Students
Latest Student Competition - 2017
The Brief.
Pattern is all around us. In nature, to man made structures such as the pavements we walk along. Ever noticed the intricate patterns made by block paving?
Textile designers are responsible for the surface pattern we see on the garments we wear everyday. Here is an opportunity for you to create your own. Where would you take inspiration from? The repetition of elements within a set design should repeat seamlessly in order to create an allover print. Whether intricate, intertwined or haphazard the resulting pattern gives the garment it’s identity. Be it fun, formal or serious it should be pleasing for the wearer to be seen in and reflect the mood of the moment.
This year’s Student Competition asks you to create TWO repeat patterns. One repeat pattern as the main design and a Second repeat pattern to make a complimentary border that can be used along the hem line of a skirt, a border around a scarf, a collar or a cuff.
Aim: Create a seamless repeat pattern with a complimentary repeat pattern border along at least one side. Combine them both and Save in ONE digital file to show both patterns.
Specifications: Repeat pattern. TIFF file format. 180 dpi. Flattened. RGB.
Submit your entry as one file containing both repeat patterns, through our website: www.silkbureauco.uk/upload-form Please clearly add: Entry – Student Repeat Pattern Competition 2017 in the ‘Comments’ box.
Deadline: 11th November 2017. All entries will be printed on 11th December 2017 and the winner will be announced 8th January 2018.
Winner: The winner will be invited to visit the Silk Bureau to see the printing process and will receive 5m of their design printed on 100% Silk Light Satin The winner will be promoted on our website and social media.(worth over £200)
£30 entry fee. Includes:
1m of your submitted design printed on 100% Silk Light Satin, and postage (normal combined worth £55)
Please Read Competition - Terms and Conditions
Competition Terms and Condition – Repeat Pattern 2017
- All entries must be submitted through the Silk Bureau website www.silkburau.co.uk/upload-form clearly showing ‘Entry – Student Competition – 2017’ . These will then be known as the ‘Entrants’.
- Entry is only open to current students in the 2017 – 2018 academic year and MUST be accompanied with a copy of their Student ID.
- All artwork submitted MUST be print ready. The Silk Bureau Limited will not make any amendments to Entrants’ original files.
- A pro forma invoice will be raised within 7 days of submitting the competition order form. The entry fee of £30 must be paid upon receipt of the invoice.
- Entry fees include 1m of Light Satin printed with the Entrant’s print ready artwork and delivered within the UK only.
- Additional postal charges will be applied to Entrants outside of the UK postal area.
- All artwork being entered into the competition will be printed on 11th December 2017 and despatched with 7 working days to an address with in the UK.
- The Silk Bureau Limited reserve the right to change the fabric without notice to an alternative of similar composition.
- The Silk Bureau Limited reserve the right to refuse an order and/or competition entry.
- Entries will not be accepted after the closing date.11th November 2017.
- The Silk Bureau Judges will make the final decision and will not enter into any discussion regarding the result.
- The Winner will be selected on 20th December 2017 and announced by 8th January 2017. The Winner will be notified by email and/or phone call.
- The Silk Bureau Limited reserve the right to publish details of the Winner and winning entry for marketing purposes pertaining to The Silk Bureau Limited.
- The Winner will be invited to visit The Silk Bureau Limited at their Evesham premises within the hours of 10:30 and 16:00 on an agreeable date to suit both the Winner and The Silk Bureau Limited. Expenses and arrangements incurred by the Winner i.e. travel, is not included.
- The Winner will be entitled to an additional 5m of fabric as chosen by The Silk Bureau Limited.
- The award is not transferable to any other party. There is no cash alternative.
- The Silk Bureau Limited reserves the right to cancel or amend the Competition or the rules without notice.
- Full Terms & Conditions on our website. www.silkbureau.co.uk
Disclaimer
Any irregularities and variations in the weave of our fabrics are in NO way to be considered as defects. They are a characteristic of a natural fibre.
It is important to allow for shrinkage. Shrinkage can be up to 10% on most fabrics, however for stretch fabrics it can be up to 20%. Short runs shrink more than longer runs pro rata; however this is not a precise science. Shrinkage can vary from one batch of fabric to another.
The natural shade of fabric may vary from roll to roll and is a circumstance beyond our control.
Please examine the fabrics carefully before processing. Direct or indirect claims for any reason whatsoever will not be accepted once the customer, or any party acting upon their instruction, has cut, or processed the fabric in any way.
