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Graduate Fashion Week Stars 2010

We bring you a who’s who of the names that coerced column inches and got the British fashion pack talking at this year’s Graduate Fashion Week 2010…

Kicking off, Anna Lee of De Montfort University picked up the Zandra Rhodes Textiles Award with her eye-popping digital, mythical jungle prints layered with huge novelty necklaces. Karishma Shahina similarly shone through as a print star with her fresh take on traditional, vibrant Indian textiles. Central Saint Martins graduate Isabel Fishlock impressed with her stunning printwork incorporating floral appliqué with an eye-popping palette likely found in the tropical Amazon. Liesamarie Schulte was a name on everyone’s lips with her acclaimed ‘Holy Land’ collection re-fashioning several forms of cross-cultural ceremonial veils into garments are combining innovatively with tan-colored leather. Taking a scientific turn, Holly Keepfer layered various surface techniques to create wearable statement dresses including beautiful Rorschach prints with technical string art.

Kitty Kea drew inspiration from Marie Antoinette but not in the obvious way – sweetened ‘Let them Eat Cake’ pastels informed the palette for a range of fairground-pony fringed pieces. Hannah Menzines take on the figure skater resulted in icy colors and a technical take on winter fleeces and mesh. Hannah Clayton interpreted the season’s nineties grunge theme in an ultra slick manner, toughening up with studs and glamming up with a more streamlined silhouette. Finally, Rebecca Thomson of Manchester Metropolitan University took home the River Island Gold Award for Best Student with her re-interpretations of the classic white shirt playing with proportions and decorative flourishes.