For the first time, both Fashion Design students and alumni from the University of Salford have been given the opportunity to showcase their collections on a global level within New York Fashion Week.
Speaking to our students about this exciting opportunity, these are what they had to say…
“How did it feel to show an outfit at a two-day event during New York Fashion Week and what was the experience like?”
Natalie Slater
“It was incredible... I am so so grateful to my tutors and especially Bashir for making all of this happen. Late nights were spent to make this possible and we wouldn’t have been able to have done any of this without Bashir. Special thanks to Paul, Dom, Joy, Lorraine, Katherine and Kim for being so supportive. I am only 20 years old and I have now shown my portfolio and an outfit that I had designed in New York fashion week.... it feels so surreal. It’s a really important step for our University to get our name on the map and to show people what we can do. The event itself was incredible and the place had so much energy with models and industry filling the place, celebrating all of our hard work. It was a great chance to speak with industry about my work and to get contacts for the future. Since I did an internship in New York with Adam Lipped last year, it was amazing to show them what I had been getting up to and to show them how much I have improved. The support was breathtaking and I am so grateful to everyone who made this happen, including Richard, Arts Thread and all of the models and hair and makeup.”
Helen O’Grady
“I feel extremely privileged and grateful to have been given an exclusive opportunity by University of Salford to showcase my designs during NYFW. It has been an extraordinary and incomparable experience to share with fellow students and alumni. The atmosphere just before the show started was electric. I was equally nervous and excited about how my designs and portfolio would be perceived by the public and creative industries. Seeing everybody’s work come together for the show for the first time was such an incredible moment. Having the opportunity to meet so many creative people in industry in one place, at such a special environment, receiving feedback and advice on my work and outfit was amazing and invaluable. It has been a significant experience that I will never forget and I am so thankful to everybody who made this experience possible.”
Carline Zhou
“First of all, I feel very excited and lucky because, among my classmates, I think there are excellent designs and it never occurred to me that my work would be displayed at New York Fashion Week. Secondly,although I can't attend this exhibition is unfortunate for personal reasons, this exhibition is really successful. It is not only conducive to enhancing the self-confidence of the third-year student but also conducive to the future study of first and second-year students as well as the development of the university. All in all, it was a good experience and a good memory.”
Amy Wright
“For me, New York was a life-changing experience, I was only able to do this because of the University of Salford Fashion Design course. I can’t believe I’ve shown during the 2-day event at New York Fashion Week and for that, I am so grateful! It has given me a taste of what life could be like once I graduate, to meet contacts and to share my work with others. To experience it alongside some really talented people has made it all the better. It was an amazing experience and something I'll never forget. I was so impressed by all the social media that was generated at the event and I can’t wait to see the film once it’s finally edited”
Katie Bird
“I feel honoured to have been chosen to show my work during New York fashion week. It was a great experience as I haven’t been to New York before and I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to travel and show my work at such an important event without the University of Salford. The experience itself has been thoroughly enjoyable and I have learnt a lot from it such as experience with setting up and event and dressing models. In the aftermath of the event, it feels exciting to see all the press and media surrounding the show including the film that is going to be published.”