This year's City of Bath College DIA/Gane Fashion Award was won by Jo Cashmore.

In partnership with the Gane Trust and the City of Bath College, the DIA Western Region awarded a prize for a seventh year at the College’s Fashion Show for the best collection of work submitted by a final year student on completion of the National Diploma Fashion Clothing Course. The initiative is seen as an excellent way to see the work of the Catwalk students and to celebrate the results of final year designers as they prepare for future challenges.

Jo says:  "On leaving school I went out to work full time firstly as a waitress, but then got a more creative job working as a demonstrator for ceramic painting studio. This reignited my passion for design, leading me to return to college full time. I have enjoyed textiles ever since I was young so decided that this was what I wanted to study.

I have been studying at City of Bath College for the past two years and have learnt many new skills. These include designing my own garments to a set brief, illustrating my designs, making my designs in to working patterns, constructing garments to a high standard, and digital work including designing my own brand.

I have really enjoyed all aspects of the course however I found that I have excelled in pattern cutting and garment construction. In September I hope to improve my skills in this area and I am going to study at Rochester University on the Fashion Atelier course. In the future I would like to get a job as a pattern cutter or garment technologist."