Alice Lambert-Gorwyn wins Beyond Skin & PETA competition

A fourth year Leeds University fashion design student has become the first winner of a new competition to make a vegan shoe for Beyond Skin in association with PETA.

The competition attracted entrants from as far away as Brazil and the US, but 22-year-old Alice Lambert-Gorwyn’s design won over celebrity judge Laura Whitmore who described Lambert-Gorwyn’s shoe as “slick and sophisticated”.

Made from imitation exotic skin, faux leather and faux microfibre suede, the design will hit the shelves for spring/summer 2014 and signals the beginning of some serious changes in the way that designers think about the sources of their materials and the benefits of ethical design.

Ethical fashion lover Whitmore says: “I truly believe that the future of fashion lies in sustainable, cruelty-free materials… the great news is that from the catwalk to the high street, the availability of clothes and shoes made from faux leather and faux suede is on the rise.”

Beyond Skin is leading the way in cruelty-free fashion and is committed to helping the environment and producing animal-free, recycled products. These values are exactly the kind of thing that Lambert-Gorwyn looks for in a future employer.

“I am extremely passionate about animal welfare. I am a vegetarian and have recently made the decision to stop buying leather… I would love in the future to work for an ethical company, and this competition seemed like a great stepping stone and a fantastic platform to raise awareness of such an important issue.”

Second place in the competition went to Stefanie Nuyts, a 32-year-old freelance shoe designer from Belgium who produced a “quirky” design with a concept that Whitmore “loved”.

Ellie Owen

Lambert-Gorwyn’s winning shoe design will be available to buy for spring/summer 2014. For more information on the competition and ethical, cruelty-free fashion visit PETA or Beyond Skin.