Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
February 5, 2007
Newfoundland and Labrador Craft Producers
Win Awards
Two Newfoundland and Labrador companies
and a College of the North Atlantic student won awards at the Atlantic
Craft Trade Show, held February 3 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Scraps of Beachside near, Springdale, won the Award in Excellence in
Product Design, and Abbyshot Clothiers Limited of Mount Pearl won the
Award in Excellence for Outstanding Exporter. Gillian Slaney of St.
John's won the Heather Stone Emerging Artist Award, given in memory of a
former employee of the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural
Development. The Honourable Trevor Taylor, Minister of Innovation, Trade
and Rural Development, was in Halifax on Saturday to attend the show and
present the awards.
Scraps is owned and operated by Melanie and Lynette Butt, a
mother-and-daughter team who design and produce handbags, totes,
accessories and purses. Abbyshot Clothiers is owned and operated by
Bonnie Cook and Adam Bragg. It designs and manufactures high-end movie
replica clothing as worn by characters in popular films such as The
Matrix, Equilibrium, and Kill Bill. Gillian Slaney is enrolled in the
College of the North Atlantic's Textile Studies Program.
“I congratulate Scraps and Abbyshot on winning these awards,” said
Minister Taylor. “Abbyshot has built a company almost entirely through
Internet sales, and Scraps demonstrates how it is possible to design,
manufacture, and sell fashion accessories from rural Newfoundland and
Labrador. I also congratulate Gillian Slaney on winning the Heather
Stone Emerging Artist Award. It is encouraging to see our artists being
recognized for their talent and promise. They are all to be commended on
their achievements. ”
Adam Bragg, who accepted the Outstanding Exporter Award for Abbyshot
Clothiers, said he was pleased the company had earned the recognition of
craft organizations and industry people. “It tells us that we are being
noticed in a positive way and makes us feel proud that our efforts are
being recognized,” he said.
“I was flattered the craft council nominated us for this award. I am
surprised and grateful that we have received it," said Melanie Butt of
Scraps which received the Excellence in Product Design award. She added
that the Newfoundland and Labrador Craft Council and the Department of
Innovation, Trade and Development have been a useful resource for
information and assistance to craft producers. "They have always been
very supportive," she said.
The Atlantic Craft Trade Show is Atlantic Canada’s largest wholesale
craft trade show and attracts 1,200 international buyers annually. There
are approximately 2,000 craft producers in Newfoundland and Labrador who
contribute over $38 million annually to the provincial economy.
Photo #1: Heather Stone Emerging Artist
Award - Presented by Dan and Joan Stone to winner, Gillian Slaney of St.
John's. Gillian is a second year student of the College of the North
Atlantic's textile studies program. She received a $250 bursary.
Photo #2: Melanie Butt of Scraps of
Beachside accepting the Excellence for Product Design Award from The Honourable Trevor Taylor, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural
Development.
Photo #3: Adam Bragg of Abbyshot
Clothiers of St. John's accepting the Outstanding Exporter Award from
The Honourable Trevor Taylor, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural
Development.
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Media contact:
Lynn Evans
Director of Communications
Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
709-729-4570, 690-6290
LynnEvans@gov.nl.ca
2007 02 05
11:15 a.m.
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