Town Hall fashion show

FRESH from their success at Graduate Fashion Week in London, MMU students are taking their designs into Manchester city centre on Wednesday 13th June.

Nearly 50 students* will be sending their creations down the catwalk at Manchester Town Hall in front of VIP guests from Manchester's fashion and cultural industries, MMU Vice-Chancellor John Brooks, University governors and city partners.

The event showcases collections from punk-inspired menswear to neon sportswear and provides a fantastic opportunity for the industry to spot the designers of the future with labels Zara, Bench, Hooch and Henri Lloyd set to attend.

Rave reviews

In London, MMU received rave reviews at Graduate Fashion Week (June 3-5) where 22-year-old Jessica Clarke won the Zandra Rhodes Catwalk Textiles Award and Luis Lopez-Smith came runner up for the Accessories Award, judged by Mulberry.

Henrietta Goodden, Womenswear tutor at the Royal College of Art and external examiner at Graduate Fashion Week: “It is clear that MMU is currently the best course in the country for womenswear.”

Fashion photographer Mark Shearwood, a final-year undergraduate on BA Photography at MMU was one of four finalists in the Boris Tramsbuti Fashion Award, a new category for fashion media.

Fantasy

Hilary Alexander of The Telegraph, described prize-winner Jessica’s work as "fantasy island menagerie-printwork".

A spokeswoman for Graduate Fashion Week said: "We knew from the second her collection hit the catwalk that it would walk away with the prize. Hers was one of our favourite collections from the entire week, so it was great to see her talent recognised at the Gala Show."

Earlier this spring, BA Fashion at MMU won the Drapers Colleges Portfolio Award (in association with the British Fashion Council) for the best third year work in the country.

Anne Tyrrell, vice-chairman of the British Fashion Council: "What impressed me was the individuality of the work."

Ends

*36 BA (Hons) Fashion students and 10 BA (Hons) Fashion Design & Technology http://www.hollings.mmu.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_coursedata&Itemid=80

The Graduate Fashion Show takes place at Manchester Town Hall, on Wednesday, June 13 at 1.30pm (Dress rehearsal, meet the media) 5.00pm, and 7.30pm.