A Northern Ireland man was last night chosen as student designer of the year in London, Robert O'Byrne reports from London.Mr Declan Kearney (23), from Co Tyrone, won first place in the 1997 Smirnoff International Fashion Awards against competition from 27 other countries. He presented two outfits - a black net and lace halter-neck dress with asymmetric hem above the knee and a sleeveless, backless full-length dress in leather with intricate cut-out spirals on its surface.
His work was superior in both design and execution to anything else shown at the awards, in which students from as far afield as Kenya and Taiwan participated.
A panel of judges including fashion television's Jeanne Berker and designers Alexander McQueen, Antonio Berardi and Jasper Conran assessed the students' work over a two-day period.
The English and Bulgarian entrants were awarded third and second places respectively.
The winner was presented with a cheque for £10,000 and the offer of a place at St Martin's School of Design in London. However, he is already a student there.