Fashion student wins top industry award from luxury British clothing brand Belstaff

A fashion student from Manchester Met’s Manchester Fashion Institute (MFI) has won Belstaff’s Cloudmaster Prize Fund with her functional and utilitarian designs which take inspiration from her grandmother.

The annual initiative, which launched last year, fosters and platforms the next generation of design talent in an innovative partnership between Manchester Fashion Institute and luxury clothing brand Belstaff. 

Thilagameenal Ramanan from BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Technology impressed a judging panel of industry experts with her original design and was presented with the award during an event at Belstaff’s Manchester store on May 21.

Bringing together her family history and the modernity of modular design, Ramanan’s winning design takes inspiration from her grandmother, who was forced to work in rubber plantations following Britain’s invasion of Malaysia. 

At the time, most labourers were bare-bodied, with a piece of cloth tied around their waist. Ramanan’s functional and utilitarian design imagines an alternative to the exposing plantation clothing. 

Prize-winner Ramanan said: “Winning the Belstaff Cloudmaster competition is a pivotal moment in my journey as a designer. 

“This opportunity marks the beginning of my professional career, and I am deeply grateful for the chance to contribute to Belstaff’s legacy of innovation. I look forward to learning extensively during my internship and to growing as a designer within such an esteemed brand.”

Ramanan will undertake a three-month internship at the brand’s London headquarters as well as receiving £3000 to put towards her design future. Runners up Ellie Mae Webster and Olivia McIntyre received £1000 each. 

The prototypes designs from all three finalists will be displayed in the Manchester Belstaff store until May 30.

Running for a second year, Belstaff’s Cloudmaster Prize Fund invited final year students from BA (Hons) Design and Technology, BA (Hons) International Fashion Design and BA (Hons) Fashion at Manchester Fashion Institute to take part in the initiative and respond to a brief exploring the notion of ‘Disrupting Heritage’. 

Through workshops and tutorials with the Belstaff team, students developed designs that redefined and challenged ideas of heritage, informed by their own stories, perceptions and experiences. 

The Belstaff team and guest judges visited Manchester Fashion Institute earlier in the year to select three finalists to progress into the final stage of the prize. 

Winner Ramanan, alongside runners up Webster and McIntyre, impressed the judging panel of industry experts which included Founder and Creative Director Priya Ahluwalia, Senior Collaborations Manager at END Clothing Callum Hill, Cultural Curator Harris Elliott, Belstaff Design Director Peter Perrett and Deputy Head at Manchester Met’s Manchester Fashion Institute Jo Jenkinson. 

Jo Jenkinson, Deputy Head of Manchester Fashion Institute, said: “The collaboration with Belstaff has been a great success and we’re very proud of all the students who took part in the initiative and everything they have achieved.  

“We’re extremely grateful to Belstaff for providing our students with this fantastic opportunity and for working so closely with them throughout the process. The students have learned about the brand and gained invaluable industry insight, skills and advice that will no doubt help them to develop as designers in their studies and future careers.”