Latest news with #GraduateFashionWeek
Fashion United
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fashion United
Graduate to Watch: Alicia Bambury from Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts
Graduate Fashion Week (GFW), which ran from June 13 to 16, showcased the best BA degree design talent from across the country, spotlighting talent across 26 different fashion disciplines, including fashion and textile design, styling and creative direction, as well as photography and marketing. This GFW also spotlighted the best talent in menswear with a dedicated catwalk show, honouring graduates working across tailoring, streetwear, and sustainable fashion design to offer a 'fresh and personal take on modern menswear'. Nicola Hitchens, director and head of special projects and communications at Graduate Fashion Foundation, said the move to host a dedicated menswear show this year was to celebrate the 'depth and diversity of emerging menswear design' in a market that is 'often underrepresented'. The catwalk show also showcased the collections from the emerging designers up for the coveted GFW Menswear Award, with Alicia Bambury from Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts being announced the winner at the Best of GFW Gala on the final day. Bambury won the award in recognition of her creative talent and use of sustainable practices in her designs in a collection that paid tribute to her grandfather. GFW Menswear Award winner Alicia Bambury, Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts Credits: Graduate Fashion Week Alicia Bambury winner of the GFW Menswear Award FashionUnited spoke with Bambury following her GFW wins to discuss the inspiration behind her menswear collection, why she chose to study at the Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts, her advice for future fashion students and plans for the future. Why did you want to be a fashion designer? I used to do a lot of crafts and sewing with my nan when I was younger. I remember making a dress for my school disco with her one time and she still shows the photo to me every time we talk about me sewing my collection. I have just been obsessed with textiles and design ever since. What was the inspiration for your graduate collection My final collection and dissertation were very linked and came about from the collection of photo slides found in my great-granddad's house. I really wanted my designs to be inspired by the photos and the clothes featured in them but also include the actual images onto the designs themselves. What fabrics/techniques did you use? All my fabrics were either dead stock fabrics donated to the fabric library in my studio or blankets and lace curtains given to me by my family, as well as ones found in charity shops. I also used cowhide cutoffs from a local leather worker and sheep fleece from a small farm in Cambridge. Using natural fibres along with deadstock and older fabrics was really important to me while designing. I really loved the technique of cyanotype printing onto lace doilies to resemble pictures and lace found in the home, which I see featured in a lot of the old family photos. Alongside this, I included a lot of knitwear and crochet aspects done by both me and other family members to keep family within the creating process. Why did you opt to focus on menswear? I didn't actually set out originally for my whole collection to be menswear, however, throughout the design process, I resonated a lot more with the designers that focused on a male model. Overall, I just really liked the idea of playing with the 'home' feeling mixed with the masculine. For my final photoshoot for my collection, I actually had my grandad model for me and I'm glad I did because it made the project feel like it had come full circle in a way. Aside from being a menswear collection, I wanted it to be something that both older and younger men could wear and pass on. GFW Menswear Award winner Alicia Bambury, Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts Credits: Graduate Fashion Week What does it mean to you to win a Graduate Fashion Week award? I honestly still can't believe it when I started this project, I was just hoping to get on the GFW runway I would never have thought it would lead to me getting an award I am so grateful. Did you enjoy your Graduate Fashion Week experience? I had an amazing time it was a very busy weekend but totally worth it. I felt like I made a lot of connections, and it was so cool to see all the collections come together on the runway. I think the men's runway was my favourite part of the weekend even before I found out I had won, the energy was so good, and you could really see how engaged everyone was with all the collections. Why did you choose to study at the Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts? I chose to do fashion design at Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts because the small class size appealed to me. I think I benefited from having more one-on-one time with the tutors. I would definitely recommend it just feels like the tutors know your collection as well as you know it yourself. I think the area also just made Cambridge feel very cosy I suppose, which made me feel at home there. I actually did a project based on the gothic architecture of Cambridge in my second year because I love all the old buildings there and the view we have from our studio looks over multiple churches and I just love it. What was the most valuable thing you learned during your course? I think the most valuable thing I have taken out of the last three years is to not doubt myself. I started off university pretty quiet and maybe didn't push myself as much as I could have, but looking back now I feel like a much more confident version of myself both in myself and my work. What do you