University of Salford Fashion Graduates to Show in Ningbo, China

Salford, United Kingdom – The University of Salford is proud to announce that 14 of its most talented fashion design graduates will been selected to showcase their collections at a prestigious one-off event in Ningbo, China. This unique opportunity will feature both menswear and womenswear designers, providing them with the invaluable experience of presenting their work overseas.

The runway show, which will be directed and produced by the esteemed SinoUK and ZFIT institute, is a testament to the global recognition of the University of Salford’s Fashion Design program. Known as one of the leading fashion programs in the UK and internationally, Salford Fashion Design continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation.

This event not only highlights the aspirational journey of our students but also underscores the University’s commitment to fostering cross-cultural academic exchanges. It offers our students a rare opportunity to demonstrate their work within another cultural context, allowing them to engage with diverse perspectives and industry standards.

The showcase is scheduled to take place on June 7th,2024 at 7:00 PM in the vibrant city of Ningbo. It promises to be an evening where the future talent of fashion takes center stage, echoing the University of Salford’s ethos of preparing its students for the international fashion arena.

Quote from the Head of Fashion Design Program: “We are immensely proud of our graduates who have been selected for this extraordinary event. It is a reflection of their hard work, our program’s dedication to excellence, and our commitment to providing a global platform for our students. This showcase in Ningbo is not just a runway; it’s a launchpad for the next generation of fashion leaders.”

Attend the Event: Industry professionals, press, and fashion enthusiasts interested in attending the “Fashion Convergence: The Salford-Sinouk Runway Gala” can request an invitation by contacting Demo Jiang at J.Yingxin@salford.ac.uk. Please note that seating is limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

About the University of Salford: The University of Salford stands as a pillar of innovation and excellence in higher education. With a rich history of academic achievement and a forward-thinking approach, the University offers a wide range of programs that are both nationally and internationally acclaimed.

Contact Information: Demo Jiang, Associate Lecturer Fashion Design, University of Salford J.Yingxin@salford.ac.uk

THE SCOTSMAN →

A dress made out of excess material from a Scottish protective clothing business is making its fashion debut on the catwalk.

By Scott Reid

Lorna Gibson, a 20-year-old fashion student from the University of Salford, has created the dress from unused material at Annan-based Alpha Solway’s factory. The firm is part of PPE manufacturer Globus Group, a market leader in producing products for both the industrial and healthcare sectors.

Gibson, a student from the University of Salford and daughter of a power station engineer, said her aspiration was to help raise awareness around the low representation of women in industrial jobs.

She said: “The social expectations surrounding women in industry are somewhat unclear and out of date.

“My ambition was to make typically ‘unstylish’ safety workwear more appealing. I was passionate about upcycling protective clothing from the sector to make it stylish.

“Although an intimidating task at first, the firm and thick nature of chemical suit material makes for a great base fabric when producing high volume.”

Lorna Gibson has created a unique dress using fabric exclusively from excess material from Globus’ PPE manufacturing process for her final year university project.

Steven Binnie, managing director of Alpha Solway, added: “Lorna’s talent partnered with our quality-made protective clothing has resulted in an exclusive for one of the world’s biggest fashion stages - something that, as a manufacturer, we could never have envisioned.

“Innovation and sustainability have always been part of the Globus DNA and Lorna’s Chemmaster dress certainly embodies that approach.

“With Lorna’s incredible eye for design, the opportunities are endless in terms of future prospects.”

UoS MA FASHION SHOW 2022 Press Release

MA Fashion Design Graduates present collections during London Fashion Week. 

Designers explored an extensive range of research and innovative design thinking, leading to original and complex solutions built on fundamental industry principles including social, political, environmental, and technical influences. 

MA Fashion Design programme provides designers with the opportunity to think about their practice within a framework of contemporary cultures and simultaneously nurtures design and technical skills to enable graduates to produce work to the highest standard, ready for key jobs in the industry. With a focus on professional practice and more specifically the business of fashion, designers develop an understanding of approaches to entrepreneurship supported via international guest speakers and practitioners to ensure graduates are prepared for a new era of fashion business. 

Womenswear Collection, June Liu

Meet The Designers Of MR PORTER FUTURES 2021 →

Earlier this year, we welcomed applications for MR PORTER FUTURES, our very first mentorship programme. The goal? To find talented people with great ideas that deserve bigger audiences. It’s all part of our attempt to break down barriers, be more inclusive and improve access to the industry for those outside of the mainstream.

Fashion, after all, can be a tough place to succeed, and, if we’re being honest, isn’t quite as diverse as it could be. For all that it speaks to a global audience, the industry that drives it is largely centralised in just a handful of cities – historically New York, London, Milan and Paris – while talent is disproportionately drawn from a small number of high-profile schools.

