Top Design Set To Bowl Over Sports Club
1 March 2010
Fashion Studies students (l to r) Ravinder Matharu, Lisa Shaw and Jennie Higgins with their alternative shirt designs for Derby West End Bowls Club.
I'm delighted that their [students] efforts will benefit such a long established city institution like Derby West End Bowls Club
”Fiona Hawthorne, joint Programme Leader for Fashion
England's footballers are wearing Umbro and its cricketers Adidas but when Derby West End Bowls Club members compete they will be sporting a unique design - by the University of Derby.
The University announced last summer that it was teaming up with the 97-year-old flat lawn green bowls club, just across from its Britannia Mill site in Markeaton Street, Derby, to help it attract new players. Bowls taster sessions were held at the club then and will be again this year.
Now University fashion students will also give existing members a fresh look by designing a unique new club top for them.
Students on the BA (Hons) Fashion Studies degree course have been hard at work designing a stylish new top for the club's players.
They will show their final design layouts at a social event at the University's Arts, Design and Technology building in Markeaton Street, Derby, at 6pm on Thursday March 4. Bowls club members will then pick the one they want.
Both the club management and the University are keen to see the eventual contract to make around 100 tops go to an East Midlands' firm, to benefit the region's textiles industry. They are already looking into potential suppliers.
George Riley, President of Derby West End Bowls Club, added: "The club is keen to support first-time players and encourage young people to get involved. It's also a healthy game for older people, and through the University scheme we are able to offer free membership for this year to all new players.
"Having a designer made club top like this will be a real boon to the club. It will look great when we're in competition and that can only be good for team spirit.
"If we can also help the regional economy a little in these difficult economic times that would be a bonus."
Peter Walker, Community Relations Officer at the University, added: "It was at the end of the season last year that the Club asked if we could help design a new top, and I am so pleased our students have taken up the challenge. Perhaps the new designs will encourage younger people to get involved in this sport".
A shortlist of three fashion students will compete to be the club's top designer on March 4. There will be a £100 prize for the winner.
Fiona Hawthorne, joint Programme Leader for Fashion at the University, added: "This is just the kind of thing a lot of our students will be doing in their later careers, working to a design brief given by a client to produce a unique item of clothing.
"I'm delighted that their efforts will benefit such a long established city institution like Derby West End Bowls Club."
The bowls club will again be holding free taster sessions this summer to encourage new players from the University and the community to get involved. Players should wear flat shoes. Bowls or 'woods' and footwear can be provided.
The free sessions will be held on:
- Tuesday June 1 from 12noon to 2pm
- Wednesday June 2, from 6pm-7.30pm
- Tuesday June 8, 12noon-2pm
- Wednesday June 9, 6pm-7.30pm
- Tuesday June 15, 12noon-2pm
- Wednesday June 16, 6pm-7.30pm.
Alternatively the club can be visited, on the corner of Markeaton Street and Mackworth Road in Derby, on evenings or at weekends. To book a place on one of the sessions or contact the club telephone 01332 292863, or for more information visit its website at www.derbywestendbowls.com.
For further media information please contact Press and PR Officer Sean Kirby on 01332 591891 or 07876 476103, or email s.kirby@derby.ac.uk.
