Tout Nouveau Blog

Graduate fashion Week has now closed its doors of opportunity for yet another year. Customarily, the culmination of three years hard work implemented by fashion BA graduates across the country was honoured in a celebrity infused gala awards ceremony on Wednesday evening.

To open the awards, Britain’s Got Talent winners Diversity dance group elated the sold-out audience with an explosive performance. An apt choice of entertainment for an event where emphasis is placed on nurturing emerging talent.

The first part of the awards was dedicated to fashion, media and promotion graduates with awards for journalism, creative and strategic marketing, as well as best fashion portfolio. An addition to this year’s awards was for the Best Catwalk Music by a university, which was presented by MOBO awards founder, Kanye King, and went to the University for Creative Arts Epsom.

King quoted: “UCA Epsom’s show was praised by the judges for the great variety of music selected by its students which really complemented their collections. Music ranged from opera, jazz, ethnic, drums, bagpipes, electronic and contemporary music from every genre.”

As we moved into the second part of the show, catwalk capsule collections by all finalists for the fashion design awards were showcased once again and reminded the captivated audience of the wealth of talent and hard work produced by this year’s graduates.

Mark Eley of Eley Kishimotto then gave out the award for Best International Collection and made an accessories statement with his oversized man-bag carry on. The award went to Roya Hesam, from the Amsterdam Fashion Institute. Other awards in this category included; BHM Knitwear Visionary Award, which went to Ledina Zhang of Northumbria University and the Zandra Rhodes Catwalk Textiles prize, which was claimed by De Montford University graduate Anna Lee.

Anna Lee’s Chinese dragon inspired collection was the highlight of Graduate Fashion Week for Tout Nouveau. Graphic prints in vibrant hues were mixed with luxurious soft fabrics and contrasting hard accessories – all clashing together to create exotic and mesmerising ensembles.

The most coveted awards of the week-long event were then distributed to; Thomas Crisp of Ravensbourne for Best Menswear collection, Rhea Fields of Northbrook College for Best Womenswear collection, and notably the prestigious River Island Gold Award and the £20,000 prize went to Manchester Metropolitan University graduate Rebecca Thomson.

Rebecca Thomson’s collection was constructed around the basic white shirt, with taut wide collars, oversized neck-ties and elaborate ruffle detailing, paired with grey marl sweatpants. A contemporary and skilful collection comprising innovation with wearable aesthetics – a true winner!

Gold Award winner Rebecca Thomson

This years UCA Epsom catalogue boldly introduces its BA (Hons) Fashion course as the degree that ‘sits at the heart’ of the Fashion institution. This has been evidently shown in their impressive stand (situated across from the champagne bar) and their meticulously proficient and innovative catwalk show, which took place on Sunday night.

Their show attracted one of the largest crowds yet, with few seats unfilled and few front row faces unconvinced, including the Daily Telegraph’s fashion editor Hilary Alexander, who wrote that “this was far from being a one-horse race”, with many of the collections drawing enthusiasm from the tough fashion crowd.

The show opened with the ethereal designs of Claire Zeng, whom has been one of the four designers from the show lucky enough to continue on in the Gold Award competition to win the £20,000 as picked up by UCA Rochester’s Myrto Stamou at last year’s event. Could this be two years in the running for UCA? With four designers selected from Epsom alone, they are most definitely in the running. Watch this space!

Zeng’s collection adopted a very clinical feel with PVC type fabrics in a cool colour palette and see-through panels exposing the body beneath. Despite the garments being loose fitting and distorted on the models bodies, the doll-like, blonde ringlet haired beauties brought a sense of softness and a prettiness to the collection.

Claire Zeng

Lucinda Ailes continued to please crowds with her take on the well-received patriotic theme, which has surfaced several times at this year’s catwalk shows.  The recognisable stars and stripes print in bold red, white and blue formed the base of her fashions with chunky knits introduced in neutral shades of cream and grey to add layers and softness to the gallant collection.

Lucinda Ailes

Highlights of the show included the earthy, tribal menswear collection as proposed by Katie Barrett, mens skirts were introduced in a new way, affixed to trousers and feminine pleats suddenly became masculine. Barrett transformed feminine elements into a collection that presented the crowd with a modern day warrior.

Katie Barrett

An aspirational show overall, Epsom has set the standard for this weeks catwalks, we look forward to seeing what else may surface this week at GFW. Stay central to remain in-the-know.