Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) fashion student, Melissa Tsui, placed third in this year’s finale for the Télio Design Competition that took place at Montreal Fashion Week last month.
From more than 500 applicants across Canada, Tsui was one of twenty-five talented students whose designs were chosen for the runway.
Tsui was awarded a $2,500 scholarship and was the only winner from western Canada.
“Winning this award validates my decision to return to school,” said Tsui. “I was at a point in my career where I needed to either upgrade my skills or change professions. I decided to upgrade my skills and being recognized in this way is extremely validating.”
Tsui is in her third year of KPU’s bachelor of design-fashion and technology program and will graduate in spring 2014.
“The faculty and student body are thrilled to hear Melissa Tsui took home one of the top three prizes from the recent Télio Canada’s Breakthrough Designer competition,” said Michael Pope, fashion design instructor, KPU. “Melissa’s vision, technical skill and persistence of excellent craft were coupled with hours and hours of extremely detailed work to achieve this accolade. Congratulations Melissa – we are all very proud of you.”
For the eighth consecutive year, Télio, North America’s most popular export/import and distribution companies presented its fashion event, Canada’s Breakthrough Designers.
This year’s theme, OVEREXPOSED, demonstrated the students’ ability to use pastel and light colours, all while proving these colours can transition from winter to spring.