We’re thrilled, then, that our three chosen designers, who were selected by an anonymous review process before being nominated by our mentor selection committee, represent such unique perspectives. Meet Mr Saif Ud Deen from Manchester, UK; Messrs Julian Canda and Ryan Edmonds of Oregon, US; and Ms Kat Tua, originally from Auckland, New Zealand, but now residing in Sydney, Australia.

Our applicants will now begin a year-long design programme to turn their ideas into reality. At the end of the year, they will debut their very own menswear collections exclusively on MR PORTER. Before embarking on this life-changing journey, though, they took a moment to sit down with us and share their story so far.

Mr Saif Ud Deen

Mr Saif Ud Deen was born and raised in Levenshulme, a district of south Manchester. He studied menswear design, and, at 23, he’s the youngest of the MR PORTER FUTURES candidates. A third-generation British Pakistani and practising Muslim, his designs are inspired by his local community and incorporate elements of streetwear and traditional Islamic attire. He describes his collection concept as “an autobiography of sorts, a culmination of my own experiences and how faith and fashion intertwine with the urban environment”.

You graduated from Salford University with a degree in Fashion Design in 2020. What inspired you to follow this path?

Growing up, fashion was a bit like football to me. It was something I was passionate about, not a potential career path. I went to a good school – a grammar school – and I guess I was always pushed down an academic route. But I just hated it, it wasn’t for me. My dad sat me down and said, “It’s clear you don’t want to do this.” It was only once he’d encouraged me to pursue my passion that I said, right: this is what I want to do.

Could you describe your own sense of style?

I take inspiration from what’s around me. Style in Manchester is really regional; Levenshulme, where I’m from, has its own distinctive look compared to other areas of the city. It’s just like in London, where people dress differently in Soho compared to, say, Tottenham or Willesden.

Your design concept integrates streetwear with elements of your religious heritage. Where did the inspiration for that come from?

Growing up, it’s just what we did. If you go to a mosque on a Friday, you’ll see a load of people my age wearing traditional Islamic dress, but they’ll throw a Stone Island jacket on top or wear it with a pair of Jordans. There’s a big trend among young Muslims of adapting their religious clothing into something that has a sense of individuality and that expresses their personal style.

There’s a strong functional element, too.

Fashion to me has always been functional. For example, when I was a kid, I’d often go straight from the mosque to playing football in the park. We’d just pull the dress up, tuck it into our trousers and play. It’s about wearing what you need to wear, but not letting it get in the way. That’s always been my way.

What was it like graduating during a global pandemic?

My class was showing at New York Fashion Week in February 2020; by the time we got back to the UK, Covid was everywhere. Our final collections were cancelled and the rest of the course went digital. All the manufacturing side of it was gone. We’d just visited China earlier in the year to buy fabric; I had 200 metres of fabric in my bedroom. It’s still there now.

That must have felt like a big setback.

It did at the time, but looking back it had its positives. I had so much more time to focus on developing my drawing skills, which really helped me with my application for MR PORTER FUTURES. So, in a way, I guess it worked out.

Harvey Nichols, Manchester and The University of Salford MA & BA (hons) Fashion Design courses are pleased to announce the launch of a new collaboration this September →

Harvey Nichols, Manchester and The University of Salford MA & BA (hons) Fashion Design courses are pleased to announce the launch of a new collaboration coming this September. 

UOS x Harvey Nichols (Made in Salford) is a new venture between the luxury retailer and the university’s internationally recognised fashion design course, bringing a capsule collection of graduate outcomes to the retail floor for the first time.  

Fashion Design at the University of Salford provides students with the opportunity to think about their practice within a framework of contemporary cultures and simultaneously gives them the design and technical skills to produce work to the highest standard, ready for key jobs in the industry.  The alumni work across all levels of the industry in a variety of roles.

“We are delighted to work with Harvey Nichols, Manchester. This collaboration provides our graduates with a rare opportunity to showcase and sell their work directly to consumers. Furthermore, we are extremely grateful to Harvey Nichols for their trust and conviction in supporting our students and our programme.” Bashir Aswat, Programme Leader Fashion Design 

From 28th September, over 30 graduates will present more than 150 one-off garments to be displayed and retailed within the Harvey Nichols Manchester store, within a specially curated space on the menswear and ladieswear fashion floors. 

This is a unique opportunity for fashion design graduates, able to showcase their exceptional work beyond the catwalk and place them into a bricks and mortar store.  Traditionally students’ collections are rarely sold and are simply seen as a statement of their creativity and hard work.  This opportunity is a strong reflection of Harvey Nichols’ support, investing in the future talent of an entire graduating year group, with the revenue generated from the sale of the garments being retained by the University of Salford and the student designers themselves.

As a cohort they have already presented work at New York Fashion Week in 2020 and at a pop-up exhibition in Milan (2019) but this collaboration brings them home to where they have spent the past three years honing their craft and identities as designers. 

