M&S launch nationwide hunt to find next fashion designer with new ITV show
26.03.2024 - 12:33
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Marks and Spencer is launching a new ITV show in a bid to find their next designer. One fashion fan will win the 'once-in-a-lifetime' opportunity to create their own clothing line with the retailer.
M&S: Dress The Nation will see 10 candidates compete to secure a highly-coveted in-house design role based in Paddington, London. The series will document the search process from start to finish over the course of six episodes.
AJ Odudu, fresh from her Celebrity Big Brother hosting duties, is fronting the series. She'll be joined by broadcast veteran Vernon Kay. Over the course of the recruitment process, the 10 candidates will be set a series of briefs which will assess their design, problem-solving, commerciality and collaboration skills.
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Each week a judging panel, made up of senior leaders at M&S and a rotation of celebrity guests and designers, will select which budding designers move forward to the next round. The winner of the series will be offered an in-house junior designer role with M&S which will be built around their skillset and experience.
The retailer wants to hear from people of all walks of life, regardless of formal qualifications or training in fashion design. Anna Braithwaite, M&S clothes and home marketing director, said: “The UK has some of the best emerging design talent in the world and we want to meet them.
"We’re on the look-out for the next generation of designers who can be part of our journey to evolve M&S’ style credentials and design original products that not only appeals to our existing customers but also turns the heads of customers who may not have previously considered us."
“We know customers loved