Not content with showcasing the best budding designers that British universities have to offer, this year Graduate Fashion Week has added an International Show to its line-up for the first time.
Yesterday students from 16 far flung universities took to the catwalk at Earls Court, proving that graduate collections are just as credible in Italy and Israel, Taiwan and Turkey as they are in the UK. Brimming with ideas and imagination they may be, but students these days know that polished finishing and a commercial edge are key when it comes to winning the battle for jobs that follows the show.
The highlights? A modern, sports-inspired take on the kimono, complete with beautiful Japanese embroidery, from Gilda Ambrosio (Instituto Maragoni Milan); dramatically curved capes and dresses made of digital prints and leather and topped with dramatic Swarovski helmets conured up by Chisung Ihn (Bunka Fashion Graduate University Japan); the architecture-inspired, simply pannelled collection from Carmina Blank (Esmod Berlin); beautifully appliquéd and embroidered flowers teamed with checkerboard patchwork for him and her by Michael Maiello (Fashion Institute of Technology Italy); a head covering, sheer, tile-printed burka and lace insert dresses by Sasha Nassar (Instituto Marangoni Paris); and American football warrior girls by Anna Wilhelmina (Esmod Berlin).
And we cant talk about the show without mentioning Angus Chang (Shih Chien Taiwan) and his downright bonkers astronaut dressed in a space suit made from eye-poppingly bright flowers. Wearable it wasn't but it was certainly headline grabbing, and was enough to see him awarded the International Prize too.
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Michael Maiello, Fashion Institute of Technology Italy
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Sasha Nassar, Instituto Marangoni Paris
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Angus Chang, Shih Chien Taiwan, winner of the International Prize
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Chisung Ihn, Bunka Fashion Graduate University Japan