FAD autumn/winter 2017 collection catwalk show for LFW

For FAD AW17 fashion students around the UK participating in the competition collaborated with Missoni. It was a showcase of the wild creativity, uninhibited by the constraints of the industry by 20 students from 16 different universities.

They explored the traditional knitwear, colour and stripes related to Missoni’s DNA in new and fresh ways. On top of Missoni’s aesthetics, they explored their rich Italian heritage, including vintage Apres Ski culture, Italian design and artists. The brief was to let colour consume them, and this was manifested in a plethora of ways on the catwalk.

The sheer power of creativity did not overshadow their craftsmanship skills, and each garment was finished to perfection. The concepts and sketchbook research was innovative and breathtaking, but so were the textiles, that were a visual feast for the eyes.

Stripes combined in unusual ways, patchwork and knitted details adorned the voluminous coats, dresses and trousers that were presented. It was an explosion of colour and all the while desirable during this normcore obsessed age.

The winner Sarah Carter from Bath Spa University was praised for her sophisticated eye for detail and elegant finishings that are hard to achieve at university stage. The second and third place were acquired through clever combinations of different textiles, collating into a rich sweater and innovative merging of colours.

Jennie Barck
Photos: Amy Smith