Milan trip the chance of a lifetime for lingerie designer 23 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, July 15, 2009 Continued from page 21 "Ever since I was little my grandmother has been making me lingerie and bathing suits," she said. "She always wanted to study fashion, but she couldn't, so she told me I should because I was smart enough and had the talent." Tucker didn't think she could do it, so she studied computers at college and worked in the IT sector for 10 years. She eventually realized she needed a change, so she enrolled in the fashion techniques and design program at George Brown College. "When I decided to study computers and told my grandmother, she cried because studying fashion was her dream for me," Tucker said. "Then two years ago, I called her to tell her I was going to fashion school and she cried again." Tucker was in her last term at George Brown College when Triumph Canada approached the school's fashion students to enter the national competition. The company, which has its head office in Oakville, decided to base its first national competition exclusively on George Brown fashion student entries. Tucker almost didn't enter the competition due to a lack of self-confidence and a busy schedule. "I thought it was going to be amazing and a great opportunity, but then I didn't think I could come up with something clever enough," she said. Staff at the college who knew of her potential pushed Tucker to enter, so despite classes, assignments, as well as completing her fiveoutfit collection for the graduating fashion show, she decided to give it a try. This year's theme for the Triumph Inspiration Award was Icon. This meant students had to choose an icon, as well as a concept. Tucker chose Erte, an art deco designer of the 1920s, as her icon, and the concept of believable beauty. underwire bra, panties, stockings, kimono "One of my teachers said this was where I and feather headpiece. She said it took her could go wild, but I told her I wasn't wild," three weeks, working day and night to create, Tucker said. with about three hours of sleep each night. "She said I was and that I could do this. I She drew strength during this stressful looked through an Erte book for a few days, time from her husband, David, as well as her and at first I didn't think I could do it, but grandmother. then I started coming up with ideas and I The national competition was held in picked all the eleToronto at the end of ments from the picApril, the same day tures I liked, like lots as the George Brown of buttons, fluffy graduating fashion things, flaps with show. buttons, tassels and Six judges from pleats. I figured out various industries, how to transfer that such as fashion, photo lingerie and I tography and media, became very excitmarked the 30 entries ed." using the Triumph Once that was Inspiration Award decided, sketches, criteria, including trips to fabric stores innovation and creand prototypes ativity, individuality, ensued. Tucker didconcept, presentation n't have any experiand show effect, aesence sewing underthetics and quality. wire bras or elaboTucker said she rate lingerie at that was shaking when time, so there was a the winners were steep learning curve. announced. Triumph offered "I was a wreck sewing workshops to when they help prepare the stuannounced the third dents for the chaland second place winlenge. ners, and I thought Then there was maybe I had won, and the detail work, like Andrea Tucker (right) and her design. then they announced hand sewing the buttons on the back of first place and my model and I screamed," she stockings. said. Tucker said the 40 buttons sewn along the "It was so surreal after that. I was so overback seam of each stocking took her more whelmed and honoured. All of my work had than 20 hours. She also struggled with prop- been validated." erly attaching six feather boas to the kimono Tucker's lingerie design is already in that went over the bra and panty set. Milan, along with the more than 30 other Tucker's final submission included an entries from around the globe. The model selection and fittings will already be done when she arrives, but she still expects the three-day trip to be incredibly hectic. Tucker has never been to Europe, so she said the trip and the experience will likely be an epoch. Triumph Canada staff are confident that Tucker's design could take home the international prize. "I think Andrea has definitely displayed creativity and innovation, and in researching her icon, she's been able to really take the inspiration from `believable beauty' and apply it to her concept," said McMillan. "I think any one of us could wear that concept and fit in as a believable beauty. I truly believe she has a great chance at winning." The competition has given Tucker hope that her custom bra-making and lingerie business she recently started with friend and fellow George Brown fashion student Victoria Wilson will succeed. The women have named the business Andrea Victoria Design (andreavictoriadesign.com) and are currently based out of a studio in the Toronto fashion district, where they are already working at five days a week preparing concepts and designs, as well as a business plan. Tucker said it is difficult to express how much it means to be pursuing her true passion. "I feel like Cinderella, it is so surreal," she said. "It was a dream for me to go to fashion school, it was a dream for me to graduate, it was a dream for me to make this (lingerie design) and then to win. I can do anything now, this is just the beginning." Members of the public can take part in the selection process by going online between Aug. 31 and Sept. 13 to www.triumph-inspiration-award.com and casting their vote on the internationally-submitted entries. One of the lucky voters will win a trip to Milan to sit with the jury at the international finals. BEAUTY&Spa Wearing sun protection can save your life rays can break down sunscreen. Helioplex technology helps to maintain the effectiveness of sunscreen filters over approximately a 5-6 hour timeframe. Dermatologists have long recognized that exposure to UVA and UVB rays can promote the risk of skin cancer. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Canada and one of the most preventable Most adults do not follow sunscreen application instructions, achieving only 10-25% of the expected SPF. For optimal protection, it is important to apply sunscreen generously, using approximately 2 full tablespoons to cover the entire body. (NC)--With the number of skin cancer cases in Canada increasing by two-thirds since 1990, sun protection has never been more important. There are a lot of sunscreens on the market today that offer varying degrees of protection. The Neutrogena brand, for example, recently introduced a new Ultra Sheer Dry Touch sunscreen with a maximum SPF of 85 that incorporates its exclusive Helioplex technology. According to the makers of Neutrogena, sunscreens containing Helioplex are specifically engineered to deliver photostable, broad spectrum protection against both burning UVB rays and aging UVA rays. 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