Graduate Fashion Week

Graduate Fashion Week this year will feature over 50 of the top fashion and textile universities in the UK and overseas, and include a static exhibition and two theatres hosting 20 shows over the four days. The event, which is to be held in Earls Court in June, culminates in the glamorous Gala Fashion Shows and Awards.

Over the years Graduate Fashion Week has launched the careers of infamous British designers as Stella McCartney, Julien Macdonald, Antonio Beradi, Hussein Chalayan and Owen Gaster. The bankability of the work on show from design, illustration, merchandising, buying PR, journalism, marketing and media, has seen graduates snapped up by many of the world's most prestigious brands including Donna Karan, Gucci, Levi Strauss, Calvin Klein and Reebok. Previous winners include Christopher Bailey (Winner of the first GFW Collection of the Year Award), Rachel Gurney knitwear designer for Donna Karan and Vikki Wittering who became accessory designer at Calvin Klein.

The prestigious River Island Gold Award, presented for the most outstanding collection in the Gala Show, carries an incredible £20,000 prize for the winning student, and is the only Award of its kind within UK Fashion Education.

River Island understand that investing in young talent can reap both commercial and creative dividends. This open door policy has resulted in young designers (often still at University) working alongside the in-house design, marketing, visual merchandising and buying teams, to develop ideas which have gone on to be best sellers.

Image: GFW logo