Gavin Hudson, Store Retail Operations Manager at Harvey Nichols, Manchester says: 

“We are really excited to collaborate with the University of Salford on this very special project and to be showcasing this unique collection of one-off pieces in Manchester, where the garments themselves have been designed and created. We are very proud to support emerging fashion talent and are delighted to be able to offer a platform on which new graduate designers can showcase their creativity”. 

The ‘Made in Salford’ brand is a statement to having a sustainable practice, each piece being a unique garment produced less than 2 miles of where it will finally be sold.  Customers can expect an array of different garments suited to all situations, styles and genders, all in the knowledge no one else will own it.  

The two specially curated spaces will be installed on the menswear and ladieswear fashion floors of the luxury retailer from 28thSeptember, for a limited time.

The University of Salford and Browzwear Partner to Prepare Aspiring Designers for the Industry’s 3D Tech-Powered Future

Incorporating VStitcher into undergraduate and graduate fashion design programs, the University ensures students are prepared to succeed in their careers 

NEW YORK, October 15, 2020 -  Browzwear, a global leader in 3D technology for the apparel industry, and the University of Salford, a Manchester-based institution whose fashion design program is recognized among the world's best, today announced a partnership that will enable aspiring fashion designers to develop technology-based skills that are increasingly in demand throughout the industry. 

With a  commitment to providing training and a skillset that positions graduates for success in an increasingly-digitized industry, the Fashion Design program, part of the School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology will now include Browzwear as a core part of its undergraduate and postgraduate curricula. In addition to using Browzwear’s VStitcher to showcase their talent and creativity in the classroom, students have the opportunity to work with well-known brands, partake in internships and participate in other projects and challenges. 

The University, who selected Browzwear for its user-friendly interface, broad array of integration partners and prominence in the industry, is among a growing number of educational institutions that include Browzwear as a central part of their fashion design programs. Browzwear also offers these students access to its on-demand learning platform, Browzwear University, ensuring that their experience with the software is supported both inside and outside of formal teaching sessions. 

“The pace of digital transformation in the fashion industry is accelerating and we’re seeing advancements that you’d expect to take five years be condensed into a few months. Whereas the use of 3D to build and merchandise collections was a rarity just a few years ago, it’s quickly become an imperative, and designers who have cultivated this skillset are in extremely high demand” said Bashir Aswat, leader of the fashion program at Salford. “By introducing our students to the technology early in their studies and continuing to give opportunities to hone their skills throughout their education, we are confident we are setting both the students and their future employers up for success.” 

Lena Lim, Chief Commercial Officer of Browzwear said “At Browzwear, we help companies integrate 3D across the entire product lifecycle, from concept to commerce, and we see firsthand that it is a common challenge for apparel companies to find candidates who are also skilled in 3D software. We are proud to work with institutions like the University of Salford and prepare the next generation of design talent so both they and the companies they go  to work for can fully leverage 3D for success.” 

About Browzwear:

Founded in 1999, Browzwear is a pioneer of 3D digital solutions for the fashion industry, driving seamless processes from concept to commerce. For designers, Browzwear accelerates collection development, opening limitless opportunities to create iterations of styles. For technical designers and pattern makers, Browzwear rapidly fits graded garments to any body model with accurate material replication. For manufacturers, Browzwear’s Tech Pack delivers everything needed to produce physical garments to match perfectly to their digital twin. Worldwide, more than 350 organizations such as Columbia Sportswear, PVH Group and VF Corporation leverage Browzwear’s open platform to streamline processes, collaborate and pursue data-driven production strategies so they can sell more while manufacturing less, which increases both ecological and economic sustainability. For more information, visit http://www.browzwear.com. 

About the University of Salford

School of Arts Media and Creative Technology 

The University of Salford’s School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology is a leading UK provider of new talent for the Creative Industries and Industry 4.0. With over 4,500 students and a comprehensive portfolio of art, design, media, music and performance subjects, our graduates are international in outlook, interdisciplinary in practice and interactive in their digital networks. With our roots in the 19th Century Industrial Revolution and the requirements of cotton manufacturing, the University is now a more diverse institution of 22,000 students with four schools of Science Engineering and the Environment, Health and Society, and Business. In Arts Media and Creative Technology, we have created a comprehensive art school in which content production is supported by theory, research and technology.

Best Schools In The World

University of Salford BA Hons Fashion Design has been listed on Business of Fashion as one of the top undergraduate programmes based on performance in the three indices that comprise BoF’s methodology: Global Influence, Student Learning Experience and Long-Term Value.

