THE first cohort of Fashion degree graduates from Havering College of Further and Higher Education put on a show stopping display for moguls of the industry.
Five students from the college in Hornchurch, Essex, took their final collections onto the catwalk at the Old Truman Brewery in Brick Lane, East London.The fashion event took place under the banner of Free Range – an Old Truman Brewery project designed to support new graduate artists and designers from the creative arts field as they launch their future careers.
The couture collections of graduates Carly Reeve, Laxmi Rajput, Lacey English, Lisa Wheeler and Rebekah Bogle made a big impression on fashion writers, buyers and designers.
Carly, 25, from Hainault, took inspiration from the seaside to create her Bucket and Spade Brigade womenswear collection.
Laxmi, 32, an international student from Gujarat in India who lives with relatives near Heathrow, incorporated historical tailoring and draping ideas from Indian culture into her Dreams collection.
Circus themes inspired Lacey, 21, from Romford, to present her Canopy of Mystery collection featuring large overcoats with explosions of hidden colour to shock and surprise.
Lisa, 22, from Dagenham, utilised sheepskin, leather, silk, cashmere and tulle for her final collection of womenswear entitled All Work, No Play!!
Rebekah Bogle, 22, from Ilford created and embellished her own soft wool felt to produce her winter clothing collection Tribes of Bohemia.
James Middleton, the academic director of Ede & Ravenscroft - London's oldest tailoring and robe making company – said of the show: "It was an enjoyable event highlighting the inventiveness of very talented students."
Vivienne Austin, a director of swimwear design company Sea Sirens said: “I thought it was a really good show. The standard of work was very high.”
Fashion writer Paul Bentley said: “I go to many shows and I was amazingly impressed by the collections of all the students.”
Havering College Curriculum Manager for Fashion Marie Loney said: “The Free Range fashion show was a high-profile showcase allowing the students to demonstrate the technical and business skills they have mastered in achieving a BA (Honours) Fashion degree at Havering College.We are very proud of our fledgling Fashion graduates and from the feedback they have received, we have every confidence they will be highly successful in the industry.”
The BA Fashion degree course is one of around 30 Higher Education courses offered by Havering College.
For further information on fashion courses at Havering College call Threshold Services on 01708 462801 oremail [email protected]
