Leeds Beckett Fashion students present graduate collections at Leeds School of Arts

18:50 - final touches

The hair and makeup teams are hard at work getting the models ready as guests are gathering in the theatre. The styling is done and final touches are in place, ready for the first collection to shine on the catwalk.

19:00 – Lottie Blankstone, Hattie Driver, Sophie Randall, Bonnie Clay

The show started with ‘Three Lines of History’, a collection by Lottie Blankstone, informed by autoethnographic observations of cultural Judaism. The collection draws symbolism from the Shabbat candles and white tablecloth. Lottie said: “I define the collection as genderless, as it responds to a modern Judaism, that doesn’t care for gender norms.”

Lottie Blankstone is the recipient of the Most Technical Collection award.

Hattie Driver’s festival collection is next, focusing on inclusivity, diversity, body positivity and representation. The collection is sampled in a size 16, the average size for women in the UK. Hattie said: “Inclusivity and diversity factors are visible within the colour palette, fabrics and silhouettes, inspired by skin colour, texture, and perceived bodily imperfections.”

Sophie Randall’s collection aims to illustrate how life events and parenthood can impact body image, thoughts, actions, and expectations. “This collection is a message to my daughter, that loving her natural body, embracing her strength and vulnerability can be beautiful,” Sophie said.

‘The Fabricated Spectacle’ by Bonnie Clay explores the notion of spectacle from a voyeuristic perspective. Bonnie’s initial inspiration came from Jordan Peele’s film ‘Nope’, which influenced the fabrics and silhouettes. Bonnie said: “It is a genderless collection, distorting and restricting the body, and thus seeking to fascinate the viewer by becoming a spectacle in itself.”

19:10 – Megan Newman, Lauren Basford, Rosie Liddle, Sasha Wilding

The show continues with ‘Connect to dis-connect’, a streetwear collection by Megan Newman, which depicts the impact of the cost-of-living crisis. Megan said: “The curation of the range of colours and clothing functionality allows the consumer to create numerous outfits with a limited amount of garments.”

Lauren Basford’s ‘Elements’ is a tactile collection that consists of elevated basics combined with high-end boho featured. “The combination of free-flowing silhouettes and tactile fabrics allows the collection to bridge the gap between high street and designer,” Lauren said.

Up next is Rosie Liddle’s womenswear A/W 2023 collection inspired by the mysteries of the ocean. Exploring fabric manipulation and construction, the designs have a strong sense of fluidity within the movement of the garments.

Sasha Wilding’s ‘Only Pretending’ is a menswear collection focused on breaking gender norms and empowering people through their choice of clothes. Sasha said: “Giving a modern twist on punk, my collection is fun and aims to never bore.”

19:20 – Grace Baxter, Asqa Tariq, Ali Gohari, Aneita-Faithlyn Gay

The RUN graduate fashion show is in full swing, and the public is loving the students’ designs. Up next on the runway is Grace Baxter’s collection, inspired by the beauty of historical fashion. The outfits are mixing historical and modern silhouettes to create an original look.

Asqa Tariq’s designs were inspired by Islamic architecture and ancient Persian clothing. The intricate, complex silhouettes were created by experimenting creatively with fabric draping.

Ali Gohari’s collection depicts imperfection and the idea of beauty in everyday life. Ali said: “I am inspired by life experiences, thrown-away objects, and people’s attitudes towards ugliness and shapes.”

Ali Gohari is the recipient of the Most Creative Collection award.

Aneita-Faithlyn Gay’s outfits are inspired by optical art, particularly the work of Bridget Riley. Her collection aims to subvert and distort society’s perception of the female body.

19:30 – Kiera Tarpey, Laura Mangham, Samantha Wilson, Lori J Briggs

‘For the Lads!’ by Kiera Tarpey is on the runway now, pushing the boundaries of gender stereotypes within sport. The collection uses second-hand fabrics and sportswear to reduce waste, while also adding sentimental value and uniqueness to each piece.

Kiera Tarpey is the recipient of the Most Responsibly Designed Collection award.

Laura Mangham’s ‘The Way She Wears It’ is a collection designed to embrace women’s sensuality, aiming to inspire those wearing the outfits to find their inner confidence.

Samantha Wilson aims to celebrate and support women in sports with her collection, ‘Sports n Tea’. “Every woman is different, and the sports they practice do not define them. My collection aims to challenge stereotypes in a creative way and express how women see themselves in sport.”

‘Don’t Plant Bad Seeds’ by Lori J Briggs embodies nostalgia and navigating the world through the eyes of our younger selves. Lori said the collection was “inspired by childhood memories, following the narrative of a child running away from home in search of adventure.”

Lori J Briggs is the recipient of the Most Inclusive Collection award.

19:40 – Jinilda Graca, Amie Cunningham, Sophie Merriman, Francesca Fell

Up next, ‘Amole Mu’ by Jinilda Graca, who said: “The purpose of my collection is to neutralise love concerning genders and to break the stereotypes of wedding attire.”

‘The Body is a Canvas’ by Amie Cunningham is a celebration of art within the world of fashion. Amie said: “Experimenting through painting on fabric, I explored the concept of wearable art and aimed to reference the Bauhaus movement within my silhouettes.”

Sophie Merriman’s ‘Childish Dreams’ is a seasonless, eclectic and “dopamine-inducing” collection, inspired by her daughter. Sophie said: “The oversized silhouettes give the sense of a child in adults’ clothing. Designed for the bold, the not-so-bold, and those who wish to be bolder, the collection is an inclusive and welcoming brand.”

Francesca Fell’s collection is closing the show tonight, on a strong note of sustainability. ‘Wear Your Greens’ is a collection inspired by food and its packaging, exploring the relationship between the food and fashion industries. The outfits emulate some of the silhouettes and textures seen in packaging and waste and are made exclusively of recycled and upcycled fabrics.

To find out more about studying Fashion at Leeds School of Arts, visit our website.