9 May 2000

Dundee's luxury ties

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: 10.30-11.00AM WEDNESDAY 10 MAY, FASHION WORKSHOP, LEVEL 3, DUNCAN OF JORDANSTONE COLLEGE OF ART, PERTH ROAD

A fourth year University of Dundee design student will be presented with £250 from the world's largest luxury tie manufacturer this Wednesday (10 May) during the Hugh Parsons, Orsini Srl Tie Design award ceremony.

Linda Meiklejohn of Kirkintilloch won a ten day all-expenses-paid work experience trip to the Milan based tie manufacturer, Orsini Srl, plus spending money when her designs came up winners among 960 entries.

The annual competition - administered by Hugh Parsons, a niche manufacturer of handmade ties in the UK and overseen by Orsini - invites students across all three years of the bachelor of design course at the University's Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art to enter sixteen print designs suitable for ties in the international market. Each student is able to choose from ten different themes including, for example, art deco, abstract, geometric and New York. Also several students' designs have now been selected by the company for international production.

Giorgio Zanone of Orsini; Stephen Higginson, editor and creative director of international textiles and Dundee graduate Maurice Greig of Hugh Parsons will be visiting the University to present awards to Linda, ten runners-up and those whose designs are to go into production.

Andy Taylor, printed textiles course director commented: "The Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art has a lot of international connections - the international aspects are very important for our current students as many of their future opportunities lie abroad. Participating in this competition will certainly have been an excellent experience for all of the students."/ends

For further information contact Andy Taylor (01382) 345309.