Fashion students big hit at Europe's biggest talent contest

MANCHESTER’s top fashion students made their mark at Europe’s largest and most prestigious show for up-and-coming designers.

A 28-strong team from the Textiles/Fashion BA course at Manchester Metropolitan University received plenty of plaudits and job offers into the bargain at London Graduate Fashion Week.

Daily Telegraph fashion editor Hilary Alexander was one full of praise for the Manchester students’ collections which graced the Top Shop-sponsored fashion jamboree at Battersea Park from June 10-14.

Hilary described the overall standard of their designs as “exceptional” while other critics said their work showed not only creativity but, crucially, wearability.

MMU was chosen to show on Wednesday June 12, arguably the most competitive day alongside top London colleges like Surrey and Ravensbourne, and the top Scottish training college, Edinburgh, which produced of the eventual winner of GFW, the Malaysian student Hong Fong, 28.

“It was a thrilling experience for them, a real sense of the pressures and competitiveness of the London fashion industry,” said MMU course leader Alison Welsh.

“They were showing to 1,500 people including designers, industry names, buyers and journalists. It’s the acid test for any young designer and we can be very proud,” she said.

London Graduate Fashion Week, now recognised as the biggest in Europe, ahead of Milan and Paris, is the shop window for a job with a top label and a step to becoming the next Stella McCartney or Alexander McQueen (the latter judged this year’s competition).

Designers such as Sheila Maloney, Scott Henshall and Antonio Beradi all launched their careers at GFW.

Among the Manchester students catching the eye were Kay Ridding, who was invited to show at the Gala performance, Emma Dean, winner of the RSA Next Attachment Award earlier this year, Tory Butler, Heidi Cannon, who recently won a contract with Brother, and Anna Strzelecki, whose ‘industrial’ print skirts and knitwear made an big impression with the audience.

Charlie Porter, deputy fashion editor at the Guardian, said: “It was encouraging so see clear-headed design instead of vacuous gimmicks.

“Although most of these students will find employment as part of a design team instead of launching their own labels, the reputation of British fashion will still rely on their input.”

Added Alison Welsh: “MMU’s stock has really gone up at GFW over the last couple of years and it can only be good for British fashion that the northern colleges like ours are being noticed.

“The course here emphasises individual expression and technical skills but we also insist that students are academically very bright. With more than ten applicants for every place it’s competitive.”