BEST OVERALL

BEST IN GLOBAL INFLUENCE

BEST IN LEARNING EXPERIENCE

BEST IN LONG-TERM VALUE

Established in 1896, the University of Salford’s BA Fashion Design programme is largely studio based, emphasizing hands-on teaching sessions in a collaborative atmosphere. Students work in a newly finished studio equipped with a full range of industrial machinery including laser cutters, 3D printers and metal work machines. The programme is committed to breaking down traditional barriers to higher education, offering mentorship programs and an ‘open door’ policy within the programme, where students of all levels can interact and receive help from faculty in an open plan studio space. The programme stresses real world experience, including a period of work placement for up to six months with brands including Vera Wang, Alexander McQueen and Iris van Herpen. Seniors develop a professional portfolio of work based on their final collections, and have the opportunity to travel to China to source their fabric and work directly with industry suppliers to develop prints.

‘Manufacturing experience is vital for my future fashion career’

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A third-year fashion student at the University of Salford, who has recently shown her collection at New York Fashion Week, said first-hand experience of production and manufacturing gave her a valuable insight into the fashion industry that she believes will set her apart in her future career.

Natalie Slater was part of UKFT’s Made It programme, which took place in autumn 2017, and aimed to give fashion design students a better understanding of sourcing, production and the business benefits of selecting a UK-based manufacturing strategy.

It involved a series of masterclasses at five universities during which, students were asked to use what they had learnt to research, design and develop a fully UK made collection for a high street retailer.

One student from each University was selected to receive sponsorship and support from the Made It campaign to go through the full production process with a UK manufacturer, receiving mentoring throughout.

Slater was selected to work with Sourgrape, a London-based high-end womenswear manufacturer, where she was guided through sourcing, costing, methods of communication the importance of accuracy and problem solving, as well as the importance of establishing good working relationship with a manufacturer.

Since the Made It programme, Slater has completed an internship with Adam Lippes in New York, Emilia Wickstead in London and was selected to show during New York Fashion Week with the University of Salford.

She said: “Made It offered such a valuable experience for students to really get to understand the industry. The experience I had with the project made me so much more aware of how the industry worked and more specifically the information you need to know and deliver to come out with the product that you want at the end.

“It makes you realise how every step of the process is extremely important and anything that is compromised affects the whole process and the end result.”

She explained that the experience made her more aware of the importance of costings, taking into consideration the amount of fabric to use, how much it costs and how the pattern is developed.

“Even the little things that I was shown, that people might not realise is so important, helped me learn so much,” she added. “The finishes to your garment are so important. I was shown multiple finishes, using hand sewing techniques, that were applied to the outfit that I was working on. I can now apply these to future garments, which can help me achieve the quality I want.

“Communication and relationships are key to produce a successful product and working with Sourgrape over the week that I had with them taught me so much,” she concluded. “They were great at advising and teaching me new ways to do things, along with making sure that I knew the most important for working with a manufacturer.”

UKFT is committed to changing the image of the manufacturing sector and ensuring that the UK’s design graduates leave university with the knowledge of the opportunities that exist on their doorstep. The UK has a fantastic array of manufacturing capabilities, covering sampling, prototyping and production capabilities for all stages of the supply chain including yarns, fabrics and trimmings to clothing, knitwear, accessories and leather.

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Fashion Designer - Natalie Slater

Model - Elaine Martinez

Excerpt taken from

https://www.ukft.org/manufacturing-experience-is-vital-for-my-future-fashion-career/

From Peel Campus to Manhattan: Salford students take on New York Fashion Week

On Monday, 5 February, level 6 Fashion Design students and graduates had the exciting opportunity to showcase their collections at New York Fashion Week.

The global event, which takes place in Lower Manhattan, saw 25 lucky students and alumni showing their work at the two-day at New York Fashion Week for the first time. They also got the chance to meet guests, VIPs and Industry professionals.

Following on from this, on 6 February, they hosted a pop-up store at New York Fashion Week’s showroom. This allowed visitors to see their collections up-close, with the possibility of purchasing products and creating collections.

“New York is a fantastic opportunity for our students and graduates to show their collections on a global platform, to further build on our relationships with brands and companies from the USA, and to give our graduates the chance to grow their client base,” said Bashir Aswat, Fashion Design Programme Leader.

Salford Fashion Design have won the British Fashion Council Portfolio award for best student graduate design six times, as well as a variety of competitions, such as the Global Levi’s X Arts Thread Design Competition in both 2017 and 2018. The University’s previous alumni have secured great jobs and internships within the industry, working alongside the likes of the creative director at Max Mara and designers at H&M in Sweden, Topshop in the UK, and Pete Pilotto London.

Final year student, Natalie Slater, said, “It feels amazing. As I did one of my internships there, it’s an amazing opportunity to go back and to show them what I have been getting up to and what I have improved on. It’s also a great opportunity to meet people from industry and to talk to them about my work.”

