University Of East London’s Designers Raise The Bar At Graduate Fashion Week
University Of East London’s Designers Raise The Bar At Graduate Fashion Week
University of East London launched a spectacular catwalk show on Tuesday, June 4th. Your Coffee Break was there and trust us when we say; these graduates are good!
The 17 different collections were a combination of tailoring, professionalism, construction, preparation, and organization! Students experimented with print, pattern, machine cutting, and texture, proving an endless limit to fashion design and vision.
The essence of organic and mineral structures were featured in Estela Nevinskaite’s collection. This natural and innovative show explored the rough beauty in nature’s creations and hidden treasures beneath mundane, and sometimes ugly, earthly textures. Nevinskaite’s burning techniques contrasted with the clean and sleek silhouettes, resulting in pleasing, professional work wear attire.
An original Sci-fi take on eastern and western cultures was seen in Ayumi Morita’s collection, which demonstrated the idea of a robot transforming into a human, and enjoying life without routine repetition. Solid black, British wool, crisp tailored lines and oversized Japanese trousers were corrupted with embroidered zeros and ones, playfully referencing the digital age and robotic persona.
One standout at East London’s Fashion Show was Marietta Kalvi. Her collection hit some of today’s hottest trends with sheer tops, structured jackets and playful midi skirts. She used structured collars to add an interesting touch to many pieces in her collection. Kalvi’s use of red, paired with a mix of neutrals added an interesting twist to her aesthetic. Her pieces will work well for a day at the office, but her fun skirts would also be perfect for a flirty date night.
Another eye-opener at the show was Rochelle Mullings’s aristocratic collection, titled “Cut Me to See Who I Am,” which illuminated the serial murders committed by Jack the Ripper in Whitechapel, London in 1888. The mystery of the cases allowed for a unique creative approach, which she absolutely nailed! The hourglass-silhouetted garments included cutting lines and folded fabrics, symbolized the identifiable fingerprint and shapes that were carved into the dead victims by Ripper. The colour palette ranged from deep reds, browns, mustard yellows, and grays, which symbolized the dark and gruesome murders by the hand of Jack the Ripper and Victorian East London’s atmosphere of the time.
This year’s University of East London show produced designers with the ability to think outside the box. Their unique concepts and strict attention to detail provided an amazing display of garments for everyone who attended the show. There is no doubt that these designers will make a name for themselves in the fashion world. Each has a vision that is truly his or her own, a necessity in today’s market.
By: Maren Lindsay Newman & Melanie Richtman