Manchester Fashion Institute knows how to throw a party. Set in the Truman Brewery’s private warehouse space, the university held it’s fourth fashion presentation filled with silver streamers and rotating collections.
Opting to do a large scale presentation rather than a show made them stand out from the other graduate shows, and the immersive experience made for an unforgettable evening.
Upon arrival you’re guided down a silver streamer-lined corridor before arriving in the main space. Two collections were found either side of the room, with photographers crowding around them. Whilst a huge area in the centre was curtained off with more silver streamers.
The room was full of students, industry professionals and VIPs. The atmosphere felt like you’d been invited to the party of someone much cooler than you are.
Senior Lecturer of Fashion Design and Technology, John Earnshaw, said he opts for presentations over catwalk shows as they’re more contemporary; “The way designers showcase fashion should move with the times”, just as much as the clothes they’re showing do. Earnshaw also said that he wanted the focus to be on the pieces themselves.
Making fewer pieces of a much higher quality is something Earnshaw feels very strongly about. This allows people to look more closely at the garments and appreciate their construction and the skill that has gone into creating them.
The clothes are easily ready to wear, and could walk straight out of the presentation and into day-to-day life. There were four spaces where the designers showed their work around the room. The collections worked on a rotation, with new designers clothes appearing on a regular basis at each stand.
The first space held three pieces from Lucy Mills, who’s reflective edging on her womenswear provided a fantastic illusion for photographers as they photographed the pieces, providing an extra element of surprise when the shots were taken. Set in front of a studio backdrop, the models were constantly moving, providing an immersive element for photographers both professional and amateur.
Sara Lothian’s presentation inside the central section was also dynamic, with her models dancing and posing to show off the dynamic fathering of her central dress. Her red and black palette looked sultry and chic, and fit perfectly with the glamour of the evening.
There was a mix of menswear and womenswear collections, with impeccably made utility menswear from Paige Sharman, and a combination of menswear and womenswear from Omosefe Obakhavbaye-Hanson, who’s monochromatic drapery was elegant and modern. With so much diversity and celebration, Manchester Fashion Institute’s presentations will surely be inspiring other universities to follow in their footsteps.
Written by Faith Richardson
Photography by Roshan Whittaker