Pictured: Diana Oancea
A top tailoring company is preparing to kit its customers out in
the cutting-edge couture of a talented Coventry student. Diana
Oancea is in her final year at Coventry University, studying a BA
(Hons) Degree in Fashion, and is one of three up-and-coming
designers picked from across the country to have her sketches
turned into a tailor made suit.
Bespoke tailors, A Suit That Fits launched a competition in
January 2011 to find three dapper creations by suit-loving new
designers to sell on their website in the New Year of 2012. In May
2011, 10 designers were shortlisted from 93 entrants by an expert
judging panel including TV presenter Rick Edwards; Leon
Bailey-Green, founder of internet business network Directors
Of.COM; Alan Cannon Jones, Principal Lecturer at The London College
of Fashion; and Mighel Critten, Product Development Manager at A
Suit That Fits.
The design brief was to create a suit that was functional, or
suitable for a special occasion. The shortlisted designs were
posted on A Suit That Fits' website for public vote - with more
than 2,000 people voting to find the final three winners, whose
suits will be available to buy from this week.
Originally from Romania, 37 year old Diana Oancea studied law
and practiced as a barrister for five years in Bucharest,
specialising in criminal law, before coming to the UK in October
2008 and deciding on a radical change of profession; studying
fashion at Coventry University. Diana said:
"The transition from law to fashion was not difficult because
law and art are both open to interpretation. This contest attracted
me because I like the idea that women can wear suits, which are a
symbol of elegance and power. After seeing the fabrics available on
A Suit That Fits' website, I decided to create an outfit which
would cover every aspect of a woman's persona; elegant, casual,
businesslike, Amazonian - a strong woman, sure of her charms."
Diana's love of haute couture is echoed in her winning suit,
which is made from a heritage check and brings a strong tradition
right into the 21st century; having a fitted, waist-length jacket
with round-edged step lapels and sleeves cropped at the elbows, and
traditional jodhpur-style trousers, flared at the hip but cropped
around the knee, reminiscent of early 20th century
knickerbockers.
Diana said:
"I took inspiration from characters such as Beau Brummell and
Oscar Wilde - whose dandyism and aestheticism remain landmarks in
history and male fashion, then transposed these images into female
fashion, thinking of women like Marlene Dietrich and Catherine
Deneuve - who both wore men's suits, but never compromised their
femininity.
"I'm ecstatic to have won the competition and to have my
creation made and sold by A Suit That Fits. It's a double victory;
having my talent confirmed by a panel of people involved in the
fashion industry and then to have the support of the public
vote.
"None of this would have been possible without the training and
support I've received at Coventry University, especially Technician
Eva Schulha, who helped with making up the designs. I hope to get
as much experience in the fashion industry as possible and enter
more competitions, to help me evaluate my creative talent. Then one
day I'd like to have my own brand and become a fashion queen like
Coco Chanel."
The other two winning designs were created by 23 year old Tom
Evans from Plymouth University and 25 year old Trung Le from London
College of Fashion. All three suits will be available to purchase
from this week.
For more information about Coventry University, please visit
their website here: www.coventry.ac.uk