Hansel Abakah-Phillips

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Fashion Design student shortlisted for prestigious design award

Friday, 20 February, 2026

BA (Hons) Fashion Design student Hansel Abakah-Phillips is making a name for himself in the world of fashion, as one of six finalists in the ‘Last Garment on Earth’ competition – a collaboration with Welsh designer Paolo Carzana, the British Fashion Council and the British Library.  

Designers were tasked with creating a fashion design project that exists in an imagined world, using personal, historical, or futuristic narratives, told through fabric, texture and form. They also had to use materials from the British Library archives to inform their ideas and show research and concept development, experimentation, and presentation. In addition to access and opportunities offered by the British Library, the winner will receive a £3000 cash prize. 

Hansel learned about the competition from one of his lecturers, and though earlier opportunities had presented themselves, this one felt like a natural fit. Talking more about what appealed to him about the competition, Hansel said: 

“The competition gave me free reign to explore my imagination. As a designer, I see myself as a worldbuilder, so it didn’t really feel like I was entering anything. The task presented me the opportunity to exercise my design ethos.” 

For his project, Hansel drew upon his faith and Ghanaian background to create a collection that explores the ideas of spirituality and love. Explaining further, Hansel said: 

“I created a world which reflects my perspective on what a true covenant of love is. Using biblical scripture and my Ghanaian heritage in an ethereal context, I created an eight-look capsule collection which tells a cohesive story reflecting our covenant with beings in the spiritual realms. Specifically, Yahweh.” 

The contest was judged by a panel of well-regarded names in the fashion industry, including the designer Paolo Carzana, along with fashion runway critics, magazine editors and museum curators. Expressing how he felt when he found out he’d been shortlisted, Hansel said: 

“I was ecstatic when I found out. I honestly couldn’t believe it. I called one of my friends immediately as I just had to tell someone. Looking at such an esteemed judge panel who selected me as one of six finalists for a nationwide competition, it was very uplifting to see that people of such calibre had seen and respected my work.”  

In addition to his strong sense of faith and passion for worldbuilding, Hansel credits his course and his lecturers at BSU for helping him grow as a designer and getting to where he is today: 

“The Fashion Design course at BSU has really nurtured me as a fashion designer and as an individual. The staff are very sincere and always push me to achieve more and to execute my concepts at the highest level possible. I wouldn’t trade any of them. They have all been integral in my growth, so I will mention all of them: Andrew Richards, Emma Askew-Miller, Joe Richards, Katherine Hillier, Kenichi Nakayama, and Lizzy Lombardi. And I also must mention Simon Cooper from the print workshop for having to deal with me.” 

 

Inspired to tell your own story through fashion? Find out more about Fashion Design at BSU.