Graduating with a GREAT degree of style

This month marks Fashion is GREAT month where the UK will celebrate all that is GREAT and good about British Fashion — and boy is there a lot! From new talents like the award winning, Top Shop designer Mary Catherine Katranczou (whose printed dresses are to die for)  who, before moving to London, studied in Rhode Island, to more established brands like Burberry and Doctor Martin boots and the fabulous Victoria Beckham (a GREAT Ambassador). It is so clear that Britannia still rules in the style stakes.

This is further emphasised at this week’s Graduate Fashion Week (GFW) in the UK. Now in its twenty-first year it brings together 39 Universities from all over the UK to strut their stuff down the catwalk and showcase the very best talent from the UK’s premier fashion and design universities to a global audience of media, Head Hunters and recruiters and general fashion forward fans.

Of the many talented Universities taking part both Kingston and Epsom are very well respected. However, I must  give a mention to my Alma Mater The University of Northumbria who not only consistently produce excellent students in both fashion and fashion marketing, but have had many of them snapped up to work at the US fashion house Abercrombie and Fitch.

In fact, recruiters and Head Hunters from Abercrombie and Fitch and other US fashion companies including Anthrapologie and Saks Fifth Avenue have all been over in the UK at GFW this week to try and secure the next big thing in fashion for themselves.

Some trends spotted at this year’s shows for autumn/ winter include the ever popular knitwear, neon sportswear (love it!) and big prints but the GREAT thing about GFW is that students are free to design exactly what they like, giving their creativity a real chance to shine.

Previous graduates from GFW include the now household names of Stella McCartney, Julien MacDonald and Giles Deacon (who designs for high street store New Look) and judging this year’s talent will be Daphne Guinness, Suzy Menkes, Christopher Bailey (who first won this prize 20 years ago and is creative Director of Burberry) and Fiona Lambert from title sponsor’s George at Asda. The winner will receive a £20,000 George Gold Award a tidy sum and a great achievement for an (as yet) unknown young fashion designer.

The fashion trend continues this Friday 15th June  when the GREAT campaign are collaborating with the world famous Savile Row and the British Fashion Council to celebrate the first ever London Menswear Fashion Week. From 4pm – 6pm on 15th Savile Row will close to the public and it’s tailors will open their doors to the fashion press, PR’s, buyers and celebrities giving them a behind the scenes look into this exclusive world.

This all goes to show that Britannia is still cool. So if you’re in London this week pop along to Savile Row on Friday and see what make British tailored suits so GREAT. If you are this side of the pond, look out for the British touch next time you buy at Anthropologie or Saks Fifth Avenue. The British are coming and we are looking good.