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21 Artscene Fashioning BEAUTY "The biggest thing this competition has done for me is confidence in being a designer, because up until this point, I really doubted my ability, but I came up with a great design that I was really proud of and I could not have done any better," said Tucker, 38. ning design with the Triumph team into a commercial lingerie set that will be sold as a limited line worldwide in 2010. The second and third place winners will receive 10,000 and 5,000 euros respectively. "Triumph is holding this competition because we're an innovative company a n d Sign up now for guitar, bass, drums, and piano OAKVILLE'S MUSIC STORE · WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2009 By Tina Depko OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF I t isn't about the all-expenses paid trip to Milan during fashion week, the chance to have her lingerie design sold in stores worldwide or the opportunity to win 15,000 euros. For Andrea Tucker, it is about learning to believe in herself as a designer and making her grandmother proud. Tucker was recently named the national winner of the Triumph Inspiration Award, which is a global lingerie design competition for fashion and design students. This is the first year Canada has taken part in the competition. The honour of winning the national final is accompanied by a three-day trip to Milan from Sept. 21-23, where Tucker will compete against fashion students from more than 30 countries around the world in the Triumph Inspiration Award international final. PHOTO BY JON CURRIE / OAKVILLE BEAVER FASHIONISTA: Designer Andrea Tucker is heading to Milan to compete in the Triumph Inspiration Award international final. The George Brown College graduate recently won the national competition with her creation, left, which was inspired by Erte, an art deco designer, whose work can be seen in the sketches at the bottom right. we're always looking for new ideas, plus we want to inspire young designers into designing lingerie," said Patricia McMillan, marketing manager with Triumph Canada, which has its head office in Oakville. The chance to compete in an international lingerie design competition is a dream come true for Tucker. She has wanted to work as a lingerie designer since she was a young girl, when she would watch her grandmother sew bras, panties and swimwear. Her grandmother told Tucker she should become a lingerie designer because she "had the gene". "To have the recognition, validation and everyone's support, it means, in my mind, I am a designer. Everything else is really wonderful and amazing, but for me, the prize is the confidence I got." She said the pride shown by her grandmother, Terry Pilon -- one of the most important people in her life -- is also invaluable. "My grandmother is over the moon with this," Tucker said. "She's the reason I'm doing this. I feel like I'm fulfilling her dream." The stakes are high in Milan. The firstplace winner will take home 15,000 euros, as well as the opportunity to adapt the win- See Milan page 23 We Hear You When you step into Canadian Sound, you will find smart solutions to home theatre laid out in such a way you can envision it in your own home. We have been designing large and small home theatre systems for over 23 years and we know our stuff. 905.844.7600 85 Navy Street, Oakville, Ontario, Canada L6J 2Z2 info@canadiansound.com Outstanding service I Competitive pricing I Pay us a visit! canadiansound.com