GFW – The Winners!

This showcasing of talent was such a huge mixture, despite their short listing for the same award.

An obvious theme this year was bold prints and many designers accentuated hips and waists, bulking out the hips and creating a startling and definite silhouette, maybe this is a step away from the size zero, skimpy, skin hugging fashion of late and a step towards ‘normal' sized women in fashion.

The event was presented by Caryn Franklin and awards presented by various celebrities such as Agnes Dean, Claudia Shiffer and Richard Bradbury – River Island Chief Executive. It was great to see public faces supporting the graduate cause.

The Zandra Rhodes Catwalk Textiles Award nominees had a distinctive theme, with a brilliant, bold use of colour and print. The winning suits, although wearable and brave, were arguably hideous. The designer, Jessica Au hailing from Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication, received her award from a fabulous looking Zandra Rhodes.

Other nominees, Sarah Kennedy – Northumbria University of Fashion and Craig Fellows – University of Northampton, also used bold prints. Kennedy created a playful but utterly wearable collection using dolls and puppets as props. The Playsuit/All-in-One was great and getting hotter and hotter this year!

Fellows used a feminine Parisian look which was interesting and well crafted, with massive skirts neck ties and cinched waists.

The Pringle of Scotland Visionary Knitwear Award was given to Ria Thomas – Nottingham Trent University and it was well deserved. The neutral and simple colours were contrasted with the amazing skilful and complex knit.

The collections in this category all seemed a little inconsistent and the inspiration seemed stretched.

Domingo Rodriguez – Liverpool John Moores University, won the River Island Menswear Award. His collection was outstanding, completely high street compatible and I am thrilled that he won. The outfits featured greys, black and white and combined knit, mesh and cotton. One of the best pieces used sequins and another was an All-In-One with a grey waistcoat and trousers with an interesting button up crotch…just an excuse to stare!

The winner of the Women's Wear Award– presented by the beautiful Claudia Shiffer – went to Nabil El Nayal from the Manchester School of Art. His show was haunting and hypnotic, a refreshing change from the usual bass-busting catwalk tunes. His best piece was a ‘Sleep Dress' with huge sleets and beautifully made. The tailoring looked Victorian-esque but the material and style brought this collection right up to date. The one problem with this collection was the models (many of whom, this year, were terrible). In one of his shows the model in the ‘Sleep Dress' was angelic and had huge eyes setting off the dress perfectly, but in the last show the dress was worn by a more seductive looking model which just did not work.

The overall River Island Gold Award went to Jessica Au for her collection of men's suits. The huge, floral prints used were brave but hideous and many people admitted to being disappointed with the result. Au showed skill and bravery with colour and print with her un-wearable but exciting men's suits.

Words Jemima Compton
Photos Gabriel Coreuera Zubillaga 

Graduate Fashion Week Gala Show

11^th June 2008, Earls Court 2 Exhibition Centre, London

River Island Gold Award

   JESSICA AU – RAVENSBOURNE COLLEGE OF DESIGN AND COMMUNICATION

Pringle Of Scotland Visionary Knitwear Award                                 

   RIA THOMAS – NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY

Zandra Rhodes Catwalk Textiles Award                                           

   JESSICA AU – RAVENSBOURNE COLLEGE OF DESIGN AND COMMUNICATION

River Island Menswear

   DOMINGO RODRIGUEZ – LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES UNIVERSITY

River Island Womenswear                                                                

   NABIL EL NAYAL – MANCHESTER SCHOOL OF ART

Strategic Marketing Award

   THOMAS HOPKINS

Creative Marketing Award

   EMILY BELL

Stand Design Award

   NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY FASHION

Portfolio Award

   POPPY DOVER

Colour and Texture SDC Award

   LAURA FAUVEL

Mullberry Accessories Award

   SARAH KENNEDY

New Fashion Innovation

   THOMAS ROTHERY

National Magazine ‘First Word' Journalism Award

   JENNIFER WIEBKING

Media and Design Award

   LESLEY SCHOFIELD