created using a silk woven version of the Edinburgh Napier red, black and blue tartan against purple tweed.

The student designed the dress as part of a class competition set up by the university and kilt maker Kinloch Anderson, the university's Tartan Week partner.

The dress has been made by Stephen Purvis, the Glaswegian tailor who has made outfits for the likes of Franz Ferdinand and Royal Scottish Ballet performers.

Miss Cameron said: "I am so excited that this dream has become a reality. New York is definitely where it's at in the fashion world. Fantastic city, fantastic event and fantastic opportunity for me, I'm just delighted.

"What started out as a few sketches around seven months ago have now been transformed into a living, breathing outfit.

"It is wonderful for me to see my design brought to life by Stephen Purvis and I can't wait to see it."

Alex Gilkison, head of the School of Arts and Creative Industries at Edinburgh Napier, added: "We are tremendously excited to participate in this wonderful event and so proud that one of our students is going to feature so prominently.

"It's been an incredible project to be involved with."

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Dr Geoffrey Scott Carroll, the Peebles-born chairman and founder of Dressed to Kilt, said: "We are very pleased to be showcasing Victoria's design which encapsulates this year's theme of Mad for Scotland.

"We see real potential for Victoria as a designer and are looking forward to seeing this dress make its catwalk debut.

"We look forward to welcoming the Edinburgh Napier team."

Some of the models and judges attending the Dressed to Kilt event include Canadian actor Mike Myers, Scottish TV personality Carol Smillie and Scottish actor Alan Cumming.

Miss Cameron's Dressed to Kilt creation also features in the Friends of Scotland "Pop-Up Shop" – a dedicated exhibition to display the finest designs from Scotland, which runs until 12 April at a prestigious Madison Avenue address.

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