Rebecca Thomson took the fashion industry by storm on Thursday night at Graduate Fashion Week’s Gala Show.
The student from Manchester University’s School of Art was awarded the prestigious River Island Gold award for her strong collection based on the classic white shirt but modernised with giant bow ties, bib collars and pleated skirts.
Other students recognised for their talents were Rheas Fields from Northbrook College who was awarded the Womenswear award. Judges were impressed by Rhea’s feminine meets masculine collection featuring PVC rain coat style pinstripe jackets, cigarette pants teamed with nude blouses and bow ties.
Thomas Crisp’s unusual take on tailoring, harem trousers and his use of metallic’s won him the Menswear award.
Anna Lee of De Montford University was presented with the Zandra Rhodes Catwalk Textiles prize for her collection of bright clashing patterns and prints with large hanging gold plated tiger necklaces.
And the BHM Knitwear Visionary Award went to Ledina Zhang of Northumbria University and the International award to Roya Hesam from the Amsterdam Fashion Institute.
Other collections worthy of a mention include Naomi New’s (Northumbria University) structured dresses adorned with fringing, studs, embellishment and hair extensions. As well as Katherine Goelzee’s (Liverpool John Moore) geek chic collection that made school cool again with cravats, white shirts and socks over tights, Emma Pillipot’s (Nottingham Trent) tights over shoes trend and Amber Hards (UWE Bristol) transparent segments sewn into coats and jackets.
