Northumbria fashion students showcase final year collections

Fashion graduates from Northumbria University, Newcastle, showcased their final year collections during a day of catwalk shows overlooking the River Tyne.

Students from the University’s renowned Fashion BA (Hons) programme put their designs under the spotlight in front of industry experts, local schools and colleges, and friends and family, at the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art.

The Northumbria University Annual Fashion Catwalk Show is one of the region’s most anticipated cultural events, with 57 of the University’s brightest new graduates sending their garments down the runway at four catwalk shows across the day.

Northumbria’s Fashion programme is renowned for the calibre of its business-ready graduates going on to take up roles with fashion houses such as Tommy Hilfiger, Abercrombie & Fitch and Givenchy.

Programme leader for the Fashion course at Northumbria, Kristen Pickering, said: “At the BALTIC, we presented over 50 collections which showcase the breadth of specialisms of students in our final year. It accumulates four years of study, which have been quite intense.

“Northumbria is known for producing real garments on its fashion courses. One of unique things about the students that graduate from our programme is that they are industry ready; part of the programme structure is a year’s placement, so when they work on their final collections they must bear that experience in mind. Their outcomes are then garments that you or I or anyone in Newcastle could buy and wear.”

As well as the Newcastle shows, 23 of the Fashion students were selected to showcase their collections in London at this year’s Graduate Fashion Week event.

Fashion student Emelia Erland said it was great to see her handmade garments sent down both catwalks and has enjoyed her time studying on the course at Northumbria. “It’s been really exciting seeing my collection on the catwalk; both in London and in Newcastle. Out here in Newcastle you really get a much closer view of the actual clothes and their construction, which is important,” said the 23-year-old.

“Studying at Northumbria has given me really good grounding, as I feel I’m quite strong now at tailoring and the general construction of clothes from pattern cutting through to making and finishing. The best part is the technical grounding of the course.”

Fellow student, Lois Sleightholme, 23, added: “Northumbria has been amazing especially because they teach you so many different things I don’t think I would be able to create a collection without studying at Northumbria, they teach you 3D elements, they teach you 2D elements and not only do you have to consider your collection but your portfolio that goes alongside it.”