Asos Future Talent Award

We're so excited to announce that this GFW, we will be hosting the ASOS Future Talent Award!

ASOS is a global fashion destination.  It is a  mix of cutting-edge fashion and a variety of fashion-related content that makes ASOS.com the hub of a thriving fashion community that it is. ASOS is celebrating future talent in more than just fashion design by creating this new award, to replace the Portfolio Award. This new award will acknowledge talent in both Design and Communications pathways by offering a “first”, “runner-up” and bursary for the corresponding winning university in each pathway.

Find out more about how you can get involved here. 

Bonmarché Fashion For All Award

We're so happy to announce that this year, one graduate will be the talented recipient of the Bonmarché Fashion For All Award! 

‘Attitudes to fashion in the last few years have changed significantly, no longer, is the designer restricted by the consumers age, their size, nor their shape’.

The winner will receive £750 in prize money and the winners university will receive £250. 

For more information on how and what to submit visit our awards page. 

Boohoo Social Media Award

We're happy to inform you all that new this year, we will be hosting a Social Media Award, sponsored by Boohoo! This gives one instagram savvy student, with impeccable curation skills the opportunity to win £750 with a £250 prize to the university. 

Imagery is the cultural currency of our times. We are defined by what we do or don’t upload. Imagine social media as a shop window – allowing us to display our wares and talents to the wider market. Utilisation of this “window” can lead to new contacts, wider recognition and potential job prospects.

No longer side-lined as faddish or gimmicky, social media and its many evolving platforms has positioned itself at the forefront of how we communicate with each other in the 21st Century.

The social media tool of the moment is Instagram. The ability to instantly upload as well as curate the gallery like space lends itself nicely to fashion image making. Content is key regardless of how many followers you have or how many you follow.

Criteria

This brief is to create and curate an Instagram Campaign which is relevant and reflective to the constantly evolving interface of fashion communication. 

Submission is an Instagram campaign that the judges feel is outstanding in its contribution to the field and a supporting statement which outlines your objectives methodology, and outcomes. 

You are not being judged on how many followers you have but on the originality of content plus your editorial skills through selection and production of imagery. 

Bonmarché

We're so happy to announce that Bonmarché will be sponsoring us this year! Graduate Fashion Week can only happen because of the support that we receive from a variety of sponsors that span across the industry, representing a large portion of the industry that graduates want to break into. 

"Dedicated on inspiring women to look and feel fabulous no matter what their age, shape or sizes. Ranges include effortless casual wear and show-stopping occasion wear in fabulous exclusive prints, plus a flattering selection of outerwear, swimwear, lingerie, nightwear and accessories, all designed with the more mature figure in mind. Their official style consultant, TV Presenter and Fashion Stylist Mark Heyes is renowned for his expert clothing knowledge within the world of women's fashion and is on board with Bonmarché to provide valuable fashion advice and styling guidance to customers." 

Imagery courtesy of Bonmarché 

The Art Hotel To Stay In Over GFW17!

Green Rooms are our official preferred hotel sponsor over Graduate Fashion Week in June! The north London based arts hostel, is a hub of creative activity and as such, is the best place for visiting students to stay. We know that our graduates come from all around the UK and further afield, so in order to make the most out of the shows for many, it makes sense to stay in the capital for the four days of #GFW17!  

We're really happy to be able to offer students a discount code, "GFW17" making the rooms £18 a night. The hotel is located only 12 minutes from St Pancras and Kings Cross international stations, and so means that you'll be able to jump on the tube to the Truman Brewery.

We can't wait to see you all!

"A first for London: a budget hotel that's part social enterprise... Cool, utilitarian and laid-back, it feels more Berlin than Wood Green". The Sunday Telegraph

Photography courtesy of Green Rooms Hotel.  

Mothercare To Sponsor GFW17!

We're so happy to announce that Mothercare are sponsoring Graduate Fashion Week his year! Graduates that show with us have such a variety of skills and different creative visions, showing menswear, womenswear, lingerie and childrenswear, so it's fantastic to have the support of such an influential childrenswear brand!

