So the students have flocked and the graduates have gone as the 19th annual Graduate Fashion Week has drawn a close – but we now have the names of the young designers who’ll be making their way to the top of London’s ones to watch.

Earl’s Court has been jam-packed with aspiring fashionistas this week as the latest crop of fashion graduates from across the country gathered to showcase their talents to the industry’s elite in a bid to make a wave in London’s emerging fashion scene – and make a wave they did.

None more so than Rebecca Thompson, in fact, who has firmly planted herself top of the ‘stars of the future’ list after winning the much-coveted (and most prestigious) River Island Gold Award, and a tasty £20,000 to boot.

“We have all agreed on the winner because of her good sense of proportions, the unusual and interesting combination of fabric and for the contemporary feeling of her collection,” said Alberta Ferretti, who was among the five judges. “She proved to be a complete designer, with creativity and strong knowledge of tailoring.”

But Rebecca wasn’t the only winner. Rhea Fields from Northbrook College scooped the Womenswear Award, Anna Lee from De Montfort University took home the Zandra Rhodes Catwalk Textiles Award and Kitty Keay from Colchester School of Art won the Mulberry Accessories Award – and, putting the icing on the couture cake, they were joined by a host of fashionable faces to help celebrate.

Congratulations one and all.

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See Lady Gaga‘s latest look in her new Alejandro video, find out what she’s done to her Birkin this time, and who will play who in a film about Isabella Blow’s life?…

She’s taken inspiration from the Pope and Kermit the frog so far on her sartorial sojourn, so it was only a matter of time before Lady Gaga channelled Madonna in her new video for Alejandro – Elle UK

And whilst we’re on the subject, Gaga’s taken to customise yet another Hermes Birkin – Purseblog

Minimalism may well be in fashion right now, but the Central Saint Martin’s graduates couldn’t care less – the Telegraph

Who will play who in a film about Isabella Blow’s life? – Grazia

Gap‘s dedicated pop-up shop to CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winners opens! Time to snap a designer piece for a fraction of the cost – the Cut

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Those that love to be the first to find out about young design talent should get themselves down to London’s Earl’s Court this weekend for the 19th Graduate Fashion Week – it promises to be the biggest and best yet.

Celebrating the work of more than 1,000 of the best BA degree fashion students from universities across the globe, Graduate Fashion Week is the biggest platform for young design talent in the world – and this year’s showcase is intent on proving it.

“Graduate Fashion Week is the starting point for the future of British fashion. It is an event that has an impact on not just our home grown style, but that of the world,” says Terry Mansfield, chairman of GFW. “Our graduates go on to work in international design studios and will shape the future of fashion whether it is on the high street or the catwalk.  This is the industry’s and the public’s chance to see them first and understand why supporting our British fashion education system is so important;  we are delighted that River Island is, for the 6th year running, helping us to nurture this creative talent .” 

And whilst previous years have been known to attract the cream of industry insiders – Giles Deacon, Matthew Williamson, Erin O’Connor and Elle editor in chief Lorraine Candy to name but a few – this year has a few extra surprises with campaign photography from world-renowned fashion photographer Rankin, and a special Inspiration Award which will acknowledge the contribution from an inspirational figure, be it from fashion, music, theatre or the arts.

Graduate Fashion Week runs between 6th -10th June at London’s Earl’s Court – we’ll see you there. Visit www.gfw.org.uk for more information.

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My first day at Graduate Fashion Week, front row seats and the excitement I had been promised.

With six shows to attend I had a fashion-filled day, the Universities being Epsom, Manchester, Ravensbourne, De Montfort, Somerset and Bristol.

Models strutted down the catwalk to pounding music, dimmed lights and a flash of cameras as they made it to the end of the runway. There were numerous trends which continued to repeat themselves not only throughout the designers attending the same Universities but as a theme throughout the schools.

From silk to chiffon, feather trims to exotic embellishments and classic blacks to eighties neon the exhibitions seemed to echo one another. In particular, the maxi dress which seems to reappear each S/S continually swished past as did romantic ruffles in barley there nude and oversized knits in an array of colours.

I was inspired by pieces that were experimental alongside my awe in items that I could have quite happily swapped my outfit for without any alterations. Yet, when deciding upon those designers to watch I had to split it between the two ideas. One that had the flair for fashion forward thinking and the other that could create those key pieces that become cult classics.

Designers to watch?

Stephanie Moran at Epsom marched her models out in PVC thigh high boots, a drop of denim and just the right amount of gold mixed in. Although she created outfits that are reminiscent of the fetish scene her choice of materials and the structure of her clothes showed that she should not stray far from our radar.

This was along with Hannah Stewart from Bristol, whose darling dress designs I wanted to purchase then and there. Her silk maxi was paraded in various colours and prints, from aqua blue to fuchsia pink with embellishments to give them their extra “I am beautiful, you can’t be without me factor.

Either way, it won’t be long until we find out which designers the fashion world will be watching…

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Battersea Park became a haven of budding new talent on the verge of venturing forth into the ‘Real Fashion World’. Four days of graduate shows, showcasing the labour of four years of hard work. With 19 colleges showing some 25 collections each, there was a lot to see, and unfortunately a lot to be missed.

All in all the week was a success; I am sure to the joy of this year’s new sponsors River Island. Having taken the title from Topshop many in the tent hinted towards the fact that it was better to have River Island because not only did they put up actual money but were more involved in the whole process. River Island does not hold a ‘designer’ section like Topshop does, however many suggested this was not really what customers care about anymore.

The main concern of Graduate Fashion Week and for the graduates themselves is where does it take them? Where can they go? Although GFW received a nice press turnout it was still relatively thin on the ground, not to mention the sheer cost colleges have to outlay for these shows. Do students really go on, or do they get stuck in limbo? According to various colleges including Northumbria and London College of Fashion some 80% do make it into employment so there is hope.

Why haven’t we heard of the next Galliano, McQueen or McCartney? Well mainly because designers go in as execs in already established houses such as Calvin Klein Louis Vuitton etc.

Was there a next “someone” in this GFW? Well no not really, there was however a definite leaning towards commercial appeal, which will undoubtedly benefit with placements, but we are back to the age old dilemma – can fashion be fashion if it’s commercial, or is real fashion about grand ideas? There was definitely no lack of superior cuts and imagination. Innovative ideas in knitwear and menswear were present throughout. Sadly however there was a distinct lack of Avant Garde, which can be seen to show lack of imagination.

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