Presented by Dalbir Bains, founder of Red de Moda

Fireside Chat to kick off GFW 2026! A conversation with British-Caribbean designer, artist and entrepreneur Dr. Samuel Ross MBE, whose multidisciplinary practice has redefined the intersection of fashion, industrial design and contemporary culture. Best known as the founder of A-COLD-WALL* and design studio SR_A, Ross has become internationally recognised for bridging luxury fashion, architecture, industrial materials and social commentary through his work.

This conversation will explore his journey from launching and scaling a globally recognised brand to building long-term collaborations with partners including Nike, Apple and LVMH, while reflecting on creativity, resilience and cultural impact. 

Guests can expect insight into entrepreneurship, collaboration, innovation and the evolving future of fashion and design from one of the industry’s most influential multidisciplinary voices.

In Conversation With: Angela (Tendere) Okoro, HR Director at JW Anderson

Discover the best selection of looks by design graduates from our member universities as they showcase their collections on the catwalk:

• Anglia Ruskin University

• Cambridge School of Visual & Performing Arts

• Coventry University

• Leeds Arts University

• London College of Contemporary Arts

• Northbrook College

• Solent University

• University of Derby

• University of Staffordshire

Hosted by Elizabeth Stiles, this panel explores how fashion marketing and social media careers are rapidly evolving in today’s digital landscape. Bringing together perspectives from brand founders, marketers and content strategists, the discussion will unpack what brands are really looking for when hiring emerging talent, how audience-building has transformed modern fashion businesses, and the skills graduates need to stand out in an increasingly competitive industry.

Elizabeth Stiles is a leading fashion business consultant, podcast host and former fashion buyer with experience across brands including Next, Miss Selfridge, Urban Outfitters and New Look. Through The Fashion Brand Clinic podcast, she helps independent fashion businesses grow through strategic marketing, operations and brand development.

Presented by PETA

Presented by F&F, this session offers an inside look into two of fashion retail’s most essential career paths: buying and merchandising. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of the day-to-day responsibilities behind product selection, trend forecasting, commercial strategy and consumer insight, while hearing directly from industry professionals about the realities, challenges and opportunities within these roles.

Presented by Denza

Featuring Elodie Bougenault and Yi Ng, this conversation explores the realities of navigating leadership within the global luxury fashion industry as women operating at the highest levels of business. From scaling internationally recognised brands to leading innovation, partnerships and transformation across major fashion houses, the panel will offer valuable insight into leadership, resilience, entrepreneurship and redefining power structures within luxury fashion today.

Meet the speakers: Elodie Bougenault is Chief Commercial Officer at Manolo Blahnik, where she oversees global commercial strategy and international growth. Across a career spanning more than two decades, she has held senior leadership roles at luxury houses including Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Boucheron and La Perla. Yi Ng is the Co-Founder and CEO of SR_A and former Co-Founder of A-COLD-WALL*. Recognised for pioneering innovative business models across fashion, design and technology, she has collaborated with global partners including Inditex, Apple, Nike and LVMH.

Discover design graduates from our members: Arts University Bournemouth and Bath Spa University, as they showcase their collections on the catwalk.

Head to the careers talk!

Panel talk showcasing roles that didn’t exist in fashion before! From being a Tik Tok fashion commentator, digital fashion designer, a vintage curator/archivist to a data analyst. Featuring speakers: Chani Ra - Tik Tok Creator @thefashionnap, Carmen Martínez Ferrer - Senior Data Analyst at FARFETCH, Ryan Yip - EIC & Founder of Fashion Review, moderated by Natalie Salmon - Fashion-Tech Expert & Founder of The Modems.

Discover design graduates from member university Nottingham Trent, as they showcase their collections on the catwalk.

Graduate Fashion Week partner F&F showcase their collections on the catwalk as a day one finale.

Panel Talk with guest speakers from LEFTY and TIK TOK

Experience a selection of menswear at GFW from across our member talents.

Join us at the Careers Talk!

British-Bangladeshi entrepreneur and Creative Director Rokeya Khanum shares her journey of building Khanum's from the ground up into a recognised contemporary womenswear brand known for its elevated made-to-order approach. Raised in East London by Bangladeshi immigrant parents who worked in garment production, Rokeya developed an early understanding of fashion manufacturing, entrepreneurship and the realities of the industry from a young age.

This conversation will explore the realities of launching and scaling a modern fashion business, from manufacturing and social media growth to leadership, resilience and building a brand with purpose. Attendees can expect valuable insight into entrepreneurship, slow fashion, community impact and navigating the challenges of building a business without a traditional support system.

Join us for the careers talk!

Discover design graduates from members: University of Lancashire and Norwich University of the Arts, as they showcase their collections on the catwalk.

As circularity becomes increasingly central to the future of fashion, this panel brings together founders and innovators building businesses rooted in reuse, remanufacturing and waste reduction. Exploring both the opportunities and challenges within the circular economy, the discussion will offer practical insight into sustainable business models, material innovation and how brands can rethink production and consumption systems for the future.

