Way Out West
18-06-2009
The economy may well have slowed down but the cogs of fashion certainly keep turning. In recent weeks fashion folk have turned their attention to the industry’s graduates. After all it’s never too early to discover fashions ‘next big thing.’
Those on show included The London College of Fashion, Central Saint Martin’s and the Royal College of Art. While Graduate Fashion Week at London’s Earl’s Court played host to 22 catwalk shows from Universities spanning the country and crowned Myrto Samou from the University of the Creative Arts Rochester as winner of the prestigious River Island Gold award.
New to the graduate show schedule this season was Bath Spa University. Staged against the elegant backdrop of the Assembly Rooms, in central Bath, 19 grads presented their collections alongside tasters from 1st and 2nd year students.
The BA Fashion Design course was set up at the University five years ago and is already gaining a positive reputation. Recent graduates have gone on to work with brands such as Mulberry, Erdem, Joseph and Giles Deacon. While last February student Holly Simkins was selected as a finalist for the FAD (Fashion Awareness Direct) show held during London Fashion Week.
Course Leader for Fashion, Louise Pickles commented that the graduate show would provide “a fantastic opportunity for our students and the event will form the show reel for application to show on the catwalks in London for 2010.”
The University brought in veteran catwalk producer John Walford to create the debut show complete with professional London based models. The graduates, meanwhile, presented collections that displayed a great mix of cohesiveness, creativity and commercial appeal.
Kayley Beeson opened the show with a collection that merged strong naval influences with sinuous feminine silhouettes. Meanwhile Emily Crane juxtaposed slinky silk jersey with chunky knit boleros and accessories. The contrast in textures worked beautifully, as did the combination of silver, grey and cream accessorized with lime, magenta and petrol blue. Elsewhere, Charlotte Scaplehorn presented a feminine take on medieval suits of armour and Lindsay Dovey brought experimental shapes and intricate pleats to the party.
Over to the boys, and Greg Dodd’s models looked part-skinhead part-raver with checks, high-waists, braces and hoods aplenty. On the flip side Jenna Button opted for a more tailored route albeit in a contemporary functional sense, the term ‘smart/casual’ sums her collection up to a T.
There is no doubt that the fashion design sector is notoriously competitive but press recognition and secured internships, with the likes of Fashion Week favourite Marios Schwab, can concede that Bath Spa University is already making its mark on the industry.
JoJo Iles
