GFW18 is fast approaching with now less than two weeks to go! Through campaigns such as #FeatureFriday, we've been able to see beyond the walls of a university studio to see the provocative, original and artistic designs that have been created and explored this year.  It has been inspiring keeping up to date with lots of our students progressing into their final collection stage, and there has been some incredibly diverse styling and designs seen already. In light of GFW18, we're predicting four trends that'll be seen on the SmartFocus catwalk this June!

 

Bold prints

Bold, eye catching prints and colours have been spotted in lots of final collections this year. From small glimpses on Instagram, GFW18 is looking to be filled with vibrant asymmetric prints, clashing tones and alluring artistry designs. There is a diverse range of print designs, from classic stripes and checks to hand drawn and painted garments, to obscure and abstract shapes.

 

My favourite piece from my graduate collection🍊 @officialgfw #gfw18

A post shared by Christie Maria Designs (@christiemariadesigns) on

 

Extravagant embellishments

GFW is always filled with designer collections featuring incredible embellishments, from handcrafted embroidery and motifs to voluminous ruffles, pleats and more. This GFW looks to be the season of handcrafted brilliance, including laser cut accessories, beaded hats and sleeves and stunning abstract sewing techniques.

 

Layering

Lots of this years upcoming collections are seen to be not just one or two piece outfits, but layered garments. Some snapshots of graduate collections are seen to be tied together by stunningly designed belts and jackets, being styled so each under layer is on show. Layering outfits tends to create a powerful impact on the audience, showing various ways garments can be worn, and how to style them together. 

 

Unique Knitwear

Each year the design talent for a knitwear collection develops tremendously. With our Visionary Knitwear Award on offer, more students each year are developing and designing astounding knitwear pieces. Many up and coming design graduates are now cleverly designing collections showcasing a wide variety of different knitwear techniques and complimenting their designs with perfectly chosen embellishments and accessories.

 

We cannot wait to see all of our graduate collections showcasing at GFW18, and look forward to seeing if our trend predictions are correct. What do you think will be a trend this year? 

Let us know in the comments!

 

 

TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR THE BIGGEST GRADUATE FASHION WEEK YET, HERE. 

 

 

 

Words by Amber Whitaker