FACE Excellence 2022

Jul 4

Last year FACE created the Excellence Prize in association with the Graduate Fashion Foundation

Now we are thrilled to announce Year 2 of the FACE Excellence Prize. And as last year’s winner Joy Julius goes from strength to strength, meet Meerim Mamatova from Kingston School of Art.

**CONGRATULATIONS**

FACE Excellence Winner **Meerim Mamatova** collects her prize at Graduate Fashion Week from FACE GFW Trustee and FACE member Gavin Douglas.

Meerim's collection, called Name My Land – Jer, with Jer translating to land from Kyrgyz, conveys her understanding of human relationships. "Whatever our race, culture or religion, we are all nomads, to some degree, who are in constant movement. We are people,” she says, “who share one big house, a land where we should all feel welcomed, and a place that we should all feel at home.”

“It was Meerim’s detailing and precision skills that swept us away,” say’s judge and FACE co-founder **Sharon Lloyd**. Fellow judges: Designer **Martine Rose** and Creative director of Perfect Magazine, **Jeannie Annan-Lewin** agreed. This together with the belonging theme and hybrid presentation of cultures, so pertinent for so many, created looks that elevated traditional clothing from Meerim’s native country, Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia, to a contemporary wow-factor delivery.

Thanks to Kingston School of Art for imagery

Each look features up to five garments made from organic materials including linen, wool and cotton. Meerim explains that the layering effect – ranging from heavy wool coats to sheer dresses – was inspired by her country's nomadic lifestyle. Referencing traditional Kyrgyzstan clothing during the early 20th Century, Meerim says "Kyrgyzstan was one of 15 countries that were part of the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), but our relationship with Russia started earlier than that. I looked at traditional clothing from around 1910 to 1930 and how it was heavily influenced by European style.”

Whatever our race, culture or religion, we are all nomads, to some degree, who are in constant movement.

“There are still people who live a semi-nomadic way of life in the mountains and they wear multiple layers because of the changing weather. I wanted to mirror this by creating a modern, comfortable and transformable collection that allows people to have more styling options and to be prepared for any type of weather.

I’m understanding more how important the topic of one shared and equal humanity is. In Kyrgyzstan we are the same nation but we have different accents. I was born in Russia and I’m asking why we react negatively to such small differences amongst ourselves. This is work FACE is taking up - we all need education.”

We are people, who share one big house, a land where we should all feel welcomed, and a place that we should all feel at home.

“The judges understood me,” continues Meerim. “It was magical to enter the room and see three amazing women who wanted to listen. Coming to London has been a huge education. I come from such a small country and fashion as an industry does not exist. I’ve been here since I was 17 and I’m hoping to get as much experience as possible during my stay. Thank you to Michelle Muirhead one of my personal tutors who really helped me to see that survival in this industry is not just about skill set, its also about looking after your mental health. And thank you to David Frizelle who encouraged me to enter.”