A glittering show for UCA Epsom 2015 at GFW

University for the Creative Arts Epsom boasts a range of fashion courses allowing its students to explore a commercial or a creative approach to fashion design. The result? A highly eclectic GFW 2015 show. Back to 2013, graduate Hannah Williams received two accolades for Womenswear and Fashion Innovation while Danya Sjadzali won the All Walks Diversity Now award. This year, the quality of design was just as strong. Different techniques acquired in each course showed well on the catwalk, with both womenswear and menswear demonstrating a degree of poignancy.

Later on, Alexandra Wall also played with patterns using the typical flamenco styling as a theme in her work. She explained that in the Spanish province of Avila, the townsfolk annually celebrate the renewal of their town through a carnival performance reflecting sacrifice and death. Her technique involved gathering material by folding it over one another. As a result, gothic petals folded over one another, gathered at the shoulders and waist. The designer combined these with leather-like trousers to compliment these dark tones.

Patterns were a popular focus at Epsom. Sarah Brooker’s collection was delightful. She used floral lace cuts in beige and black accessorized with thick rope to make them seem as if it were held in place. The cuts themselves were reminiscent of 1920s flapper style with pieces deliberately squared off at the hips. It was highly unusual, but fascinating to observe.

Annie Bostock’s menswear worked particularly well, especially with the models stood against the white backdrop, drawing attention to her impressive bold text prints. The colours Annie used made sense against the glittering text: blues and deep reds complimented one another. The silhouettes were imaginative; the designer took sleeping bags and transformed them into oversized (and probably very warm) outwear pieces. Other pieces included a padded jumpsuit – a new take on the all-in-one contemporary craze; something fresh.

The use of colour was particularly strong from Naba Shan. Her use of product packaging as an inspiration for her bold designs, with fluorescent orange and silver to contrast each other, reminded us of the brashness of consumerist culture. 3D trains curled and twisted awkwardly over each other recreating the plastic bonds found on fresh produce. The slicing of fabrics and draping signified the break down of packaging once it is rendered useless. It was an extraordinary take on something so ordinary – which are always fascinating to examine.

University of Creative Arts Epsom once again demonstrated their student’s ability to impress. We have to thank tutors, innovative students, and the latest technology available to them for the quality of this year show.

This review was published on Modeconnect and was written at Graduate Fashion Week 2015.