Our Fashion course is currently 4th in the Guardian's UK University league table.

http://staff.salford.ac.uk/newsitem/6688

Photography Credits

Image 1: Photographer - Tori Mumtaz. Model - Elaine Martinez. Designer - Jun Jie Liu.

Image 2: Photographer - Tajae. Model - Terri Lisa. Designer - Lucy Growdon.

Image 3: Photographer - Drew Botcherby. Model - Ivy Hjornevik. Designer - Erin Stokes

Image 4: Photographer - Tajae. Model - Michael Belardino. Designer - Katie Bird.

University of Salford launches designers in Soho, Manhattan 2019

Image taken by Tajae - Instagram: @tajaehinds

On Monday, 5 February, level 4, 5 and 6 Fashion Design students and graduates had the exciting opportunity to showcase their collections at a two-day event during New York Fashion Week. The event saw 25 lucky students and alumni showing their work at New York Fashion Week for the first time. They also got the chance to meet guests and VIPs.

Following on from this, on 6 February, they hosted a pop-up store at New York Fashion Week’s showroom. This allowed visitors to see their collections up-close, with the possibility of purchasing products and creating industry contacts.

“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 talent: First years presenting their work after only three months of study, second years exhibiting the resullt of a special workshop with Max Mara in Italy, in which they were asked to design the perfect coat and third years showing a one outfit teaser of their upcoming final collection which will be presented at London Fashion Week in September.” This excerpt has been taken from the Fashion United article linked below:

https://fashionunited.uk/news/fashion/university-of-salford-launches-designers-in-manhattan/2019020641426

The two-day event was an immense success. Current final year student, Natalie Slater, said, “It feels amazing. As I did one of my internships there, it’s an amazing opportunity to go back and to show them what I have been getting up to and what I have improved on. It’s also a great opportunity to meet people from industry and to talk to them about my work.” We’re extremely proud of every student and alumni there and we thank everybody who has helped us to put this initial idea into a real life successful event.

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Photography credits

Image 1: Photographer - Drew Botcherby. Model - Laura Campbell. Designer - Dominic Barber.

Image 2: Photographer - Tori Mumtaz. Model - Semaje Wicker. Designer - Gibril Dukery.

Image 3: Photographer - Drew Botcherby. Model - Michael Belardino. Designer - Moynul Islam.

Image 4: Photographer - Tori Mumtaz. Model - Lorena Eni. Designer - Carline Zhou.

University of Salford x New York Fashion Week February 2019

The University of Salford, Manchester UK, supported by Arts Thread present new collections from : DEM, Barbara Bechta, Nephew, Ques Quest, Silpa at prime Soho & Tribeca venue in New York.

Location: 332 Canal Street, Soho, New York, NY10013

Preview night launch: Tuesday Feb 5th 2019 , 7-10pm.

Showroom / pop -up store : Wednesday 6th Feb 2019 , from 11am-8pm

All press enquiries please contact Sally Donaldson: s.donaldson1@salford.ac.uk

Industry guests & ticket enquiries please contact Gemma Moran: g.moran@salford.ac.uk

To Register for this event click:

https://universityofsalfordnewyorkfashionweekevent.eventbrite.co.uk

The University of Salford BA (Hons) fashion design students and alumni host fashion event at New York Fashion Week. The University of Salford based in Manchester, UK today announced that it will host its first Undergraduate and Postgraduate off schedule event at New York Fashion Week in February 2019, supported by Arts Thread, British Consulate General NY and NAMESIdn. University of Salford will show new collections from the following brands; DEM, Barbara Bechta, Nephew, Ques Quest, Silpa at prime Soho & Tribeca venue in New York. “The fashion programme and staff at Salford enabled me to realise my ambitions in so many ways. They gave me the confidence, skills and support to launch my own fashion brand, bringing my collection to New York is a dream come true.” Dominic Barber @ Nephew Studio.

The University of Salford BA (Hons) Fashion Design is a globally recognized programme which is ranked 4th in the UK University league tables. The University has won the British Fashion Council Portfolio award for the best student graduate design work six times. Students from the second year of the University have won the global Levi’s x Arts Thread Design Competition in 2017 & 2018, Top Shop design competition in 2017 & 2018, Stradivarius design competition in 2018 as well as many other awards including childrenswear & textiles. The Universities previous alumni have secured fantastic jobs & internships within the industry including working alongside the Creative director at MaxMara, designers at H&M in Sweden, Top Shop in UK, Peter Pilotto London.

The University of Salford (UK) is the University aligned with industry – our work with global brands, SMEs and public bodies has put is in the top 10 universities in the UK for consultancy. “We provide our students with real-world, industry-relevant experiences to prepare them for employment, providing employers with future-focused graduates who understand the needs of industry. The University has the highest student satisfaction rate in Greater Manchester, as evidenced in the National Student Survey results for 2018. The University of Salford has over 20,000 students and 2,500 staff from around the world, with a global community of over 170,000 alumni.

