Models wearing collections from the graduating students of eight universities: Glasgow School of Art, Greater Brighton Metropolitan University, Falmouth University, Leeds Art University, Plymouth College of Arts, University of Huddersfield, Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts, and Solent University, who walked the first show of the event at GFW19.
Designer Ka Yee Lee, a graduate from the Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts opened with his menswear collection which featured futuristic-like deconstructed suits. Soon followed the collections of students Chloe Sheppard and Sam Wood, from Falmouth University and Glasgow School of Art, respectively. The former showed a collection which included streetwear lines and interesting inserts such as illustrations of Margaret Thatcher’s face.
Celine Constantinides’s collection turned heads and was highly acclaimed from the public with her scenographic shapes: her womenswear collection featured beautiful syren-shaped gowns in predominantly black and red colours, with a series of semi-petticudes applied to the outside of the garments. Other highlights from the show include Jenny Moorby’s collection, an ensemble of floral and checked patterns, and Jade Rogers’s collection, which showed unconventional shapes that recalled the traditional Chinese lanterns.
Another designer, Laura Shannon Harding, who exhibited her collection in an explosion of colours, said “I am thrilled to be taking part in this incredible event, it’s an honour!”. She then moved on to show us her most interesting piece, which is made of hundreds of sequins and hand-sewn embellishments. For her inspiration, Laura said: “I looked at festival culture and my main inspiration is psychedelic drugs, that’s why I have such vivid colours in my patterns”.
Written by Sara Liberati
Photography by Jade Berry, Wainam Cheung and Becky Louise