Middlesex University graduate runway show 2015

On Friday 29^th May the Royal National Hotel was filled with Middlesex University’s most talented fashion design and textiles students who were set to showcase their collections not only to the media but top industry professionals.

The nineteen candidates were carefully shortlisted by an impressive judging panel, including the likes of fashion directors of Hunger and Wonderland Kim Howells and Matthew Josephs, Middlesex alumni, fashion designer and creative consultant at Diesel Keko Kainswheeler and Kiko Simões Gaspar – marketing and communications specialist at Vivienne Westwood.

For the second time round, the University’s Live Catwalk 2015 show had been efficaciously organised by a strong team of fashion communications and styling students, which was carefully being supervised by industry fashion PR and production professionals.

The university is incredibly well-known for nurturing and showcasing only innovative future British designers and image makers, and this year, made no exception. The show had exhibited a range of contemporary looks as well as collections which you may consider to be out-of-the-box; managing to bond the slight gap between the aspects of textiles and fashion design.

Hats goes off to fashion textiles student Jessica Brown. The talented knitwear designer created a Tron-inspired collection by carefully incorporating British wool with a colourful selection of rainbow threads. Nylon stuffed Italian yarn rendered a playful yet futuristic vibe.

The best contender for the sleekest collection has to go to fashion design student Antonio Cascione, whose womenswear collection of structured capes, feather-hemmed ball gowns and tailored, wide-legged trousers can be described to be portraying the essence of circa 1770s nostalgia with a modern edge.

Finalist for the British Fashion Council’s Burberry competition Olivia Overton managed to convey a mixture of reactions to her traditional, Victorian-inspired collection. It featured a range of sporty silhouettes fused with African-inspired prints, vibrant and monochrome colour palettes accompanied with a range of frill-seamed edges, with sheer and lace fabrics.

As a whole the finalists managed to display collections which were all inspired from different eras, cultures, experiences and lifestyles, which outline the level of individuality of the Middlesex fashion and textiles students. There’s no doubt that mentors encourage these students to display a certain rawness to their collections, so it’s no wonder why this year’s show was a success.

Joy Ogeah
Photos: Roger Dean