“ New York is a fantastic opportunity for our students & graduates to show their collections on a global platform to further build on our relationships with brands and companies from the USA and give our graduates chance to grow their client base” Programme leader Bashir Aswat

The event begins with a launch on the evening of 5th February starting at 7pm and running until 10pm. This will give guests and VIPS a chance to meet with the designers. On Wednesday 6th February there will be a showroom and pop up store allowing for a more close up view of the collections, along with a chance to purchase some products from designers and view undergraduate work from the university. This will be open from 11-8pm.

Gibril Dukery @ ques.quest / Moynul Islam @silpaclo / Dominic Barber@nephew_studio / YingxinJiang@demdemdemo / Barbara Betcha @barbarabechta

To gain more information on designers their bios and collection information and to arrange interviews please get in touch for visuals of the designers collections, biographies, general information and book an interview with head of programme and designers. All enquiries please contact Sally Donaldson: s.donaldson1@salford.ac.uk

University of Salford invited to visit the MaxMara Garment Archive

Students from the University of Salford visited the MaxMara garment archive in Reggio Emilia, Italy on November 5th, 2018. The visit was hosted by the iconic Laura Lusuardi, MaxMara’s veteran fashion director.

The Garments Archive has over twenty thousand items from the Style Departments and has garments and accessories in storage from the Sixties to today.

There is also a fabrics collection alongside this central core of materials with over three hundred boxes ordered by fabric category and supplier. The project was started by Achille Maramotti, the founder of Max Mara Group, and illustrates how fashion developed through the history of fabrics and textile weaving.

An exceptional collection of sketches from the archives of the Style Department enriches the Garments Archive, an archive with more than fifteen thousand items from the Sixties, including sketches by designers who worked with Max Mara: Luciano Soprani, Lison Bonfils, Emmanuelle Khanh, Jacques Delahaye, Karl Lagerfeld, Anne Marie Beretta, Guy Paulin, Jean Charles de Castelbajac and others.

CFDA Graduate Talent, Aaminah Kara 2018

CFDA+ 2018 “I AM : WE ARE” 

For the sixth edition of CFDA+, we introduce 60 selected talents entering the fashion system empowered by education. Today, in fashion as in life, change is one among few certainties. As our industry expands, and cultures shift, a new creative landscape is being co-created in tandem with a persistent desire to preserve heritage and legacy.

With a 360-degree view to the future, who better to navigate this change than tomorrow’s talent?

Listening to the CFDA+ 2018 Design Graduates’ voices within interviews, their comfort with agility and transformation impressed us. While each possess strengths in viable design specializations, they also display a vision for fashion’s future that extends far beyond commerce and product.

As our worlds change, so does the role of a designer. Each CFDA+ 2018 Design Graduate was presented with a simple provocation: to assign themselves a new title to replace the traditional one of “fashion designer.”

Together, their responses amalgamated into six underlying themes: The Ambassadors, The Anthropologists, The Authenticists, The Futurists, The Specialists and The Visionaries.

https://cfda.com/programs/designers/cfda-plus-design-grads

https://www.notjustalabel.com/aaminah-kara

https://www.instagram.com/aaminahkara_womenswear/?hl=en

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Stradivarius x British Fashion Council Fashion Design Competition Winner 2018 Yasmin Harrison

Yasmin Harrison Wins £3000 as 2018 winner of the BFC x Stadivarius Fashion Design Competition

Winners Topshop Womenswear Design Award 2018 in association with the British Fashion Council. Winning student is offered 1year fully paid internship at Topshop working as assistant designer.

All 3 finalists selected for 2018 BFC x Topshop Competition were from University of Salford in Manchester, including Logan McCage, Molly Robinson & Rachel Green

Levis Strauss x Arts Thread International Design Competition Winner 2018 - C'era Wolfe

MEET THE WINNERS OF 2018’S LEVI’S® X ARTS THREAD DESIGN COMPETITION

Selected from more than 350 applications from 75 different design schools worldwide, these three design students have made their way to San Francisco for the summer for one incredible internship.

Da Eun Lee and C’era Wolffe were selected as the winners of this year’s Levi’s® x ARTS THREAD Design Challenge. Keun Il Choi, a finalist, was given an opportunity to work with Dockers®. They each scored a 10-week internship where they will get the opportunity to work with a group of designers led by Jonathan Cheung, Levi’s® Senior Vice President of Design, and take advantage of the LS&Co. Archives. They’ll also spend time at the Eureka Innovation Lab with Bart Sights, Vice President of Technical Innovation.

“One of the best pieces of advice for anyone or any organization is to surround yourself with the best, most diverse talent,” said Levi’s® Senior Vice President of Design. “We’re delighted to welcome C’era, Da Eun and Keun to join us this summer.”

