Northern Ireland saw an evening of wonder as the future faces of fashion design descended upon the city’s cathedral for the highly-anticipated Ulster University Graduate Fashion Show.
The event, which took place at St Anne’s Cathedral on Friday 19 May, showcased the creative and innovative flair of Ulster University’s fashion and textile design students.
Supported by Santander Universities, Ulster University’s graduate fashion show provided an invaluable platform for young designers to reveal their runway collections as they prepare to launch their fashion careers, both locally and globally.
Designer: Glenda Hawkes
Previous Ulster University graduates have gone on to work for international designers as well as major retailers including House of Fraser, Inishmaan and Douglas & Graham.
Course Director of Ulster University’s Textile Art, Design and Fashion degree, Alison Gault, said: “Ulster University’s Belfast School of Art is helping to nurture and develop the fashion world’s next generation of talent.
“Our students’ show, which has become one of the premier graduate shows nationally, demonstrates the unrivalled skills, creativity and diversity of Ulster University’s student body and helps to put Northern Ireland firmly on the fashion map.”
Ulster University’s BA Hons Textile Art, Design and Fashion course is truly unique offering practice-based study of print, knit, weave and embroidery across high-end conceptual garments, accessories and ready-to-wear designs. Students get the opportunity to explore both traditional and contemporary design at the University’s state-of-the-art studios and workshops on its Belfast campus.
Aoise Herron, a final year fashion design student said: “Ulster University’s fashion design programme is dedicated to creating an environment that encourages young designers to really push the boundaries and that is a very exciting environment to learn in.
“The graduate show is a momentous occasion, because for most of us it is the first time that we saw our collection on a runway. This show was the culmination of years of hard work and it was great to see that displayed on the catwalk.”
Hair was styled by multi-award-winning stylist Andrew Mulvenna while Paddy McGurgan’s Make Up Pro team created the make-up looks. Production was by Belfast FASHIONWEEK director Cathy Martin along with 20 models from CMPR Models.
The addition of Northern Ireland’s leading creatives in these fields as sponsors really added to the world-class level of show that the students created.