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Graduate wins prize at Krefeld run
Krefeld, August 12. The Ruhr region, mining and sustainability. These are the three sources of inspiration for Katerina Amprazi, who secured 2000 euros in prize money at the Krefelder Laufmasche design competition. With her design, she combines sustainable fabrics with the aesthetics and past of the Ruhr region.
A total of 22 young designers, two from the Hochschule Niederrhein, took part in the Krefelder Laufmasche and presented their final projects to a jury. Third place went to Katerina Amprazi, a master's graduate from The Hochschule Niederrhein, with her project "postMONTAN."
"The collection is completely knitted and was inspired by industrial culture from the Ruhr region and the working clothes of miners and steelworkers," Amprazi says of her work. She placed a focus on using sustainable materials. For example, she used various yarns made from wool, which are not only particularly sustainable but also versatile. For her motifs, she made use of old collieries and industrial buildings in the region. "I am very happy for Ms. Amprazi, who succeeded with her thesis in translating the value culture of the Ruhr region with a sense of home and future-oriented structural change into a modern, exciting and sustainable collection," says Prof. Ellen Bendt, who supervised Amprazi during her thesis.
Charlotte Weber, a student in the Degree programme in Design Engineering at the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, also attended the competition with her collection "Empowered". She focused on vegan fashion for strong women. She used only animal-free and recycled materials for her pieces, which have a high fit accuracy. Her garments are closely tailored to the female silhouette, emphasizing female body shapes and feminine details.
The competition was organized by the city of Krefeld. Part of the jury were Prof. Nora Gummert-Hauser, Dean of the Faculty of Design, and Prof. Karin Stark, who works at the Faculty of Textile and Clothing Technology. The participants were able to present their results in construction containers, which they could design themselves. The participants' projects can be viewed on the Krefeld website.

The Hochschule Niederrhein, with currently 14,200 students, is one of the largest and most efficient universities for applied sciences in Germany with campuses in Krefeld and Mönchengladbach. Our profile in teaching education and research combines technology and society. With over 80 Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes, we open up perspectives for young people. Thanks to problem- and transfer-oriented research, we are an innovative driving force for companies in the region. We ensure that our society can approach challenges well prepared. The Hochschule Niederrhein was founded in 1971. Its roots go back to 1855, when the Crefeld Higher Weaving School was founded.