On A High: The Royal College of Art Fashion Grads 2007

 

London’s prestigious Royal College of Art kicked off graduate season 2007 with collections from 35 of its postgraduates. Choc-full of inspirational ideas it is no wonder that the students from the RCA go on to fill some of the top design positions in the industry.

 

 

 

Packed to the rafters with not an inch of space to spare the catwalk show had something for everyone from cutting-edge tailoring to sensuous knits to intense flashes of vibrant drama. The new mood, which you could not fail to ignore, was indeed colourful and larger-than-life with a touch of nu-rave here and futuristic references there. Not forgetting to mention a resurgence of the 80s, which let’s face it, has been bubbling in the background for a while now. From Frankie Goes to Hollywood to Madonna’s ‘Material Girl’ it was the 80s reunited – all with a brand new twist of course.

 

 

 

Milliner Soren Bach displayed a collection of fun fur headpieces, the inspiration: Cartoon Couture, while Holly Fulton’s mosaic-like womenswear designs saw a new play on traditional couture and appliqué techniques. Elsewhere Ian Scott Kettle contrasted his graphic digital prints with billowing sleeves and feminine silhouettes.

 

 

 

Royal College of Art Fashion Show 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

{mosimage} “This year’s graduating students have produced a diverse, colourful collection with close attention to detail. There is an emphasis on silhouette and form from womenswear and menswear,” said Professor Wendy Dagworthy, Head of Fashion and Textiles. “Millinery has a great sense of drama and footwear and accessories are beautifully crafted. All of these elements make for a highly accomplished, technically skilled and wonderfully creative graduating year; these designers are poised to make the move into their professional careers,” she added.

 

 

 

While the likes of Timothy James Andrews, Teerabul Songvich and James Holman experimented with a plethora of tones, the menswear grads, for the most part, kept it fairly monochrome with a keen eye on creative detail. However, the exception to the rule came from design duo Peter Smith & Christian Zuzunaga with their collection of oversized silhouettes combined with digitally inspired patchwork prints. James Long, meanwhile, combined style and practicality with utilitarian bags that can be zipped up and worn around the body.

 

 

 

Rounding the show off milliner Justin Smith ousted conventional models for the likes of jugglers, tattooed couples, clowns and dwarfs. The hats, meanwhile, reflected ‘Le Cirque Macabre’ from 5ft stovepipes to feathered headpieces that doubled up into burlesque fans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

www.rca.ac.uk

 

 

 

 

By JoJo Iles

 

 

 

 

Images courtesy of the Royal College of Art Media Department