GFW2018 Gala Show Winners
08-09-2024
Graduate Fashion Week 2018 drew to a close with the prestigious Gala Show and Awards Ceremony hosted by Professor Caryn Franklin MBE.
Judges included high profile industry names such as Diane Von Furstenberg heading up the Gold Award, Oliver Spencer and Henry Holland with the awards taking place at the home of Graduate Fashion Week, The Truman Brewery in Shoreditch, London.
(Diane Von Furstenberg looking at the designs on show image courtesy of GFW by Stefan Jakubowski)
Professor Caryn Franklin MBE began with a personal message from Prime Minister Theresa May, offering her support and well wishes to all students and universities involved, which read:
“I wanted to wish you every success for your Gala show, and to congratulate the winners of tonight’s awards.
I am very proud of the UK’s fashion industry. From street style to haute couture, some of the most iconic brands and biggest names in the business hail from the UK.
We are leaders in design, innovation, textiles, and our fashion colleges and universities are among the very best in the world. The sector contributes over £28 billion pounds to the UK economy, supports nearly 900,000 jobs and exports over £10 billion pounds to international markets.
The charity, Graduate Fashion Week, plays such an important role in the process of identifying and nurturing the very best of new talent at this crucial stage in their careers, helping ensure the next generation of gifted individuals can go on to secure leading roles in the industry. I look forward to hearing about the winners and wish them every success for the future.”
Now in its 27th year, Graduate Fashion Week showcases the latest innovative and exciting emerging talent from 36 of the UK’s leading fashion Universities across 4-days.
The prestigious Christopher Bailey Gold Award, named after the first winner of the award in 1992, Christopher Bailey, was awarded to Rebecca Wilson (Arts University Bournemouth) for her menswear, womenswear and childrenswear collection. Judges for the award included Diane Von Furstenberg, Nathan Jenden, Christopher Raeburn and Fabio Piras.
(Designs by Gold Award Winner – Rebecca Wilson image courtesy of GFW)
Rebecca Wilson said, “I feel ecstatic, can’t believe it, what an incredible award to win. My collection is inspired by Victorian working-class clothing and Victorian family portraits looking at the beauty in the wear and tear of garments.”
The Debenhams Menswear Award was presented to Hannah Gibbons (University of Brighton) for her product development and textile design to dying and the creation of all of the textures, Hannah was said to truly understand her customer and the judges understood her customer as well.
Hannah Gibbons said, “Amazing, it’s so nice to be working on something for years and to have received such a great response to it.”
M&S Womenswear Award was presented to Aurelie Fontan (Edinburgh College of Art) for the delivery which was incredible and it was really fashion meet science.
(Image right design by Jacaranda Brain by Chris Daw)
The Visionary Knitwear Award was presented to Fraser Miller (De Montfort University) and Jacaranda Brain (Nottingham Trent University) as the judges were so impressed by the different approaches of the students, they thought they both deserved the visionary title in their own way.
Jacaranda Brain said, “Really happy, really nice to have won a collection based on a weird little creature under the sea that I based a sculpture on.”
The Catwalk Textiles Award went to Aurelie Fontan (Edinburgh College of Art). The judges were surprised that nearly every student has some interest in textile manipulation and thought the collections were great as fashion collections as students used lots of colour. We particularly like Aurelie’s collection, as she showed real passion.
The Hilary Alexander Trailblazer Award sponsored by Swarovski has gone to Evelyne Babin (University for the Creative Arts Epsom) for the social message that she gave.
The George Catwalk to Store Award went to Louise Clarke (Manchester School of Art) for her desire to inspire others.
The Bonmarché Fashion For All Award went to Bethany Wainwright (University of Central Lancashire).
The Mothercare Childrenswear Award went to Sarah Fielden (Arts University of Bournemouth) and the Mothercare Catwalk Award went to Hanah Lewin (Birmingham City University).
The Clarks Footwear Award was awarded to Charles Mein (Arts University of Bournemouth).
The TU at Sainsbury’s Womenswear Scholarship went to Jennifer Healy (Manchester School of Art).
The Tu at Sainsbury’s Menswear Scholarship was awarded to Molly Hopwood (University of Leeds).
The Boohoo Social Media Award went to Alicia Brown (Leeds Arts University). Judged by Ellie Kelsall and Sam Marvin.
ASOS Future Communications Award was awarded to Jamie Windust (University for the Creative Arts Epsom) while the Future Talent Design Award went to Charlotte Heley (University of Leeds).
Winner Jamie Windust said, “Feeling good and very happy, it’s been a lot of hard work and it’s a very personal project. Although as LGBT people we don’t need mass market validation it’s always nice to have that, as I think people like me going into things like this thinking I’m not going to win, as it’s a fairly niche project so to have that validity from a company like ASOS.”
Boux Avenue Swimwear Award went to Lucy Nolan (Northumbira University) while the Lingerie Award was awarded to Daniella Jayes (De Montfort University).
Dame Vivienne Westwood Sustainable and Ethical Award Sponsored by LEVIS went to Aurelie Fontan (Edinburgh College of Art).
David Band Textiles was awarded to Marta Kazmierczak (Edinburgh College of Art).
Drapers Publication Award was given to Emma Dearling (Arts University Bournemouth).
Fashion Marketing was awarded to Daisy Ratcliff (Northumbira University).
size? Fashion Photography Award was awarded to Natalie Campbell (Heriot-Watt University).
Fashion Styling & Creative Direction was awarded to India Wright (Leeds Arts University).
New Business Award was awarded to Sebastian Collinge (Manchester Metropolitan University).
The Superdry Outerwear Award was given to Helena Green (Liverpool John Moores University).
(Helena Green design left by Chris Daw.)
The Stand Award was awarded to Edinburgh College of Art who’s concept was sustainability, using recycled plastics and ensuring the whole stand was reusable. For example, the plants on the stand, will be rehomed in the Royal Edinburgh Hospital Community Gardens.
YKK Accessories Award was given to Essi Pekhuri from Nottingham Trent University.
Tessuti Sports & Leisurewear Award was given to Georgia Lyne from Nottingham Trent University for her collection inspired by youth culture combined with the old teenage gang of old teddy boys mashed up with the road men of London today.
GAP Inc. Best Catwalk Show Award was awarded to Edinburgh College of Art.
New Fashion Media Award was awarded to Rebecca Howland from Birmingham City University for her work which focused on sexualisation within the media.
Congratulations to all the award winners and all that took part in GFW 2018.
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