Meet the speakers: Genia Mineeva is the founder of BEEN London, an award-winning accessories brand creating products entirely from waste-derived materials. A former BBC journalist, she is also a lecturer and advisor specialising in circular business models and sustainable innovation. Katherine Soucie is a British-Canadian artist, designer and textile waste researcher specialising in upcycling, remanufacturing and creative reuse. Through her studio practice and research, she explores innovative ways to transform textile waste into fashion, art and material solutions.

Panel Guest speakers: Dalbir Bains (Founder of Red de Moda ) and Michael O'Gorman (Founder of Assisting Work).

This session offers an inside look at how fashion campaigns are conceived, developed and delivered at scale. From initial creative insight through to production, styling, storytelling and execution, the panel will break down the full lifecycle of a campaign and the collaborative roles involved. Guests  will gain a clearer understanding of how commercial and creative teams work together to bring fashion storytelling to life across multiple channels.

Fireside Chat with guest speaker: Alana O’Flynn, Innovation Designer

Discover design graduates from member university De Montfort, as they showcase their collections on the catwalk.

Presented by F&F.

In this candid conversation, Emma Hill reflects on her journey from fashion industry professional to founder of one of the UK’s fastest-growing contemporary brands. Covering career progression, entrepreneurship, brand-building and sustainable growth, this session will provide valuable insight into what it takes to scale a fashion business in today’s rapidly changing industry landscape.

Emma Hill is the Founder of Damson Madder, a contemporary fashion brand recognised for its community-driven approach and focus on responsible fashion. Prior to launching the brand, she built an extensive career in the fashion industry spanning across 40 years, working with globally recognised retailers and brands.

Discover design graduates from member university Sheffield Hallam, as they showcase their collections on the catwalk.

A curated catwalk of excellence from across our university members, in partnership with Liberty Fabrics.

Hear from the experts who pivoted and found success

Discover design graduates from international member universities, as they showcase their collections on the catwalk.

Join us at the careers talk!

Join us at the GFW Live!

Hosted by Dalbir Bains, Founder of Red de Moda

Discover design graduates from member universities JCA London Fashion Academy & Winchester School of Art, as they showcase their collections on the catwalk.

This discussion explores how fashion brands can embed responsibility and ethics into every stage of their business while operating at scale. Covering sourcing, production, supply chain transparency and design decisions, the panel will examine the practical realities of creating more accountable fashion systems. Attendees can expect honest insights into the challenges, trade-offs and innovations shaping a more responsible future for mainstream fashion retail.

Masterclass hosted by Lucy Kebbell, Founder of The WIP

In conversation with Rosemary Moore MARCA FRSA, Director of Maxxam Textiles and Peter Hornung, Creator and developer at Round Rivers.

Discover design graduates from member University for the Creative Arts, as they showcase their collections on the catwalk.

Featuring: Nina Briance (Founder of Cult Mia), Karen Grillo (Advertising Strategist at Meta & Co-Founder of The Dress Archives) and Polina Mikhailova (Founder of 11:11 LUCK). Hosted by Naomi Davies (Founder of NMD Marketing)

From design and forecasting to marketing and supply chains, artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the fashion industry. This panel explores how emerging technologies and digital fashion innovations are reshaping creative processes, consumer experiences and future career opportunities, while also addressing the ethical and cultural questions surrounding AI’s growing influence within fashion.

Featuring guests: Nicholas Betts - Founder and CEO of ZERØTEC, Hal Wattsn- Founder and CEO of UNMADE, Louise Laing - Digital Fashion Designer and Metaverse Consultant & Founder of Phygital Twin, Tulasi Parmar - Founder of Phygital fashion brand TULASI.

Discover design graduates from member university Northumbria, as they showcase their collections on the catwalk.

This session demystifies careers in fashion PR, communications and influencing, offering practical guidance from professionals working across the industry today. From securing your first role to building a personal brand and navigating the evolving media landscape, the panel will share real-world advice on how to stand out and succeed. Attendees will gain insight into what brands are actually looking for in emerging talent and creators.

Private Schools & Colleges.

Panel Talk

It can be a challenge to know what opportunities are out there for young people interested in developing their creativity. This panel talk will share workshops, courses and events designed specifically for under 18’s across the UK, from the V&A Upstart Festival to Fashion Minority Report workshops. 

Private Schools & Colleges.

Create Your Career Vision Board!

We welcome The Fashion Accelerator designers, photographers and stylists to GFW Live! to share their experiences with students for Schools & Colleges Day.

As the industry faces growing conversations around sustainability, technology, representation and new consumer behaviours, the next generation of creatives will play a defining role in shaping fashion’s future. This forward-looking discussion explores the ideas, values and innovations emerging talent are bringing into the industry — and what fashion must evolve into over the next decade.

Speakers include: Abbie Morris - Co-founder of Compare Ethics, Rebecca Morter - Founder + CEO Lone Design Club, Victoria Jenkins- Founder of Adaptive platform Unhidden.

Invite only. Discover the best selection of looks by design graduates from our member universities, as they showcase their collections on the catwalk.