STUDENTS ARE THE HEIGHT OF FASHION NOW
TWO Manchester fashion students have scooped prestigious prizes at Graduate Fashion Week.
Hannah Wallace took home the gold award and won the creative catwalk category and Hannah Sykes’s androgynous collection also won her an innovation award.
The Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) students, who both attend the Manchester School of Art, were both among thousands of students and graduates to have their work showcased at the event.
Hannah Wallace, who is originally from Leicester, said: “I’m still in shock really. I’m quite overwhelmed.
“It’s a really great feeling just to know that all your hard work is being seen by all these different people, and there’s a possibility of getting a job.”
The 24-year-old’s designs, which were based on the layers seen in riot gear and astronaut’s clothing, scored her £11,000 in prize money. She also won an internship at Asda and has been approached by Nike and Gap.
Hannah Sykes’s designs also caught the eyes of the audience and the Manchester School of Art student was awarded the fashion innovation award.
The 21-year-old, who is originally from Blackpool, drew on ideas of the military and camouflage to create her androgynous collection.
She also said her research into women during the First World War and her travels around China had huge influences on her work.
“My collection begun with a material I had sourced on my travels in China,” she said.
“The material was a bold geometric pattern, and through research this led me to the dazzle camouflage used in World War One.
“My design philosophy blended well with my military research relating to the World War One uniforms, and women at war,” she added.
Graduate Fashion Week helps students showcase their designs to top buyers and designers, bridging the gap between graduation and employment.
The charity shows have previously helped launch the careers of designers including Christopher Bailey, Stella McCartney and Giles Deacon.
Louise Adkins, senior lecturer for BA Fashion at Manchester School of Art, said: “Graduate Fashion Week is a unique opportunity for our students to showcase their talent, make great contacts and really springboard their careers.”