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Textile Design Graduates Win Trio of TEX+ Awards

Friday, 17 July, 2026

Three graduates from ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿'s BA (Hons) Textile Design for Fashion and Interiors course have won awards at this year's prestigious , marking an unprecedented achievement for the course. 

Following an impressive showing that saw five BSU graduates shortlisted among the competition's top 60 entries, Kate Crilly, Xavier Theobald and Harriet Letts all progressed to the final 20 before each taking home an individual prize at the awards ceremony and exhibition in London. 

The graduates received the following awards: 

• Xavier Theobald – Liberty Prize 

• Kate Crilly – London Embroidery Studio Prize 

• Harriet Letts – Sahara Prize 

The TEX+ Awards celebrate excellence in contemporary textile design, recognising emerging talent from universities across the UK and providing graduates with opportunities to showcase their work to leading names in the textiles industry. 

Commenting on the success, Anna Gravelle, Programme Leader for Textile Design for Fashion and Interiors, said: 

"It's fantastic to see the students recognised at TEX+. Their awards celebrate exceptional creativity, innovation and sustainable textile design. Our Textile Design course has always championed originality, encouraging students to find their own design handwriting. Xavier, Kate and Harriet are brilliant examples of that ethos. As the course reaches its final year, this recognition is a proud moment for our graduates and a fitting tribute to the dedication of the teaching team who have nurtured their talent." 

Kate Crilly received the London Embroidery Studio Prize for her collection, Checked Out, which investigates innovative solutions for textile disassembly, material separation and recycling within contemporary fashion systems. Working with garments donated by local charity shops that could no longer be sold, Kate transformed discarded materials through experimental processes including fabric shredding, reconstructing knitwear, printing onto reclaimed garments and creating bio-fur from nettle fibres. Her collection challenges perceptions of textile waste while demonstrating the creative potential of circular design. 

Reflecting on receiving the award, Kate said: 

"Tex plus hasn't felt like a competition as everyone is genuinely interested in your work and helping you succeed. I'd like to thank Emma, Anna, Rae, Gaby and Katie for their unwavering encouragement!"

Xavier Theobald was awarded the Liberty Prize for The Endless Summer Collection 2026, which combines printmaking, tufting and mixed-media processes to create tactile textile surfaces inspired by memories of island life and the optimism of summer. Sustainability underpins the collection, with discarded fabrics, leftover inks and recycled materials incorporated throughout the creative process to produce expressive and environmentally conscious designs. 

Speaking about winning the Liberty Prize, Xavier said: 

"Being selected from a national pool of textile graduates and exhibiting as one of the 25 Tex+ finalists was an incredibly rewarding experience. Receiving the Liberty mentoring prize has given me greater confidence in my creative practice and an invaluable opportunity to learn from an internationally recognised design company. I am also proud to represent ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ and grateful for the support that helped me reach this stage. It was fabulous that Anna Greville and Rae Howard could be part of the celebrations that day too. " 

Harriet Letts received the Sahara Prize for Pearl of the Indian Ocean, a luxury interiors and lifestyle collection inspired by her solo travels in Sri Lanka. Beginning with hand-painted gouache illustrations before translating them into intricate printed and embroidered textiles, Harriet's work celebrates the country's landscapes, cultural heritage and craftsmanship through immersive surface design. 

Reflecting on her award, Harriet said: 

“Tex Plus has been such a valuable and inspiring experience. Being part of this community has been incredibly insightful, giving me the opportunity to learn from industry professionals and connect with fellow exhibitors. I’m so grateful for this opportunity and all that I’ve gained from it, and I’m excited to see what comes next!” 

The success of Xavier, Kate and Harriet represents an exceptional year for ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿'s Textile Design for Fashion and Interiors course, highlighting the creativity, technical excellence and innovative thinking of this year's graduating cohort.