Celebrating Britain at its creative best

Graduate Fashion Week has become the world’s greatest showcase of young up and coming fashion and design talent and with a move to Earls Court 2 this year, it promises not only to be bigger but even better. Truly the best place in the world to spot undiscovered new talent Graduate Fashion Week is the industry’s looking glass into the future of fashion and all its related disciplines. It will celebrate the work of more than 1000 of the finest BA Degree fashion students from 49 member universities across the UK, for the biggest showcase of young talent in the world.

Sponsored for the fourth year by leading high street fashion brand River Island and attracting some of the industry’s biggest players and most influential international commentators, Graduate Fashion Week is now a firm fixture in the diaries of those in the know.

Last year Richard Bradbury, Managing Director of title sponsor River Island was joined by Alber Elbaz (Artistic Director, Lanvin), Glenda Bailey, US Harpers Bazaar Editor and Victoria Beckham to judge and present the third River Island Gold Award.

For the first time in the event’s history, the £20,000 prize was split between two winning students.

As in previous years, students at last year’s event vied for attention from many international employers and head-hunters and like many of his contemporaries, River Island Gold Award Award winner Nicholas was immediately snapped up by knitwear supremo John Smedley, whilst Jasper is using his winnings to help fund an MA at St Martins College of Art in London.

Ricardo Alvar, Executive Vice President of 24Seven, a US based fashion recruitment agency is a big fan, he said at the Gala last year:

“British Students have creativity, attention to detail, knowledge of technical foundations and these things are not always present in American schools. There is a global demand for talent from London because the quality is amazing.”

This year, Graduate Fashion Week is pleased to announce that original supermodel Claudia Schiffer will be joining the prestigious River Island Gold Award board of judges and presenters.

Claudia commented; “I have been privileged to witness the incredible expertise of some of the most inspiring design talents in the world. The passion and energy that surrounds this creative world are addictive and to take part in supporting the birth of new talent is fantastic. I have always believed that the UK has a unique energy, it’s such a melting pot of new ideas, with an influence that is so far reaching, I am never surprised to hear so many English accents in design studios all over the world.”

Recruitment is also always front of mind with the team at River Island. Truly a force to be reckoned with, River Island has one of the biggest design studios on the high-street, packed with some of the hottest talent around and over the past three years alone 50 new graduates have been scouted at Graduate Fashion Week to become part of the busy team that is responsible for creating the un-matchable flow of new original designs hitting River Island stores every day.

GRADUATE FASHION WEEK OPENING TIMES

Sunday 8th - 11.00am - 7.30pm
Monday 9th – 11.00am – 8.00pm
Tuesday 10th & Wednesday 11th – 11.00am – 7.30pm
Thursday 12th, 9.30am - 5.00pm

ADMISSION - GRADUATE FASHION WEEK DAYS JUNE 8TH – 11TH

EXHIBITION ONLY: £10.00 (No advance booking) UNIVERSITY SHOW: £10.00 + £2.50 handling charge (if purchased in advance) including admission to the exhibition. GALA SHOW 1 5.30 pm: (June 11th only) £25.00 + £2.50 handling charge.

Tickets for all University shows and the 5.30pm Gala Show are now available on line. Go to gfw.org.uk.