"Mothercare offers a host to unique, affordable and stylish fashion collections for babies and children which is highlighted in its fashion collaborations such as Little Bird by Jools Oliver and MyK by Myleene Klass At London Fashion Week in 2016, Mothercare announced a collaboration with internationally renowned fashion designer, Julien Macdonald.  Smile by Julien Macdonald, is a new born clothing collection aimed at babies and young children from newborn to 3 years. The collection is a unique mix of high quality and affordable pieces with a soft, premium look and feel that reflects Julien’s creative vision."

L'Oréal Professionel To Sponsor GFW17!

We're so pleased to announce that L'Oréal Professionnel are sponsoring Graduate Fashion Week 2017! A catwalk show has so many elements, and expressing creativity from the hair and beauty to set design and innovative collections, is what makes for an amazing show. 

We're grateful to have the support of L'Oréal Professionnel again this year, as their expertise shines through, reminding our thousands of graduates that fashion design isn't the only path into the industry. 

"Hair has always been a hugely important fashion statement and stands equally alongside fashion design in creating a total look. At the head of both trends and technology, L’Oréal Professionnel products are a staple backstage at the biggest shows in the hands of top stylists; with strong links to the most prominent designers, photographers and magazines, raising the profile of the industry"

Hilary Alexander OBE Trailblazer Award

We're so happy to announce a new award for Graduate Fashion Week 2017, entitled the Hilary Alexander OBE Trailblazer Award. The winning student will receive £1,000 and their University will be awarded £250. 

In recognition of the unparalleled level of support, commentary and guidance provided to UK trained fashion students, their academic staff, Colleges and Universities, associated with the Graduate Fashion Week Foundation, we have the honour of naming the new GFW 2017 Catwalk Award, ‘The Hilary Alexander Award’, after the renowned UK based Fashion Journalist, Hilary Alexander.

"I'm a bit of a catwalk junkie. I've always been captivated by the new and exciting and I feel a fantastic sense of anticipation whenever I sit down to watch a show. Graduate Fashion Week is especially inspirational because you're seeing the work of graduates who have never put their ideas and inspirations before a live audience before. It is simply brilliant when a graduate collection is enthralling, original, beautifully-made and creative in every way. I am thrilled and honoured to have this award named for me. Thank-you."

This new award has been created, in order to capture and reflect Hilary’s evident enthusiasm for the new, the fresh and the unpublished in fashion. The chosen collection should provide a refreshing fashion direction that best reflects what UK Fashion is renowned for and can also sustain national/international media interest in its’ realisation.

For more information on how to apply, please contact your university, or head to our awards page for in depth criteria. 

ASOS To Sponsor GFW17!

We're so happy to announce, that the online global fashion destination, ASOS, will be sponsoring us again this year! 

It's brilliant to have such large and influential brand support us, especially as ASOS represents a large employer for graduates looking to get into the industry. As a fashion community, ASOS grows fresh talent as well as sourcing it from around the world, and we're so pleased to welcome them on board for a second year! 

 "Together we grow fresh talent and keep fashion moving forward.  We believe fashion can make you look, feel and be your best.  And when you feel your best, you can achieve amazing things." ASOS

Clarks To Sponsor GFW17!

In the latest news regarding sponsorship for Graduate Fashion Week 2017, Clarks, the iconic shoe brand, will be supporting us for the first ever time in June!

We're so pleased to have Clarks on board, enabling us to continue providing a platform to launch graduates into the fashion industry. They began in 1825, so it's brilliant to have the support of such a long lasting and respected shoe brand.

"Creativity is important to Clarks because we know it’s the shape of our ideas that makes us stand out from the crowd. And we believe in authenticity. Not as a fad or a trend, but because we know from experience that the only way you can succeed is by being true to yourself. This is why Clarks is so excited to announce its first partnership with Graduate Fashion Week, a unique platform for the best, brightest and most original fashion graduates from the UK and around the world." 

