Sunday Observer: CAT SINGER Designer of the Year 2012:

Expand your horizons

By Mahes PERERA

If you spent most of your childhood making clothes for your dolls instead of playing with your friends, then they say you're destined to be a fashion designer. What's more if you are successful at the CAT SINGER Designer of the Year 2012 contest, that could mean it's a stepping stone into the international fashion world, and the opportunity to expand your horizons.

CATS designers, an association that conducts dress and fashion workshops, seminars and events are extremely happy with the big burst of applications that they have received and by popular demand the organisation has decided to extend the closing date to August 3 and thereby entice those who are sitting on the fence and thinking 'should I' or 'should I not' to send in their application pronto and be a participant.

There will be 10 categories at fashion styles and your sketches should be on A4 paper. The categories for a contestant to make a choice are bridal wear, kiddies wear, winter wear, saree wear, evening wear, office wear, sports wear, lingerie and casual wear.

The first three winners of the contest will receive sewing machines with the compliments of Singer, while the 10 category winners, the 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up will also win valuable prizes. The overall winner section will also have a 1st runner-up and a 2nd runner-up.

Winners in the contest will also receive scholarships in Fashion Designing Technology, courtesy of Fashion Tec (Institute of Fashion Technology). This diploma in fashion designing will take you through studies in fashion creating, fashion illustrations, colour theories, international high quality methods for cutting, sewing, finishing and many other aspects of designing technology. Contact 0758824115 for further details. All participants will receive certificates and attractive prizes.

The Sunday Observer is the print media partner while the sponsors of this looked-forward-to contest are the Grand Oriental Hotel - the official hotel, Sterling Flowers, Semage Mirrors, Rite Shu, Elegant Smockers and Y FM Radio.