wish you had been told before you started your degree? I had to think about this one and I think it is just to be prepared at how much you can throw yourself into projects. It takes up a lot of time and both mental and physical energy, especially if the project is something you are passionate about. Also, be prepared for a lot of mixed feedback and don't always take it as criticism - take it as advice. That's the best way to learn and push yourself in different directions. What are your plans now that you've graduated? Firstly, I want some time to take in GFW as well as the accomplishment of finishing this degree and celebrate. Other than that, start looking for some design jobs and work in the industry! I would like to do some collaborations either with this collection or do some commissions with some new work. What advice would you give someone considering studying fashion? Throw yourself into every project you get you will regret it if you don't. It might feel a bit pointless at the time, but it is worth it you don't want to look back and wish you did it better. You don't know when you will get the chance again to experiment with designs and techniques like you can with university projects. Alicia Bambers' work can be seen on her Instagram page @
BBC News
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Northumbria fashion student wins award after sight loss
A fashion student who temporarily lost her eyesight has gone on to win an award for her graduate collection which was inspired by Ashton, from Esh Winning in Country Durham, created "Giz A Fiver" in tribute to her working-class collection incorporated vintage sportswear, including the famous black and white stripes of Newcastle United's illness in her last two terms meant everyone around her was busily finishing their work while she "couldn't use a sewing machine", she said. "I was stuck at home and had to recover," she 23-year-old was forced to take time out of university and, at one point, thought she would never finish her pieces."I was watching all of the other girls around, who were so excited to finish their collection, and I couldn't use a sewing machine," she said. The Northumbria University student became unwell and started to experience chronic migraines in early then led to the loss of sight in her left eye and she ended up needing treatment in NHS says migraines affect six million people in the UK with more women experiencing them than treatment, Miss Ashton regained her sight and managed to finish her collection in time for Graduate Fashion Week in London earlier this month, where she was awarded "highly commended"."It was crazy," she said. "After being so ill I never expected to get to London Graduate Fashion Week with three looks."When everyone was talking about it I had to put it to the back of my mind, because the most important thing was finishing my degree." The annual fashion event showcases the creations of more than 3,000 students working in 26 different fashion disciplines at more than 95 UK and international Ashton says she sourced a lot of the materials for her collection from second hand and charity shops to make it as cost effective as possible. "I don't exactly have the biggest budget to play with so it was really important that I showed how accessible the industry could be," she University fashion programmes director Sarah Walton said it was "incredibly important" for students to lean into their background when creating their designs. "We find that some of the most successful projects that we have are about a student's cultural heritage," she said. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Fashion United
19-06-2025
- Business
- Fashion United
Graduate to Watch: Kitty Carr-Lake from Leeds University
This week the 34th edition of Graduate Fashion Week, the world's largest showcase of BA degree talent, took place in London, celebrating the work of more than 3,500 of the very best fashion graduates. One of those graduates honoured at the annual showcase was Kitty Carr-Lake, a graduate from the BA Fashion Design Innovation course at the University of Leeds, School of Design, who won the coveted Debenhams Commercial Catwalk Award. The accolade, which celebrates graduate talent with a 'contemporary commercial eye,' was awarded to Carr-Lake for impressing the judges with her 'technically innovative and ready for the Debenhams customer' collection inspired by the issue of coastal erosion. Carr-Lake's graduate knitwear collection featured sixteen outfits, each named after a coastline currently impacted by erosion, showcased in a palette of neutral tones echoing the natural elegance of the coast. Kitty Carr-Lake, University of Leeds, School of Design wins Debenhams Commercial Catwalk Award Credits: Debenhams Rachel King, buying and design director at Debenhams, who presented the award to Carr-Lake at the Best of GFW Gala, said: 'The standard of talent this year was outstanding, but Kitty Carr–Lake's collection stood out instantly. Her collection was not only technically innovative and advanced but also creative with a strong understanding of wearable, market-ready fashion - exactly what the Designers at Debenhams award celebrates. We can't wait to see her ideas evolve into a full collection.' As the winner, Carr-Lake will receive a 12-month contract with Debenhams and have the opportunity to bring her collection to life to sell with the retailer next year. Commenting on her win, Carr-Lake added: 'Joining Debenhams marks an exciting new chapter in my career. Graduate Fashion Week was an unforgettable experience, and to now have the chance to create for such a renowned name in British retail is truly inspiring. I'm looking forward to learning, growing, and bringing my designs to life for a broader audience.' Kitty Carr-Lake - 2025 Debenhams Commercial