Designing in 3D makes Kerrie Luft a shoe-in for prestigious fashion award

A young London shoe designer has won a prestigious award using the latest design technology.

Kerrie Luft, 27, used 3D printers to produce prototypes of her shoe designs, instead of the traditional, more expensive method of creating moulds before casting models. Instead of ink, 3D printers use plastic or clay to build designs layer by layer.

Miss Luft's designs won her this year's Fashion Fringe Accessories prize, and she will now spend six months honing her skills at French label Roger Vivier.

Fashion Fringe was set up seven years ago by industry veteran Colin McDowell to keep top young designers in London by giving them support from experts in the business.

This year's panel chairman Bruno Frisoni, Roger Vivier's creative director, said: "Kerrie has the dream potential. We envision she has the potential to be a great English designer."

Miss Luft, who lives in east London, said:
"I'm so excited to be involved with such a luxury design house. It's a great chance for me to learn about the business."