GFW 2014 Venue Confirmed

Graduate Fashion Week is fast approaching, but with Earls Court set to be demolished and the events usually being held here, the new venue has been highly anticipated. The speculation is now over however as today it has been confirmed that one of the most important dates in students fashion calendars is going to be at the Truman Brewery, London E1.

Ingenious or stupid? We discussed this is a previous lecture at uni the other month and some would say it seems odd to have such an event in a brewery of all places. It doesn't particularly bother me but maybe the sheer fact it's in 'fashionable' Shoreditch is one of the selection reasons. What do you make of the new venue and if you're showing at the next GFW how do you feel about having your work showcased here?

Inside the venue

GFW Ravensbourne 2013

Today was the day!! Ravensbourne were showing at GFW and as I attend the uni, myself and the rest of my class were lucky enough to go to the show. The talent we have at Rave is insane, although not everyone got to show, the lucky chosen few were incredible. Some pieces that really caught my eye and were personal highlights were Sofie Malmgren's holographic clutch and silver cage head pieces. Clearly I have a thing for accessories.

What made it for me along with the clothes was the music. You could tell the song choices were fully thought out to really suit the collections, and it really bought everything together. There was anything from Lil Mama Lipgloss to Fergie London Bridge to Venga Boys - completely amazing! It was a shame we couldn't get any closer then the 5th row but obviously the closer rows were for industry experts and potential employers for the graduates but I still managed to get a few snaps.

As well as a successful day for Fashion BA(hons), Fashion Promotion also won two awards! The first award was for Per Aquum Marketing and went to Sophie Christiansen and the New Media Award went to Rebecca Chambers. It's incredible that Rave are getting recognition as we have such young talent coming in and out of our doors fast. We won't be showing at GFW for another 24 months, which means my year are the next to show - definitely huge boots to fill, but we're up for the challenge; Fash Promo 2015!!

The show space

 The catwalk space

 Holographic clutch by Sofie Malmgren 

 Lydia Krause

 Rebecca Elley

Cage headdresses by Luke Harris

GRADUATE FASHION WEEK - 5 DAYS TO GO

It's coming up thick and fast now. Ravensbourne's show is at 3:30 on the Monday and according to Hilary Alexander our show sold out first!! Yes FIRST!! So if you didn't listen to my earlier posts to get your tickets fast you have missed your chance. But never fear, we also have a stand at GFW where you can go and see the garments made by the students a long with sketch books and other forms of our work. This is still an amazing way to see the shows pieces up close and personal. You don't just have to see it on the day the show is taking place either. As you know GFW is on from Sunday to Wednesday so although Raves show is on Monday, feel free to go on the Tuesday or Wednesday as well.

One of last years successes was Emeline Nksoi. She was also nominated for the Mulberry Accessories Award as well as the GFW Ethical Fashion Award. This shows you what real talent we have at Ravensbourne, so god knows what surprises will have up our sleeve this year!

Natalie Finch from Ravensbourne has also beat all other fashion students for the oppotunity to have her own pop up shop at GFW! This is an amazing opportunity and she fought through all the competition to win. Yet another example as to why everyone should come and sample some of Ravensbournes finest! This is the second year in a row Ravensbourne have won the pop up shop, Claire Clark won it last year.

Emeline Nkosi's from Ravensbourne's Stand at GFW June 2012

GFW Take 4!

It's so close now! 11 days!
Colin McDowell is doing an industry talk with Mary Katrantzou Tuesday 4th which is nearly sold out so need to get in their quick if you want a seat.

GFW has also gone international this week - with one student from some of the most prestigious schools across the world getting to showcase their work. Some of the schools keen to get involved are Parsons New York, where Marc Jacobs studied, Instituto Marangoni Italy, where Domenico Dolce honed his craft, and BUNKA Japan, where Kenzo and Yohji Yamamoto studied. This is super exciting as the whole purpose of GFW is to showcase the rising new talent in the fashion industry as the likes of Stella McCartney and Christopher Bailey all made their debut to the industry. The international showcase is on Monday 3rd at 11am, and tickets are going like hot cakes so again get in there quickly.

GFW Take 3!

15 days till GFW! I know you're all counting down with me. The news thats going around the twittersphere today is that Henry Holland has been announced as this years Gala and Award Ceremony presenter, how exciting! If you haven't bought a ticket yet this should have tipped the board. Hope to see you there!

GFW Take 2

GFW is less than 3 weeks away, and I bet the tension is building in all the unis that are taking part to have their collections ready.

Manchester School of Art is set to host their first show in their brand new building on 23rd May. They're setting the spark of excitement for the rest of us. Tickets have now gone on sale, so you better snap one up before they all sell out! The best day to get is of course Monday 3rd June, as my uni is on that day, har har. We are definitely ones to watch.

Hope to see you all there!

GFW 2013

Graduate Fashion Week is fast approaching, and now I'm at uni, the fashion design course where I'm studying is involved. For those that aren't aware of GFW, it's one of the leading events for fashion graduates, where they get a chance to showcase their work to the industry, and potentially get jobs from it. So it's pretty major; especially as fashion design jobs are so sparse nowadays. It's also an opportunity for students to represent the future in fashion, something innovative to really impress industry experts.

Over 1,000 graduates are involved each year from the most influential universities up and down the UK including Nottingham Trent and UCA so it's mega cool that my uni can be part of it. The event this year is from Sunday June 2nd - Wednesday June 5th at Earls Court and you can by tickets via the website http://www.gfw.org.uk/tickets/catwalk/. If the catwalk isn't your thang, you can choose to buy tickets to the exhibition instead via the same link above.

According to Vogue, the show is under reconstruction this year, as it aims to streamline the performances by focusing on fewer universities each day and also having fewer awards on each day to allow for a bigger Gala day at the end of the week. Rob Templeman, the weeks chairman has said that he hopes 'the new Gala day will allow for a more intimate affair, and showcase how great the students work is.'

Colin McDowell has now become a trustee for the event. The respected fashion journalist joins the charity's executive committee alongside fellow writer Hilary Alexander, British designer Mark Eley and Professor Wendy Dagworthy of the Royal College of Art.

"I am very pleased to have become a trustee of Graduate Fashion Week as I am convinced that its nationwide brief to help and encourage students and academic staff across the whole country is a necessary antidote to the erroneous idea that because British fashion is shown mainly in London it is only the products of London fashion colleges that matter," he said.

Anna Stephenson GFW 2011

I hope you're all as excited as I am for this. Even though I don't do design, I'm more than happy to support my uni, and hope they win big this year!