Exclusive: Helen Robotham scoops Fashion Fringe Accessories award

Helen Robotham, 25, an MA graduate from The London College of Fashion scooped the top prize, a six-month paid internship at Jimmy Choo.

ELLEuk.com was with all five finalists at Fashion Fringe Covent Garden HQ in London as they waited nervously for the judges, including ELLE's editor-in-chief Lorraine Candy, Sebastian Manes, Director of Accessories at Selfridges, Sandra Choi Creative Director at Jimmy Choo and designer Rupert Sanderson to decide who would win the first ever Fashion Fringe award for accessories design.

The competition was tough, said Colin McDowell, after bag designer Robotham was finally announced as the winner. He told all of the candidates that ' none of them had failed' , and that each had 'a clear and definite future ahead'.

It was Helen's 'true originality' that scooped the prize for her said Lorraine Candy. 'She understands what women want in terms of bags particularly.' Helen will now go on to learn all aspects of shoe and bag design at Jimmy Choo. 'She's a breath of fresh air' said Sandra Choi who will begin working with Helen in June.

The award started last year as the Fashion Fringe Footwear Award, a talent search for footwear designers, initiated by shoe designer Rupert Sanderson.'This gives people the opportunity to get seen', he said today.

The award was extended to include all accessories this year with the support of Jimmy Choo.