This article was originally published on The Fashion Conversation.
With Graduate Fashion Week kicking off this Sunday at the Old Truman Brewery, it was the place to meet the future of creative design talent. Specifically, Northumbria University attracted attention with their Fashion graduates, who lured visitors to their evening catwalk show.
The catwalk room’s atmosphere, spacious and bright with upbeat music coming through the speakers, warmed up the audience who were ready for the first young designer; Caitlin Hudson. Models wearing crowns, tailored dresses with nude ruffles on sleeves and chest; Hudson’s designs were the epitome of Royal Britannia, particularly Queen Elizabeth’s reign from young to old. Inspired by the Queen’s elegant gowns, Hudson’s challenge was centred around the traditional knit with contemporary fabrics being weaved into each look, such as velvet and lace. Hudson’s aim for a new playful twist on the traditional royal ceremony was clearly seen in her final look; a beige knitted trouser with ruffles arrayed in rows around the legs combined with a knitted turquoise crop top. The highlight was the maxi cape with layered ruffles in a mixture of burgundy and bisque softly tied into a ribbon on the front.
The message is clear; Northumbria University has more than one genius under its creative roof and the potential for both, womenswear and menswear was clearly evident. The catwalk show consisted of seventeen young designers in the running order with each of them challenging different tribes and subcultures.