Catwalk Award winner FashionUnited spoke with Carr-Lake following her win to discuss the inspiration behind her collection and Graduate Fashion Week experience, why the University of Leeds, her advice for taking on a fashion design degree and plans for the future. Kitty Carr-Lake, University of Leeds, School of Design wins Debenhams Commercial Catwalk Award Credits: Debenhams Can you talk us through your winning collection? The inspiration for my winning collection stemmed from the issue of coastal erosion, a pressing environmental concern that I felt compelled to address through my creative work. To raise awareness in a meaningful and engaging way, I developed a brand called 'Erosure', a name derived from the word 'erosion', symbolising both the problem and a design-led response to it. The project features a curated collection of sixteen outfits, each named after a coastline currently impacted by erosion. This naming concept was chosen to highlight specific locations affected by the issue and to spread awareness about them. Although coastal erosion is destructive and often devastating, I was intrigued by the idea of translating its visual impact into something softer and more hopeful through fashion. This led to a focus on texture development and a palette of beautiful, neutral tones, echoing the natural elegance of the coast. In line with this vision, I aimed to create a sleek, minimal aesthetic for the brand, reflecting my personal perception of coastal landscapes. Sustainability and timelessness were key values throughout the design process. I developed versatile, seasonless pieces that encourage longevity in wear, alongside everyday staples designed to become wardrobe essentials. To ensure the highest quality and environmental responsibility, I sourced luxury, sustainable yarns locally, emphasising craftsmanship and care. The result is a collection that not only tells an important environmental story but also invites consumers to invest in garments they will cherish, preserve, and wear with purpose. What does it mean to you to win a Graduate Fashion Week award? I am over the moon to win a GFW award and am so grateful that all my hard work has been recognised. Kitty Carr-Lake, University of Leeds, School of Design wins Debenhams Commercial Catwalk Award Credits: Debenhams How excited are you to see your designs being sold at I am beyond excited to see my designs come to life and be sold at Debenhams, and I think my family are too! Many people have told me they would love to own the cream jumper I designed, and now it may become a reality! Why did you want to become a fashion designer? I have never been an academic, and something about textiles and fashion always enticed me. I had an amazing textile teacher in year 7, and she sparked my love for creativity and fashion design. Ever since then, I have never looked back, and I couldn't imagine studying anything else. Did you enjoy your graduate fashion week experience? I had such a great time at Graduate Fashion Week, as I got to meet some incredible individuals and showcase my work. Why did you choose to study at the University of Leeds? I chose to study at the University of Leeds, as the course offered a wide range of modules and allowed me to explore textiles, as well as being able to create a fully fashioned knit collection. Kitty Carr-Lake, University of Leeds, School of Design wins Debenhams Commercial Catwalk Award Credits: Debenhams What was the most valuable thing you learnt from your course? I think the most valuable thing I learnt on my course was to push myself and my designs, as this led to some of my best work. What are your plans now that you've graduated? Now that I have graduated, I plan to continue working hard and use all the skills I have learnt during my time at university to create some beautiful designs. What advice would you give someone considering studying fashion? My future advice to anyone studying fashion design is to just try. If you have an idea, just give it a go. The worst that can happen is that you don't use it, and then it may lead to something even better.
Fashion United
03-06-2025
- Business
- Fashion United
Asos reintroduces support programme for next generation brands
Online platform Asos has announced the return of its Asos Supports platform, a programme dedicated to supporting the next generation of creative talent in fashion and culture. In its expanded format, the initiative intends to uplift emerging brands through funding, collaborations and mentorship; build creative and cultural partnerships with diverse communities and 'culture-shaping' individuals; and back next generation talent among students and graduates. For the return, Asos has partnered with the (Fashion) Minority Report on the ScaleUP initiative, which looks to 'bridge the gap between the fashion industry and global majority-owned brands'. For the first edition, By Grace Ambrose, Reign Studio and Sondro have been selected to take part in the nine-month programme, and as such, will receive guidance from industry experts and opportunities to receive funding. One of the participants will also earn the chance to sell their collection via Asos. A further partnership will be between Asos and Graduate Fashion Week, which will work together to scout graduating emerging talent to co-create exclusive collections for the Asos e-commerce site. With this, Asos said it is sponsoring the fashion week's Styling and Creative Direction Award in honour of former creative director, Sarah McGreevy. Finally, Asos will continue to support The Sourced Collection, with which it will unveil a new collaborative capsule of 14-pieces, each co-designed by both teams and sold via Asos. The e-tailer will further provide mentorship, marketing amplification and talent support to aid in the scale of The Sourced Collection.