TU TO SPONSOR TWO EXCITING SCHOLARSHIPS AT GFW17!

We're so excited to announce that Tu will be sponsoring two scholarships awarding  during Graduate Fashion Week 2017!

Hot on the heels of Genevieve Devine's (Northumbria University)  success, Tu at Sainsbury's are offering a menswear and a womenswear scholarship with top industry mentors this year. 

One menswear and one womenswear design final year student will get the opportunity to win a paid scholarship with the design team at Tu worth £19,000 and the opportunity to launch their capsule collection under Tu's team! 

After having seen Genevieve's success, this could be the exciting and prosperous opportunity that two talented graduates have been waiting for. 

Boohoo to Sponsor GFW 2017!

Our latest announcement for Graduate Fashion Week 2017, is that Boohoo.com are sponsoring us for another year! Back and bigger than ever, we're really excited to have them on board again, supporting the largest event for BA talent in the world. 

Boohoo.com has fashion’s at their forefront –  providing the latest looks for less since 2006 and the content you just can’t wait to share. They are always on the lookout for new talent and the latest cutting-edge designs, so this year Boohoo.com will be pulling out all the stops to make this the best one yet.

“From drop in sessions with our buying and design teams to our top dog Directors giving you the secrets of how to get into the industry, it’s one ticket you won’t wanna miss. We’ll also be showcasing our latest collection giving you the lowdown of just what trends to expect this summer. And to top it all off, our joint CEO Carol Kane will be getting the 411 from fashion icon Hilary Alexander OBE on how she got where she is today” Boohoo.com.

Make sure to check back for more exciting news regarding Graduate Fashion Week 2017!

Debenhams To Sponsor GFW 2017!

Our latest announcement for Graduate Fashion Week 2017, is that Debenhams are sponsoring us for another year! We're really happy to have them on board, supporting the only platform that focuses on lending a helping hand to emerging designers. 

"Debenhams is a leading international, multi-channel brand with a proud British heritage which trades out of over 240 stores across 27 countries. Debenhams gives its customers around the world a unique, differentiated and exclusive mix of own brands, international brands and concessions." 

Make sure to check back for more exciting news regarding Graduate Fashion Week 2017!

Awards At Graduate Fashion Week 2017

Here at Graduate Fashion Week, we are all about helping graduates launch themselves into the industry, by providing a platform that celebrates all areas of fashion. One way that we offer opportunities is through awards! We have several available over this years event, from swimwear and lingerie to styling and creative direction. Read on to find out a little more about what awards we have up for grabs, and what the criteria is. 

Our three largest awards are as follows:

The Gold Award

For the winning student, there is a £10,000 prize, with £2,000 going to the university. 

The Marks & Spencer Womenswear Award

The winning student with receive £5,000, and their university £1,000. 

The Debenhams Menswear Award

The winning student with receive £5,000 and the university £1,000. 

The judges will be looking for similar things when choosing the winning collection to take home the above awards. Important things to note, are the creativity, design, cut, craftsmanship, colour and fabric of the pieces. The winning collection will clearly demonstrate an exceptional ability in all of these things. When on the catwalk, the pieces must have a clear impact, combining both outstanding craftsmanship and truly original creativity. 

Visionary Knitwear

The visionary knitwear award will go to a collection showing an appropriate use of colour, texture, yarn and silhouette for the fashion statement being made. The collection should be creative, moving fashion forward, technically excellent in craftsmanship and production whilst demonstrating an understanding of the identified market. 

The judges will look for both creativity as well as the impact the garments make on the catwalk, alongside the intricate craftsmanship. 

Catwalk Textiles

In order to claim the catwalk textiles award, you will need to have created an innovative print, or constructed textile collection showing an appropriate use of colour, texture and pattern relative to both textiles and the garments. The collections statement should be clear, and supported by all elements of the garments. 

It is important that the collection is creative, groundbreaking in that it looks towards the future through both innovation and creativity, technically excellent in production and craftsmanship, all whilst clearly noting an understanding of the identifiable market. 

