Real Sheepskin Association design award

The Real Sheepskin Association's Furniture/Furnishing Design Award 2005 was presented at the New Designers event which was held at London's Business Design Centre. The winning entry 'Purple Chill', upholstered in polished sheepskin, was designed by Lucas Opalinski of Bucks Chiltern University College. Lucas is a first year HND student on the college's furniture designer/maker course. The sheepskin was supplied by Fenland Sheepskin Co of Bridgwater, Somerset, and the upholstery was undertaken by Easirider of Northampton. Both companies are members of the Real Sheepskin Association. Opalinski received £1,000 prize money together with the highly prized College Plate. New Designers is an annual gathering of the work of more than 2,000 of the UK's brightest design students in a range of disciplines from goldsmithing to furniture and textiles.