We're so excited to announce that we're heading to New York, for our first American showcase! Partnering with SmartFocus, the Digital Messaging Cloud, Managing and Creative Director of GFW Martyn Roberts and Industry Trustee Hilary Alexander OBE, will be attending two major events aimed to highlight and showcase the work of Graduate Fashion Week.
Whilst across the Atlantic, we will be working closely with major brands and publications to highlight more than 25 years of work with fashion's next generation. There are two primary events scheduled- firstly a high-profile breakfast at the Madison Avenue headquarters of Ralph Lauren, for major industry players, including representatives from the likes of Gap, Calvin, Klein, Michael Kors, Swarovski, and Ralph Lauren. The second event is an executive lunch for journalists hosted by ex-Graduate Fashion Week Chairman and Hearst Publications Chief Executive, Terry Mansfield CBE, at Hearst Towers.
GFW's American showcase will feature a curated exhibition of final-year collections and portfolios from a selection of Graduate Fashion Week's Class of 2017, across all fashion disciplines.
The line-up includes the work of Kate Clark, graduate of Kingston University, currently working at Chanel in Paris; Daniel Rynne, ex-Arts University Bournemouth, winner of the 2017 Debenhams Menswear Award and currently working in Debenhams design studio; and four American graduates, Emelie Cleveland, of the New School Parsons; Lyudmila Sullivan, Pratt Institute; and Margarita Ng Ng and Cristina Ng Ng, both of FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) - all of whom were finalists in the International Catwalk Competition at last year's GFW event in London.
“We are delighted to be part of Graduate Fashion Week each June and partner on the American Showcase. This is a hugely important investment in the future of our industry and is something we take very seriously. All of us at SmartFocus look forward to developing the charity’s ambition to grow their audience and engagement.”
Sarah Taylor, CMO of SmartFocus
SmartFocus provides Graduate Fashion Week with the digital marketing platform to enable them to showcase the story of Graduate Fashion Week through digital channels and to support the great work they do in engaging the best of design talent from across the world. SmartFocus customers have the rich data, intelligence and the tools for contextually unique engagements, through any digital channel. Trusted by over 1,500 brands, Message Cloud delivers 60 billion personalised interactions annually.
Below see a full list of the graduates representing Graduate Fashion Week in New York:
Claire Tagg – University of Creative Arts Rochester, UK – Runner up of M&S Womenswear Award 2017
Kate Clark – Kingston University, UK – University Finalist 2017
Daniel Rynne – Arts University Bournemouth, UK – Winner of Debenhams Menswear Award 2017
Abisola Akanni – De Montfort University - Best of GFW Finalist 2017
Kaitlyn Morgan – Sheffield Hallam University, UK - Best of GFW Finalist 2017
Bethany Griffiths – De Montfort University - Best of GFW Finalist 2017
Megan Davies – University of South Wales – Winner of Clarks Footwear Award 2017
Lyudmila Sullivan – Pratt Institute, USA – International Catwalk Competition Finalist
Margarita Ng Ng – Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), USA – International Catwalk Competition Finalist
Cristina Ng Ng – Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), USA– International Catwalk Competition Finalist
Make sure to check back next week to hear the insight into the trip, including imagery of the USA graduate showcase!