The judges will be looking out for the creativity, impact on the catwalk and the craftsmanship. 

International Catwalk Competition

The International Catwalk Competition was started in 2013 to celebrate and raise the profile of international institutions and give them a chance to come together to showcase their brightest new talent. The event has been highly successful with the first ever winner 4 years on showing his collection at London Fashion Week.

30 institutions worldwide are invited to send their best graduate at BA level or equivalent to showcase their work at the world’s largest event for fashion graduates and compete for the chance to be named the best collection in the international market.

The winning graduate will receive £1000, International Press and have their collection showcased at Fashion Scout, the international platform for fashion pioneers during Spring Summer 18 at London Fashion Week. The first and second runners up will win £500 and £250 respectively. This award can only be applied for through your university so ensure you ask your tutors about the International Catwalk Competition. 

George to Sponsor GFW17!

We're so happy to release the news that our latest sponsor is George at Asda! Having the support of a company focused on championing all the roles that the fashion industry offers. They are our official Education Sponsor, and so are an invaluable support to have on board again for this years graduating class!

"We are always keen to shout about the incredibly diverse array of career opportunities that exists in this fantastic industry, and we know GFW shares and enthusiasm in highlighting the exciting Business of Fashion."

Welcome on board George, we're so pleased to have your support!

There will be further announcements soon, so keep an eye on our website to get the latest.

Volunteer At Graduate Fashion Week 2017!

For 25 years, Graduate Fashion Week has been championing the most innovative and creative talent emerging into the fashion industry, acting as a liaising force between students and the industry. 

In our 26th year, we're looking forward to another exciting event filled with imaginative designs, thoughtful fashion marketing graduates and exhibitions recognising those who study fashion in a wider sense than design. 

If you'd like to gain some experience in fashion events, either front of house or backstage, then please apply below! Graduate Fashion Week runs from Sunday 4th June - Wednesday 7th June, although members of the production team must be available pre event.   

Please send any CV's or extra information to support your application, to volunteers@graduatefashionweek.com. 

TU at Sainsbury's To Sponsor GFW17!

We're excited to announce that Tu at Sainsbury's are one of our sponsors this year! Last year, Tu worked with us to create exciting awards and initiatives, and we're incredibly pleased for them to join us for the second time this year. 

Committed and national brands like Tu help Graduate Fashion Week to offer experiences and opportunities to graduates and students that otherwise we wouldn't be able to give. That is why we're so happy to have their support for GFW17, and as the event draws closer, the excitement is building! 

There are plenty more intriguing announcements to come, so make sure to watch this space!

M&S To Sponsor GFW 2017

Here at GFW, we're pleased and proud to announce our sponsor M&S! They will be working with us for Graduate Fashion Week 2017, and we're delighted to have the support of such an established sponsor again this year. 

The continued support of sponsors, in particular M&S, brings opportunities and experiences to fashion graduates from all over the UK and further afield. Graduate Fashion Week wouldn't be what is it today without the family of brands that help us all to push limits, refresh the industry and give a platform to young people coming out of uni.  

There are plenty more exciting announcements to come, so watch this space!

'That's Not Very Ladylike'

Yesterday we featured a short clip from Hannah Claydon's 'That's Not Very Ladylike' film on our social media to celebrate International Women's Day. In the video Hannah addresses the issues women face when having to conform to certain discourses set by society and the media.

Hannah is a Fashion Communication student at Leeds College of Art and was solely in charge of the set design & creation, styling, filming, editing and photography for this film. She spent three months preparing the film and completed the filming in one day! 

In the film, the women start by seeming stereotypically 'ladylike', yet as it progresses each woman rebels against the feminine stereotype, proving that being ladylike can be interpreted in many different ways. Hannah challenges the gender stereotypes and shows a playful interpretation of what being 'feminine' means. We can't wait to see more of Hannah's work and the final projects from other students at Leeds College of Art in June! Tickets for Graduate Fashion Week 2017 are now on sale on our website. 

Follow Hannah on Instagram: @hannahjclaydon or check out her website