GFW talent showcased at Houses of Parliament

Graduate Fashion Foundation, the charity behind Graduate Fashion Week in
association with UK Fashion and Textiles Association, held a reception at
the Houses of Parliament to bring together fashion’s graduate talent and
key policy makers last week.

The event showcased a curated display of award winning 2018 graduate
work, from a range of fashion disciplines including design, marketing,
journalism, photography and knitwear, with the designers chosen to take
part all receiving awards during Graduate Fashion Week earlier this year.

The aim of the event was to act as a springboard for emerging talent as
well as give the graduates, which included Aurelie Fontan from Edinburgh
College of Art, the winner of the Catwalk Textiles Award, M&S Womenswear
Award, and the Dame Vivienne Westwood Ethical and sustainable Award,
further visibility within the industry.

The showcase hosted by MP Damian Collins, who is chairman of the
culture, media and sports committee was attended by 200 top industry guests
including chief executives, founders, directors, buyers, HR, PR and design
teams, alongside established designers including Pam Hogg, Holly Fulton and
Oliver Spencer.

During the event Graduate Fashion Foundation chairman and Mothercare
chief executive, Mark Newton-Jones, spoke about the importance of the
annual June Graduate Fashion Week event as an international platform for
creating employment opportunities for UK graduates within the fashion
capitals of the world as well as adding value to companies.

In addition, he announced the launch of the second year of the Graduate
Fashion Foundation Protégé Project, the charities mentoring scheme
especially created to support a core selection of graduates for two years,
following their graduation.

Newton Jones, said in a statement: “The House of Parliament event has
been a great showcase for both our fashion industry and the young creatives
that form part of its future. We are delighted to feature this year’s
outstanding graduates’ work and present how our charity, Graduate Fashion
Foundation, has supported over 100,000 students to launch their careers in
the creative sector.”

Other graduates who were featured included Rebecca Wilson from Arts
university Bournemouth, winner of the Christopher Bailey Gold Award, Saskia
Lenaerts from Kingston University who won the Considered Design Award, and
Hannah Gibbins from University of Brighton, who received the Debenhams
Menswear Award.

Martyn Roberts, creative and managing director of Graduate Fashion Week
added: “It is a fantastic event to build on year on year, celebrating the
launch of new talent into the fashion industry. We’re here with some of the
top industry experts and our accomplished graduates to advocate the
significance of the Graduate Fashion Foundation charity and the year round
work it does. We are gaining more support from CEO, HR and Design Directors
across international and UK brands throughout the year.”

Images: courtesy of Graduate Fashion Foundation