Graduate Fashion Week names new award

Graduate Fashion Week has announced a new award the ‘Hilary Alexander OBE Trailblazer Award’, which will see the winning student awarded 1,000 pounds and their university 250 pounds.

Taking place from June 4-7 at the Old Truman Brewery in London, Graduate Fashion Week has said that the new award has been created to “capture and reflect Hilary’s evident enthusiasm for the new, the fresh and the unpublished in fashion”. The award is looking for a collection that provides a “refreshing fashion direction that best reflects what UK Fashion is renowned for and can also sustain national/international media interest in its’ realisation”.

The award, which can entered for both menswear and womenswear collections, will be judged on its photogenic appeal, its innovation in cut or surface decoration, and whether it has a newsworthy story.

"I'm a bit of a catwalk junkie. I've always been captivated by the new and exciting and I feel a fantastic sense of anticipation whenever I sit down to watch a show,” said Hilary Alexander. “Graduate Fashion Week is especially inspirational because you're seeing the work of graduates who have never put their ideas and inspirations before a live audience before.”

Alexander added: “It is simply brilliant when a graduate collection is enthralling, original, beautifully-made and creative in every way. I am thrilled and honoured to have this award named for me.”

Tu at Sainsbury’s to offer two scholarships at GFW

In addition, Graduate Fashion Week has confirmed that Tu at Sainsbury’s will be sponsoring two scholarships awarded in June. Following on from the success of Genevieve Devine from Northumbria University’s year-long mentorship, Tu will be offering a menswear and a womenswear scholarship with top industry mentors this year.

One menswear and one womenswear design final year student will get the opportunity to win a paid scholarship with the design team at Tu worth 19,000 pounds and the opportunity to launch their capsule collection under Tu's team.

Graduate Fashion Week names sponsors

Gradaute Fashion Week, which represents 36 of the UK’s leading fashion universities, has also named this year’s sponsors.

Marks and Spencer will be sponsoring the Womenswear Award for the second year running. The winning student will receive 5,000 pounds with an additional 1,000 pounds going to their university.

Marks and Spencer will also have a branded hub within the sponsorship floor, where graduates will be able to visit with their portfolios to obtain advice and apply for recruitment opportunities. In addition, they will also host four talks within the GFW Talk Live! Studio.

“We are delighted to be sponsoring Graduate Fashion Week again and look forward to meeting the incredible range of talented graduates and seeing their inspirational work. The UK has a unique position in the world of fashion design and it is vital for all of us involved to support new creativity and talent,” said Jo Jenkins, director of womenswear, lingerie and beauty at Marks and Spencer.

Other sponsors include Debenhams, who are sponsoring the Menswear Award, where the winning student will win 5,000 pounds, while George at Asda will be the official Education Sponsor and Boohoo will be offering drop in session with its buying and design team.

Additional sponsors are Asos, L’Oreal, Mothercare, and footwear brand Clarks is sponsoring for the first time this year.

Graduate Fashion Week starts on June 4 and ends with the Gala Awards Show on June 7. It will once again be taking place at the Old Truman Brewery in London.

Images: courtesy of Graduate Fashion Week/Tu for Sainsbury’s