C’era Wolffe
University of Salford

From a very young age, C’era was interested in designing thanks to the front-row seat she had watching her grandmother work as a seamstress. “By the age of 10 I had already sewn through my finger about five times because I was so curious of how a sewing machine worked,” she recalled.

She describes herself as an artist who gives her very best to reach her full potential on each project or task given. “One of my favourite quotes is ‘Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.’ I am excited for where this new journey will take me both in my career and personal life.”

Q: How would you describe your design style?

A: I would describe my design style as eclectic; I enjoy the use of graphics, prints and colour. Usually I start with an idea and try to research as much as possible into that topic. For example, if my idea is something crazy like hair clips, I would then research into hair clips. Where did they originate from? What was the first purpose for them? How are they used now? And I would try to merge these ideas and eventually design from the silhouettes, textures, and colours found through my research.

Q: What or who inspires you in your work?

A: I usually find myself being inspired by communities, cultures or people. I believe anything can be inspiration if you’re open to it. I like to include a feeling or story behind my work. I believe that’s what keeps people and consumers intrigued. Anyone can make a jacket but it’s the message or story behind it that makes the design process enjoyable and diverse each time.

Q: What are you looking forward to most during your time with Levi’s®?

A: I am looking forward to getting more work experience with Levi’s® and being able to gain knowledge in fields that I have never studied, such as advertising, which is a big component of the Levi’s® brand. Their advertisements grab you while also being diverse and inclusive. I’m also excited to be able to have one-on-one talks with the staff and mentors at Levi’s® about their journeys and hope to return to my last year of university gaining extensive knowledge and contacts.

M&S and UKFT launch university 'masterclasses'

M&S helps bring ‘Made in Britain’ masterclass to fashion students

 Tuesday 24 October 2017

Fashion design students were given a masterclass in how to work with British manufacturers as part of a campaign supported by Marks and Spencer.

UK production and sourcing expert Daliah Simble gave the masterclass to students on the University of Salford’s fashion design programme, and they will now have the chance to get financial support from the retail giant to develop their own British made line of clothing.

The masterclass was delivered by the UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT) – a network of British fashion and textile companies – as part of the Made It campaign, with the support of Marks and Spencer.

The Made It masterclasses, designed to give students a better understanding of sourcing, production and the business considerations of a UK-based manufacturing strategy, were provided to only five universities in the country, offering design courses across a range of product types including textiles, menswear, womenswear, knitwear and sportswear.

Students now have the opportunity to use what they learned to design, develop and produce a UK Made look and selected students will receive financial support from Marks and Spencer as well as industry introductions and mentoring throughout the process from UKFT experts and manufacturers.

UKFT’s Made It campaign is in collaboration with Marks & Spencer with the aim of bringing together graduate designers and UK manufacturers.

Bashir Aswat, senior lecturer in fashion at the University of Salford, said: “With uncertainties over Brexit and consumer concerns about textiles sourced from the developing world, the fashion industry needs to adapt, and it is very important for designers to understand how to create British made products.

“This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for our students to learn about how to design and source UK made clothing from the experts, and potentially to go on to work with some of the country’s leading manufacturers. The fact we were one of just a handful of universities chosen by UKFT demonstrates how highly regarded the University of Salford is in the fashion industry.”

Adam Mansell, CEO of UKFT: “As part of UKFT’s ongoing commitment to support UK manufacturing, we feel it is essential for students to understand the importance of commercial and technical considerations throughout the design process and the Made It campaign delivers this message.”

https://www.drapersonline.com/news/ms-and-ukft-launch-university-masterclasses/7026179.article

https://youtu.be/6LIyKiU8RjQ

Topshop Womenswear Competition Winner 2017

Alexandra Danko wins the Topshop Womenswear Design Award 2017 in association with the British Fashion Council. As winner Alex receives a 1year fully paid internship at Topshop working as assistant designer. 

The Dame Vivienne Westwood Sustainable & Ethical Fashion Design Award

The Dame Vivienne Westwood sustainable and ethical award is given to a student for designing and creating a sustainable, ethically aware and socially responsible product. The award is sponsored by Lenzing Group, a world market leader in the global textile and non-wovens industry, with a history of sustainably producing high-quality botanic fibers.

Fashion executives with particular expertise in sustainable textile manufacturing reviewed the work of several design students as part of London’s Graduate Fashion Week June 4 -7. Judges included Jennifer Thiel, Studio Manager at Vivienne Westwood’s “Gold Label;” Oya Barlas Bingul, Lenzing Group Business Development Manager; Amanda Johnston, curator and consultant at The Sustainable Angle, (a nonprofit supporting projects minimize industry’s and society’s environmental impact); and Tamsin Lejeune, Managing Director and Founder of the Ethical Fashion Forum.

