University of Salford launches designers in Manhattan

The University of Salford arrived in Manhattan to showcase a mixture of
its undergrad and post-grad talent in a downtown launch event, complete
with DJ and flowing prosecco, to be followed by a day of sales appointments
and meetings with industry professionals. The two-day event offers a
complete representation of the school’s crop of talent: Freshmen presenting
their work after only three months of study, second years exhibiting the
result of a special workshop with Maxmara in Italy in which they were asked
to design the perfect coat, and third years showing a one outfit teaser of
their upcoming collection which will be presented at London Fashion Week in
September.

From the North of England, close to Manchester, part of a large arts and design
university, the fashion program counts approximately 130 designers among
its student body. The contingent made the trip as part of an ambitious
two-pronged attack on the city. “The school will be on the New York Fashion
Week’s official schedule next season,” says Bashir Aswat, the Fashion
Program Leader, “and then it will participate in London Fashion Week after
that.”

Rated by the Guardian as 4th in the UK league table for fashion schools,
the University of Salford has received international awards for its
portfolios and level of teaching among other recognitions. Say Aswat, “We
believe in innovation and creativity but within a professional
context––it’s important that the collections our students produce are ready
for market.”

University of Salford fashion program goes global

Most top design schools have a global presence and an international
mindset and the University of Salford is no exception. “We have a
partnership school in China, and with Bunka School of Fashion in Japan,”
explains Aswat. “Our second years go to Milan and we connect them with
Prada, Gucci, Maxmara. Our final year students go to China for two weeks
for fabric sourcing, to five cities, it’s just one of the activities we do.
Students more sustainability or ethically-minded may source closer to home
but it’s important to offer them the complete picture of the industry.”

The regular graduate show calendar is in May and June but Aswat says,
“We wanted to pull out from the student timeline and to do an innovative
event, on a different scale, that took us out of the UK. We already have
our connections in London. New York is the perfect place for us to show
this new concept. We have five graduates who are all launching their
labels, and this gives them a platform. The designers are already an
international group––from China, Poland, Gambia, Bangladesh and the UK––
but all united within the University of Salford family.”

A post-Brexit fashion school

Unsurprisingly Brexit has to figure into the school’s strategizing, but
Aswat looks on the UK’s headlining political event as an opportunity: “We
need to look forward, we’re going to maintain a strong relationship with
Europe, our neighbor, with Milan. Paris is easy for us, but New York is
cool, exciting, and aspirational for our students. There’s a lot of
pessimism back home, but we as creatives and artists we must set the tone,
be positive, inspire people.”

As portfolios rest open on the table for interested parties to flick
through, students stand alert, ready to engage with the American fashion
industry. They appear driven and focused, not about to waste the
opportunity.

“Some of our designers have come with a clear plan and have buyers
coming tomorrow, others are using this as a platform but already have
orders in place,’ explains Aswat. “Barbara who created all the leather
pieces already has major interest in Poland as a result of saying she’s
showing in New York. This is shopwindow for us, a marketing tool and a
great opportunity to connect with individuals for potential job
opportunities. In addition, our second years will be interning this year
and several have already secured placements in New York. They all have
their own agenda.”

Fashion editor Jackie Mallon is also an educator and author of Silk
for the Feed Dogs, a novel set in the international fashion
industry.

Photos FashionUnited