Students from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU)’s renowned Contour Fashion course showcased their collections to help raise money for a cancer charity.
Twelve students each showed six different pieces from their final year collections, which included fabulously intricate lace, bold prints and 1950s-inspired designs
The catwalk event, at Leicester Tigers’ Welford Road stadium, was held to raise cash for the 20-20 Voice charity, which aims to raise money for equipment to help people with head and neck cancer.
Contour Fashion course leader, Gillian Proctor, introduced the evening and industry names including Mandy Ferrand, creative director of Courtaulds and Miles Cain, technical director of Stretchline were on the front row to see the students’ work.
Mandy said afterwards: “I think the show was fantastic, the girls have really done a good job. The fit and the creativity on show was great. Well done – glamourtastic!”
Their final collections represent the product of months of work and demonstrate the technical and creative skills the students have honed during their time on the course.
Bethany Lissaman, of Markfield, said: “I started with the idea of 18th century embroidered jackets and went from there. I wanted quite an indulgent, luxury feel so there’s lots of expensive fabrics including leather, velvets and lace.”
Many of the students, who are due to graduate in July, have spent time working in industry during their studies. Beth worked in China and said it was an “incredible experience”.
Billie O’Brien, from Lincoln, designed a blue and white print inspired by her love of 1950s vintage. Harriet Cronin, of Derby, dyed fabrics pink and pale to create a “very feminine, fluid and girly” collection.
Claudia Coito, from London, is moving to New York after graduation and plans to specialize in swimwear. Her designs, which included men’s and women’s pieces, was inspired by trips to Brazil: “lots of colour, prints and bright tassels.”
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Ella Chisholm, Canterbury, based her collection on a print which she created. She was full of praise for Contour Fashion. She said: “DMU has been great. We have learned so much and so many different skills.”
Grace North, who completed internships at Next and George at Asda, said: “My collection is bridal boudoir and it was based on ice. I went to Paris in winter and took lots of pictures to inspire me.
“I used satin, lace and mesh to work with so technically it was quite a challenge because they all sew up differently.”
Alice Neves, from Derbyshire, used bright red lingerie with bold print which she made from her own artwork. Alice, who plans to be a designer, has completed placements at LF Intimates and Fleur of England in Bristol, where she was part of the design team.
Phil Johnson, chairman of the 20-20 Voice Charity, said: “I was awestruck by the brilliant performances and the garments on show were incredible. The students are so talented and we were very grateful to them for supporting our charity and helping us raise money.”
Posted on Wednesday 8 July 2015