Claims for any defects, or shortages, must be made in writing within seven days of delivery of the fabric.
Fabric specifications given are as accurate as possible to allow for printing of images. Rolls of natural fabric may vary in size between batches, so selvedge to selvedge dimensions are not provided. Selvedge areas may not be printed on.
Colours depicted on screen and colours actually printed may vary due to the nature of fabric/textile printing and the variation of individual monitor displays.
How to submit your repeat patterns for print
A repeat pattern with a border is an advanced but common practice for any Surface Pattern or Textile designer. There is so much more to consider than just a visually pleasing image.
The concept and visuals are the first steps in designing repeat pattern. Having designed a pattern that you are really pleased with you need to think about how to prepare it for digital outcome. What follows requires skill and understanding of the digital printing process.
Size?
There are endless possibilities to the physical size of a repeat pattern. A repeat pattern can be a fairly small ‘tile’ fig. 1 that seamlessly repeats both across and down the fabric or it can be a huge ‘tile’ fig. 2 containing large images. We aren’t going to restrict your creative process by specifying a set size.
What is important is that whatever size of tile, it must repeat in a seamless pattern. fig. 3
fig 1 
fig 2 
fig 3
fig 5
Borders?
We’ve made our competition even more challenging by asking you to design a complementary border. fig. 4 It is important that your border is also in repeat. Whether narrow like these examples or a larger contrast as modelled fig. 5, it is still necessary to have an element of repeat.
Combining them together?
We’ve put together some visual examples of how you could choose to layout your repeat pattern with it’s complementary border into one file. These are just examples, please experiment with your own unique construction. figs. 6 & 7
fig 6 
fig 7
Preparing for Digital Print?
It is important that you remember to prepare your file to fit within the printable width of our fabric.
The Silk that we will be using is 136cm wide and we will print 100cm of your repeat pattern. How does your design fit into this?
Whether your border is saved across the width of your pattern tile or down the side of your pattern tile, you will need to check the results. Check how this reapeats.
When submitting the tile through our website you are able to select Repeat and can see how your design works.
If it doesn’t look how you intended you will need to rework your tile.
If you would prefer, you can submit a large image of the finished size. For example a file that is 136cm wide x 100cm in length. Potential for a scarf?
So a 100cm x 100cm tile like this 
results in a printed fabric width like this
Or a 90cm x 100cm repeat tile like this
results in a printed fabric width like this
How to Save your file?
We ask for all files to be saved as either a tif or jpeg format. 180dpi. FLATTENED. RGB. Also embed the colour profile.
Visit our Order page and follow the step by step instructions.
We are really looking forward to seeing your designs. Student competitions are always an exciting time. We get to see some great work.
Good luck.
Discounts
We are offering ALL students 20% off their digital textile printing during the 2016/2017 academic year.
First Steps Incentive
We realise how difficult it can be to make the transition from student to professional designer. To help new designers we are offering the student 20% discount for an extra year to graduating students.
Just let us know when you want to place an order and supply a copy of your last Student ID card.
Student Terms and Conditions
- Students requesting a 20% discount must present a Student Identity Card from the current academic year with every order submitted.
- Students requesting a 20% discount during their first year after graduating must present their last Student Identity Card, clearly showing the academic year of graduation.
- All orders placed are subject to the availability of the fabrics selected.
- The Silk Bureau Limited reserve the right to refuse an order.
- Fabric specifications given are as accurate as possible to allow for printing of images. Rolls of natural fabric may vary in size between batches, so selvedge to selvedge dimensions are not provided. Selvedge areas may not be printed on.
- Colours depicted on screen and colours actually printed may vary due to the nature of fabric/textile printing and the variation of individual monitor displays.
- All orders must be submitted via our on-line order page on the website. https://www.silkbureau.co.uk/upload-form/
- Artwork must be print ready.
Student Competition - Interiors 2016
Congratulations to Amelia Anderson from Bath Spa University.
We particularly liked the hand rendered quality of this repeat pattern. The team felt that this provided texture and depth against the contrasting background.
Amelia has been invited to visit the Silk Bureau and follow the process of digital textile printing from artwork to the final printed fabric.
We also want to congratulate all of the students who entered; we received many outstanding designs. Our only regret is that there can only be one winner.
Thank you to all the students that entered the competition. Look out for more opportunities in the future.