It was that crucial time of year again in June for fashion graduates from across UK universities and colleges to showcase their portfolio work in an exhibition space, and fashion shows at the prestigious venue Earl’s Court 2 at Graduate Fashion Week.  Other than that, hand selected graduates judged by the industry panels were able to present their collections at the Gala Show, and awards presentation on the final night in front of the industry professionals, media, celebrities and the like.

Some of the students work from Northumbria University (below)

Graduate Fashion Week is a definitive place for super brands and press to spot the hottest young and design talent, a closer look at their extraordinary skills in craftsmanship, eloquent design and creativity which able to launch their career, the likes of successful British designers such as Stella McCartney, Julien MacDonald, Christopher Bailey and Hussein Chalayan to name but a few.

Style Slicker

I’m watching this as we type and as it stands the score of the first group match between England and USA stands at 1:1. I have zero interest in the final result of the match or whether England progresses beyond the group stages. I’m not even that aware of the supposed anti-Brit feeling that some people are feeling in lieu of the BP oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

In the spirit of all things shallow, I’m more interested in playing off fashion graduates in these games of patriotism. Graduate Fashion Week has just finished up in London. It’s an event where schools across the country come together to show their latest crop of fashion design students in a week of shows, exhibitions and portfolio displays.

The aforementioned battle was played out between Sara Wadsworth of Central Lancashire University and Lucinda Ailes of UCA Epsom. Wadsworth turned to iconic places of London like Big Ben and the Millennium Eye as well as the Union Jack for inspiration for her prints. No sign of red, blue and white though as the colours were kept quite neutral which makes things a whole lot subtler.

Ailes created a collection where those familiar stars and stripes were also subtly worked into outfits with chunky knitwear in subdued greys, ending though with a statement coat that is the flag all over.

Unlike a football match though, there is no clear winner. Aesthetics are of course highly subjective and instead, I’m happy just to observe these thematic allegiances that some of the students have chosen to take.

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