The Best of Show at Graduate Fashion Week 2018 housed many friendly faces to the organisation. It was a delight to see Graduate Fashion Week Founder Jeff Banks; Hilary Alexander OBE and Diane Von Furstenberg and Creative and Managing Director Martyn Roberts, amongst other crucial members of the Graduate Fashion Week team. The atmosphere was excitable and there was an immense feeling of pride as each collection was exhibited once again on the catwalk. Caryn Franklin MBE hosted the award ceremony and kept the audience engaged throughout. Each designer showcased an exceptionally high display of craftmanship and innovation in their garments. Edinburgh College of Art was featured an impressive six times out of the twenty-five collections shown on the catwalk.
Boux Avenue Lingerie Award
WINNER: Daniella Jayes, De Montfort University
“Amazing! It all paid off. It was the most challenging thing I’ve ever done so it was amazing that it was recognised at an event that celebrates such an array of talent.”
Boux Avenue Swimwear Award
WINNER: Lucy Nolan, Northumbria University
“Ecstatic, I think I’m speechless for the first time in my entire life.”
Dame Vivienne Westwood Sustainable and Ethical Award Sponsored by Levi's
WINNER: Aurelie Fontan, Edinburgh College of Art
“It was really interesting to meet the judges, they seemed really interested in my collection which is very intricate. I grew my own textiles for one of the pieces so I grew my own dress. I think they saw the effort that went into my collection.”
David Band Textiles
WINNER: Marta Kazmierczak, Edinburgh College of Art
“The main themes I looked at were spies and optical illusions.”
Drapers Fashion Publication
WINNER: Emma Dearling, Arts University Bournemouth
Fashion Marketing Award
WINNER: Daisy Ratcliff, Northumbria University
“I couldn’t believe it, I wasn’t expecting it to be honest.”
SIZE? FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD
WINNER: Natalie Campbell, Heriot-Watt University
“I’m shaking and nervous but it feels amazing.”
STYLING AND CREATIVE DIRECTION AWARD
WINNER: India Wright, Leeds Arts University
“I’m feeling very shocked; I didn’t think I’d win. It’s overwhelming.”
NEW BUSINESS AWARD
WINNER: Sebastian Collinge, Manchester Metropolitan University
“I’m feeling overwhelmed. When you’ve worked on something so hard and for so long and it’s finally come to life and to be able to win an award like this is a dream come true.”
NEW FASHION MEDIA
WINNER: Rebecca Howland, Birmingham City University
“My concept was created through research that I started in my dissertation and it was about sexualisation in the media. I feel shocked, I’m shaking.”
STAND AWARD
WINNER: Edinburgh College of Art
“The whole concept of the Edinburgh stand is about sustainability and we made sure that every part of our stand came from a sustainable source.”
YKK ACCESSORIES AWARD
WINNER: Essi Pekhuri, Nottingham Trent University
“I’m feeling amazing and stunned. It’s an honour, yes I’m really happy.”
GAP INC BEST CATWALK AWARD
WINNER: Edinburgh College of Art
“The whole concept of the Edinburgh stand is about sustainability and we made sure that every part of our stand came from a sustainable source.”
Words by Anna Tank and Rosie Smith
Photography by Molly Mears
