Graduate Fashion Week's Managing and Creative Director Martyn Roberts and renowned British fashion journalist Hilary Alexander OBE held a masterclass at University the Brighton on 3rd November.
The GFW masterclasses are designed to give current fashion students an insight into Graduate Fashion Week, information about the prestigious event and how it can benefit their future careers in the industry. Martyn and Hilary are visiting universities across the country to educate students in how to present a coherent and successful collection and portfolio, to make the most out of participating in the largest showcase of BA graduate talent in the world.
Both Hilary Alexander OBE and Martyn Roberts have many years of experience in the industry, and they are both keen to help students and lead them on the right way to pursue a career in fashion. By giving the graduates their best tips and tricks on how to be successful in the ever changing, growing and demanding fashion industry they give the graduates a better chance to reach a profitable career in fashion, in an industry many people dream of.
Brighton University offers everything from Fashion Business courses to Design. As a student at Brighton University you’ll have a unique opportunity to experience what the city has to offer. Volunteering and placement opportunities enable you to play your part in the events, organisations and communities that make Brighton such a compelling place to be.
“University life really prepared me for the work I do now, on so many levels … it taught me to be creative, to question, to explore facets of life I’d never come into contact with before.”
Paris Lees, journalist, presenter and transgender campaigner and alumni of Brighton University.
Graduate Fashion Week is a charity that provides a platform for talented graduates to host their first fashion show, giving them the opportunity to connect with key industry professionals. GFW has provided the initial platform for internationally renowned designers such as Julien MacDonald OBE, Stella McCartney OBE and Giles Deacon to name a few. Some of these incredible alumni have gone on to develop some of the worlds most influential brands, and with the industry being boundless, there are always opportunities for any graduate to do the same and achieve their career dreams.
“I OWE EVERYTHING TO GRADUATE FASHION WEEK. I WAS EXTREMELY FORTUNATE TO HAVE WON THE GFW AWARD OVER 20 YEARS AGO. IT BECAME A FUNDAMENTAL STEPPING-STONE IN MY CAREER, GIVING ME A PLATFORM TO PURSUE THE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED SINCE.”
Christopher Bailey MBE, Chief Creative Officer, Burberry (First winner of GFW gold award in 1991)
We look forward to holding several more masterclasses, across the country, from Brighton University to Nottingham Trent. Make sure to check our social media to see if we're coming to a city near you.
Words by Madeline Andersson