The awarded design—which garners the winner a cash prize and a visit to The Sustainable Angle studio and The Ethical Fashion Forum—must embody and communicate sustainable and ethical practices, using sustainable raw materials with lower-impact manufacturing and production techniques.

“Catherine has a deep knowledge in the ethical side of the business.  She translated sustainability in an outstanding and creative way which parallels the sustainability initiatives of the Lenzing Group,“ says Oya Barlas Bingul from Lenzing.

On June 5, the judges chose the work of Catherine Watts, a Fashion Design student at University of Salford, Manchester, where she has recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, with honors, in Fashion Design, specializing in childrenswear. Catherine believes that designing without sustainability in mind is “illogical,” telling Carved in Blue that fashion has a role not just in sustainability but also in humanity more broadly—and that design can help teach even very young people about confidence and love. “With my childrenswear, I want so much to encourage children to love themselves for who they are,” she says. “I believe that if I can encourage children to feel comfortable and proud of who they are, then they will grow into strong adults with the confidence and integrity to make good choices and contribute positively to our society.”

Carved in Blue had a few more questions for Catherine, who is now at work on her own collection and in search of a job designing childrenswear. Her winning garment will be shown again at the Graduate Fashion Week event in October 2017 at the United Kingdom Houses of Parliament.

Carved in Blue: What is your career aspiration?

Catherine: I am currently looking for a full time role as a junior childrenswear designer, and looking to build my own brand (Henry Who?) part time.

Carved in Blue: Why do you like fashion design?

Catherine: I believe I can change the world with fashion. If you consider the entire journey of a garment, then you see that the fashion industry really is one of the biggest in the world. Because people need to wear clothes, there really isn’t a person in our society who is untouched by fashion.

I feel passionately about equality and humanism. I believe that good mental and physical health is vital, and this is linked with being kind, tolerant, and accepting to all people. I reject that we (people of the world) are cogs in a machine put here solely to make industry function. I believe that we are each individuals who have been blessed with life. Freedom should be a right and not a privilege.

With my childrenswear, I want so much to encourage children to love themselves for who they are. To celebrate people’s individuality and their quirks, as this is what makes each of us beautiful and interesting. I believe that if I can encourage children to feel comfortable and proud of who they are, then they will grow into strong adults with the confidence and integrity to make good choices and contribute positively to our society. This is how I will change the world through fashion.

Carved in Blue:  What did you learn the most out of making this collection?

Catherine: I learned that designing, producing, and marketing a collection is really, really hard for one person. This is an industry which requires great teamwork and I think that’s a wonderful thing about fashion, as teamwork unites people. I believe that a feeling of “togetherness” is really important to a meaningful and full life. Much, much more than money or fame.

Carved in Blue: How important are textiles in our designs?

Catherine: Materials choice is vital in any product development, including fashion. The performance and suitability of a product for its intended purpose is embedded within the designer’s material choice. Furthermore, material has a great impact on society and our environment.

Carved in Blue: Do you design with sustainability in mind?

Catherine: Yes. I’d quite like to still have a world to live in in 10 years’ time. Doing something which is unsustainable seems illogical and, well, unsustainable… something which will not last.

Carved in Blue: Do you think consumers care about sustainability?

Catherine: Yes. However, I think that in some large cultures, the life cycle of a product has become removed. Many consumers aren’t thinking of where a product has come from, what it’s made of, and how its production and disposal have or will impact society and our environment, or indeed why that matters. Ultimately I believe that most people wish to make good choices in their lives, they just are perhaps too busy to thoroughly investigate complex topics such as sustainability.

Carved in Blue: What role do you see denim in fashion?

Catherine: Denim has an interesting history. I like hardwearing fabrics, as they are obviously long-lasting and practical, and this is, of course, ideal for children. I think that wearing strong fabrics can make a person feel strong, and strength is so important in a person.

Denim has a blotted history as far as social and environmental responsibility is concerned, though. I’m very pleased to learn about Lenzig’s developments with denim and I am excited to experiment with a new, sustainable denim.

Carved in Blue: Who is your fashion idol?

Catherine: I disagree strongly with idolization and celebrity culture. I believe that everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and that all people are equal. I respect a person who has more experience or knowledge than me in certain areas, but do not see anyone as more or less important than myself. Currently the most key role models in my life are my university tutors, as they have taught me so much from professional practice and being a good person right through to the obvious technical fashion skills. I imagine as I move into the next stage of my career in joining the fashion industry that this will change to someone else whom I respect.

Carved in Blue: What is your favorite pair of jeans?

Catherine: A pair of organic cotton spray-on jeans from Cheap Monday – I do love Nordic style.

Carved in Blue: What does Carved in Blue mean to you?

Catherine: Lenzing’s focus to educate people about sustainability.

Source: carvedinblue.lenzing-fibers.com