Having recently been awarded a £4,000 scholarship towards his Masters collection by the British Fashion Council after they recognised his talent while he working for the iconic brand Burberry, one could forgive Rhys for bragging; however, he is humble, hard-working and excited to be back in Edinburgh. When asked how he feels to have made such an impact on the fashion world and yet only 23 years old, Rhys replies;
“It really pays to be grateful for these opportunities, reflecting on what you’ve learned from your experience. I think you need to keep working forward and not let up steam.”
Whilst it is clear that Rhys works extremely hard, he also thanks ECA for encouraging and nurturing his talent. Rhys has previously completed his undergraduate here, earning a first-class degree.
“The rush might be to go to London for postgraduate study, but I really wanted to stay at Edinburgh College of Art as the tuition is fantastic. It gives you a clear platform, because in London for example, there’s a lot of competition in one place. Up here you are able to develop your individual style without it getting lost in a sea of voices.”
The British Fashion Council contacted Rhys directly to ask him to apply for the grant. He was asked to present his developing work for his final year project to a panel of six people, one of whom was Sarah Mower MBE, who chaired the interview as an ambassador for emerging talent for the British Fashion Council. Rhys heard back within the week that he was the winner of the annual competition for an MA scholarship.
“On a practical level it takes the pressure off how you are going to fund your next collection, but I think it’s exciting to be on their radar and have their endorsement – it gives you confidence in your work.”
