The finest graduate collections and portfolios from Graduate Fashion Week’s four-day display, which was held from June 12 to 15 at the Truman Brewery in London, have been announced. Graduate Fashion Week is the largest exhibition of BA fashion talent in the world.
The event, which was planned by the nonprofit Graduate Fashion Foundation, featured collections from 38 UK member universities’ fashion and design graduates and ended in a “best of” catwalk exhibition honoring the “Class of 2023” and the winning ensembles.
Over 20 graduate prizes were given out during the annual event, assessed by ambassadors and professionals from the industry in fields like textile design, style, and creative direction, photography, and marketing. Every university catwalk show or fashion demonstration received a runway award from GFW for best collection, as well as prizes for highly commended winners. These awards were determined by the creative effect, fabric and color choices, and craftsmanship.
Highlights from the “Class of 2023” include Monika Pohorska from Kingston University winning the Zandra Rhodes Fashion Textiles Award for her “Voices of Nature” womenswear collection with prints drawn from mythologies and nature, and Harriet Hooper from Leeds Arts University winning the Accessories Award Supported by YKK for her intricate “Bilateral Being” collection with a coat that could be used as a bag or hat and other multifunctional items.
The Hilary Alexander Sustainable Trailblazer Award was given to Amy Clunes from Northumbria University in memory of the honorary president of the Graduate Fashion Foundation, who passed away earlier this year. While Luoyuan Zhang, a graduate of Nottingham Trent University, was given the Considering Fashion Award for his eco-conscious silkworm collection.
‘Class of 2023’ winners:
Accessories Award Supported By YKK: Harriet Hooper, Leeds Arts University
Culture And Heritage Award Supported By Burberry Design: Diana Kibangou Obondji, Staffordshire University
Culture And Heritage Award Supported By Burberry Non-design: Nadia Girach, De Montfort University
The Face Excellence Prize: Nothando Ngwawaira, University of Westminster
Fashion Illustration Award: John Owen Hicks, Liverpool John Moores University
Footwear Award: Ciara Spencer, Norwich University of the Arts
Zandra Rhodes Fashion Textiles Award: Monika Pohorska, Kingston University
Digital Fashion Award: Simone James, Manchester Fashion Institute – Manchester Metropolitan University
Fashion Communications Portfolio Award: Eva Quinn, Manchester Fashion Institute – Manchester Metropolitan University
Fashion Marketing Award: Eva Quinn, Manchester Fashion Institute – Manchester Metropolitan University
Fashion Moving Image Award: Ellisha Mason, Norwich University of the Arts
Fashion Photography Award: Temujin Blakeway, Cambridge School of Visual & Performing Arts
Fashion Styling And Creative Direction Award: Moreen Honest, Norwich University of the Arts
New Business Award: Katherine Millward, Birmingham City University
The Terry Mansfield Publication Award: Kristian Braband, Solent University
Childrenswear Award: Rebecca Frost, Northumbria University
Considered Fashion Award: Luoyuan Zhang, Nottingham Trent University
Creative Pattern Cutting Award: Aimee Mann, Northumbria University
Fashion Innovation Award: Ana Del Rio Mullarkey, De Montfort University
Fashion Portfolio Award: Simone James, Manchester Fashion Institute – Manchester Metropolitan University
The Hilary Alexander Sustainable Trailblazer Award: Amy Clunes, Northumbria University
Sportswear And Leisurewear Award Supported By Gymshark: Madison Brabrook, Nottingham Trent University
Catwalk Winners:
Northumbria University
Winner: Meg Fletcher
Commended: Kira Banks
University of Derby & University of Hertfordshire Joint show
Derby Winner: Sofia Segalla
Hertfordshire Winner: Elizabeth McLean
Bath Spa University & Arts University Bournemouth Joint show
Bath Spa Winner: Erika Roznyte
Arts Uni Bournemouth Winner: Lucy James
Nottingham Trent University
Winner: Gus Beech
Commended: Megan Barnsley
Sheffield Hallam University
Winner: Isabelle Lucy Burton
Commended: Eloise Collett
Winchester School of Art at the University of Southampton
Winner: Xingyan Liu
Commended: Megan Fanning
Birmingham City University & Glasgow School of Art Joint show
Birmingham Winner: Rachel Hunt-Pearce
Glasgow Winner: Charlie Stewart
University of Central Lancashire & Norwich University of the Arts Joint show
UCLAN Winner: Adam Gronback
Norwich Winner: Micheal Rixon
De Montfort University
Winner: Nirawit Vanglert
Commended: Elise Ferretti
Edinburgh College of Art
Winner: Faith O’Hare
Commended: Phoebe Potter
GFW Collective
Winner: Charlotte-Susan Lamb from Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts
Winner: Lydia Gao from Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts
Winner: Harriet Hooper from Leeds Arts University
Manchester Fashion Institute at Manchester Metropolitan University
Winner: James Tree
Commended: Georgia Baker
Liverpool John Moores University
Winner: Paola Preti