Each year the RDS plays host to the Professional Beauty Trade show, an essential date in the calander for anyone in the Beauty and Makeup industry.  This weekend (2nd, 3rd Oct) visitors can browse exhibitors stands ranging from Beauty and Nail salons to distributors and wholesalsers.  This is the perfect opporunity for Beauty professionals to network, source new products and learn about new emerging trends within this thriving industry.  Once again the Irish National student makeup competition will take place at the event and our very own tutor Audrey Manning is part of the judging panel.  This is a great chance for creative students to demonstrate their flair and ability.  This years themes are 50's Glamour.  The judges are looking for bold dramatic makeup emphasising how 50's Glamour with a twist plays a part in modern today look.   For Fantasty full body the brief is Pop Idol - think Lady Gaga, Madonna or Britney.  The more creative the better.  The competition is open to all colleges in the Republic of Ireland.  Audrey is delighted to be part of this years judging panel.  She says "There are so many young talented people in Ireland right now.  This is the ideal platform for them to show off their skills and show how much creativity they have. Plus the winning prize is amazing".    

Here is your chance to showcase your best family photo.  Dun laoghaire-Rathdown County Childcare Committee are organising a photography competition with the theme "Celerbrating Inclusion - Families in Photos".  They are asking people to submit their best family photos by Friday 16th September. An exhibition of the best photos will be shown during  Social Inclusion Week in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Councils pop up shop in Dun Laoghaire on 8th -15th October.

Designer department store Harvey Nichols joined our Fashion Buying and Merchandising students this week to judge an Accessories competition set by their tutor as part of the course content.  The students were set a brief to design and product an accessory for Autumn/Winter 2011 for the Harvey Nichols customer.  The brief was to "Keep it simple by following Harvey Nichols brand values.  To create a product that is exclusive but accessible, that offers fashion leadership and enables the customer to have a feel good experience once it is purchased."  The students were told to explore shape, colour, texture, surface detail, scale and form.  Harvey Nichols were really impressed by the standard of work and the time and effort the students had put into design and production.  The winner Crystal Garza was selected by Harvey Nichols for its elegance and style.  Crystal designed and produced a gorgeous floral embossed garment bag.  With its simple lace triming the bag is exactly what the brief required and is the ideal accompaniment for any Harvey Nichols customer.

Our Fashion tutors work tirelessy to develop strong industry contacts so we can offer our students added value to their coure.  At the beginning of the year the Fashion Buying and Merchandising students were set a brief to design a t-shirt for the Topshop customer and then create a window display round their design.  The students produced some fantastic work and were fortunate to have a past graduate of Portobello, now creative director for Topshop come into the college and judge the competition.  Kim Smith took time out to talk to the students about their work and how they can relate this in today Retail market.  Opportunities and competitions like these are an invaluable learning experience for our students.  It gives them the chance to showcase their skills and talent to potential future employers while learning the process of merchandising for a real high street brand.