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Future fashion stars showcase on national catwalks

Published: 4 June 2008
Britt Beale's collection

Hampshire's fashion stars of the future will be showcasing their talents at two prestigious national events this summer.

Work from students at the University of Southampton's Winchester School of Art will take pride of place at Graduate Fashion Week and New Designers.

Graduate Fashion Week, at London's Earls Court 2, features the very best BA graduate fashion design talent in the UK and attracts fashion scouts from the UK and overseas.

New Designers, held at London's Business Design Centre, presents the next generation of designers to the industry. It is the foremost event in graduate design and marks the emergence of the year's brightest talents.

More than 20 fashion and two knit for fashion students from the School of Art will present their final year portfolios at Graduate Fashion Week from 8-12 June.

A selection of these students will also show off their designs on the catwalk at a special fashion show on the evening of Sunday, 8 June.

Meanwhile 33 textile, fashion and fibre students' end of year portfolios will feature at the New Designers event from 3-6 July.

Among the students showcasing at both events are three students whose work reflects this year's trends.

Future fashion stars showcase on national catwalks
Art student Britt Beale's collection captures Romany Gypsy

Hampshire girl Britt Beale's reuse and restyle approach was inspired by the subject of sustainability and ethical fashion.

Britt, 21, from Lymington, has created an off-beat collection for men and women influenced by the make do and mend approach to styling in Romany Gypsy culture.

Jessica Kirby was influenced by sophisticated layering in her refined approach to tailoring through a subtle build-up of panels and pleating.

Mana Fatourechy has been motivated by body protection. Her collection offers an imposing range of outfits that complement the female form with consideration to shape and form, a dynamic use of embellishment and well-sourced fabrics.

Subject leader for fashion Cecilia Langemar said: "Both Graduate Fashion Week and New Designers are undoubtedly the highlight of the year for the fashion and textile students.

"It gives them valuable exposure to such a wide range of industry professionals and allows them to make invaluable contacts for the future."

Work by these students and all other Winchester School of Art textile, fashion and fibre students can be viewed at the school's degree show at Park Avenue, Winchester, from 21-27 June. Fashion catwalk shows will also take place on Thursday, 19 June, at 2pm and 4pm in the Great Hall, Winchester, by invitation.

Notes for editors

  • About Winchester School of Art
    Founded in 1863, Winchester School of Art has an international reputation for research and teaching in art and design, and has links with many other institutions in Europe. WSA merged with the University of Southampton in 1996.

  • About the University of Southampton
    The University of Southampton is a leading UK teaching and research institution with a global reputation for leading-edge research and scholarship.

    This is one of the country's top institutions for engineering, computer science and medicine, and home to a range of world-leading research centres, including the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, the Optoelectronics Research Centre, the Centre for the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, and the Mountbatten Centre for International Studies.

    We combine academic excellence with an innovative and entrepreneurial approach to research, supporting a culture that engages and challenges students and staff in their pursuit of learning.

    As one of the UK's top ten research universities, we offer first-rate opportunities and facilities for study and research across a wide range of subjects in humanities, health, science and engineering.

    We have over 22,000 students, around 5,000 staff, and an annual turnover in the region of £325 million.

  • For further information

    Liz Gilbride, Communications, University of Southampton,
    Tel: 023 8059 2128, email: L.Gilbride@soton.ac.uk

    Sue Wilson, Communications, University of Southampton,
    Tel. 023 8059 5457, email: sjew@soton.ac.uk

    Sarah Mead, Winchester School of Art,
    Tel. 023 8059 7141, email: s.mead@soton.ac.uk

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