This year's Graduate Fashion Week Sponsored By George has been bigger, better and cooler than ever before.
It had an edgy, new residence, namely, The Truman Brewery on Brick Lane, east London. The venue update seems to be in alignment with the event’s ever-rising profile, which has launched the careers of Stella McCartney, Julien MacDonald, Antonio Berardi, Christopher Bailey and Hussein Chalayan (the list goes on).
This year's Graduate Fashion Week sponsored by George has seen 25,000 guests, 20 catwalk shows and over 40 universities exhibiting the work of thousands of graduates. But what of the class of 2014? Here’s our pick of rising stars...
The Sportswear Maestro
Who? Chloe Orange, 25, London Royal College of Art.
Inspired by: A short video clip of a young school girl skipping in the playground of her school in rural India, which she took whilst travelling around Rajasthan.
The collection: It’s all about relaxed sporty separates in oversized silhouettes. Art-house prints abound. Think paint-splattered tailored suit trousers under voluminous dip-dyed knitwear.
The Textiles Whiz
Who? Chloe Woodgate, 21, from Essex, Colchester School of Art.
Inspired by? Buddhism, African tribal patterns and the Cornish Landscape; it’s an eclectic mish-mash that somehow works.
The collection: Chloe spent 1,700 hours stitching her collection. Someone give that girl a 1st Class (or an incred new job at Sibling). She has created boxy, calf-length jumpers that have been achieved with a knitting hook the size of a broom handle. 70s tinged magentas, saffron yellows and blues make up Chloe’s palette but intricate fringing and cut-out details mean the pieces look far from retro.
The Shearling Supremo
Who? Lauren Lake, 22, from Devon, Kingston University.
Inspired by? The expeditions of Scott of the Antarctic (Robert Falcon Scott) to the North and South Pole. Cosy.
The collection: The most enormous baby-pink and blue sheepskin coats you’ve ever seen. This is the east London woman’s wardrobe of tomorrow: flamboyant, glamorous and so 1999. As the lady herself put it: ‘My audience is young, eccentric and obsessed with pink!'
The Androgyny Aficionado
Who? Emma Charles, 22, University of Westminster.
Inspired by? The 1957 film 'Funny Face' and the couture-meets-menswear costumes. She was particularly inspired by the scene in which 'Maggie Prescott' throws meters of pink fabric in the air whilst singing the song Think Pink.
The collection: Oriental flora prints on grey and pink wool coats, and hot pink strapless gowns with practical pockets. Expect a sublime mix of sober masculine tailoring and luxurious bursts of silk ruffles that are exquisitely pinned - the devil is in the detail with Charles’ collection.
