As the clock runs down on the Nokia Young Fashion Designer Award 2010, organisers have announced that Joanne Hynes, one of Ireland’s leading fashion and jewellery designers, has taken on the challenge of mentoring the student finalists in this years coveted Nokia Young Fashion Designer Award. The Limerick School of Art and Design has a great reputation in this prestigious fashion competition and hopes are high again for success this year.

This year’s finalists met their mentor over breakfast at the Morrison Hotel last week as she shared design tips and advice. One piece of fashion advice she shared was a very valuable nugget that we should all pay attention to: “divide the price of an item of clothing by the number of times you think you will wear it to make it a worthwhile purchase”. Great advice from this Limerick graduate and former tutor at LSAD’s fashion department.

Of the collaboration with the awards, Joanne said, “I am extremely excited at the opportunity to mentor these young designers. I love hearing their ideas and helping them transition brilliant thoughts into works of art. I am very much looking forward to seeing what they come up with. The motivation and creativity of this year’s finalists is exceptionally inspiring”. The inspiration for this years designs is www.ovi.com.

Irish designer Joanne Hynes pictured with model Yomiko in the designers dress and jewellery.