Town and Gowns
(Above) Model wears garments by Sian Gabbidon. (Below)Model wears garments by Amy Saunders-Tindall
Tue, 01 Jul 2014 09:22:00 BST
IN collaboration with Huddersfield’s elegant Georgian theatre the Fashion Department held its Summer 2014 Graduate Fashion show in a celebration of 20 years of fashion at the university.
Head of Department for Fashion and Textiles, Dr Kevin Almond, invited friends and supporters to join him in applauding the talents of students and staff who present an annual gala performance of fashion creation.
“We look forward to this moment in our action packed year and see it as the opportunity to show how important our students’ efforts are to the industry,” says Dr Almond, whose own interests surround the art of pattern cutting, at the heart of fashion design.
“Our students are given experience of the highly competitive profession which will become their focus, whether as designers, stylist or writers, in the future,” he says.
“We are especially pleased to hold our performances in the glamourous setting of the Lawrence Batley main auditorium, where the raked seating gives everyone the opportunity to see the clothes, in action, from many angles.”
Fashion Communication student, Lizzie Orwin, found the audience enjoying every separate collection with equal delight. She writes of a crisp white catwalk, coming to life with Second Year designers’ moulage scene of whites, lime greens, hot pinks and bright yellows.
“There was contrast in the collection between skin tight garments, and experimental shapes and silhouettes as models walked out to a soundtrack of upbeat 90’s music, in keeping with the 20 years theme.”
Of Sian Gabbidon’s collection she remarks, “Exciting, exaggerated shapes in the arms, shoulders and skirts were emphasised by a dash of colour, added to each outfit with an eye catching orange stripe. Each of the models carried a circular white balloon down the catwalk, some wearing round sunglasses and carrying harmonizing bags.”
Noting how Jessica Worsley’s collection focused on the sculptural qualities of felt, she saw, “Charcoal grey and bright orange used together to emphasize texture in her pieces which included a grey oversized coat with orange detailing and lining.”
Chloe Driscoll was taken up with the theatre’s special effects, saying, “A rave atmosphere was created as the models danced their way down the runway, waving glow sticks around. With the strobe lighting and dance music, it was a ‘fab’ way to get the audience into the 90’s spirit!”
Also mentioning Sian Gabbidon’s collection she thought, ‘the soft white felt fabric contrasted against the orange detailing and panelling, with puffy/oversized sections, including sleeves, collars and skirts and ruching giving garments movement.”
Kya Priestley, who also studies on the ‘Fashion Communication and Promotion’ course at Huddersfield, captures the enchantment of the graduate showcase.
“ All the designers had put so much effort into their collections and the whole show, from the music, the lighting and the make-up styling, everything came together beautifully.”
Five minutes into the show, marvelling at Amy Saunders Tindall’s ‘amazing designs’ she says, “‘The cuts of materials, creating crop tops to pair with elegant tailored trousers or skirts, gave her collection an edge, which I really loved.”
Feeling that Olivia Longbottom’s collection was an impeccable ‘scene-stealer,’ she reflects on its ‘sporty theme with metallics and transparent plastics, use of neon green and stripes also creating focal points.’
Kya Priestley concludes, “Emotions were running high at the end of the performance when all the designers took to the stage for the finale. Everybody in the room was so proud of the results and the whole of the Lawrence Batley Theatre applauded. The fashion show was an absolute success!”
