UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 16 OCTOBER 2017
Models in Birmingham have swapped the catwalk for the concourse, as they strutted their stuff in a unique fashion show hosted in Birmingham New Street station.
18 professional models from Supa Agency and Wild Agency showcased 12 collections designed by Fashion Design graduates from Birmingham City University on Saturday 14 October. Walking along a specially-made runway, the display took place under the interchange’s main departure boards within the building’s domed atrium.
The catwalk extravaganza was organised to coincide with Birmingham City University’s Open Day, which welcomed prospective undergraduate students to both its City Centre Campus – just a short walk from the railway station – and City South Campus in the Edgbaston suburb.
Sara Middleton, Associate Dean, Faculty of Arts, Design and Media, Birmingham City University, said:
“There is nothing more exciting than the spectacle of a live fashion show and we are delighted to be partnering with Network Rail for this unmissable display that will be the talk of the town for weeks to come.”
High-end fashion
The collections shown originally made their debut during Graduate Fashion Week in June this year and included designs by emerging creative talent such as Elisha Bharaji, who transported onlookers into the future of high-end fashion with her space age garments.
Meanwhile, Monika Jauneikaite took knitwear to new heights with her striking collection of wool and cropped trousers, and, combining bright orange wool and pinstripes, Georgina Jenkins’ avant-garde business-wear brought new dimensions to the office wardrobe.
Birmingham City University alumna, Georgina Jenkins, said:
“I had a really good response to my collection after Graduate Fashion Week, with lots of industry people contacting me regarding photoshoots and to find out more about my work. I was inspired by three artists – Yayoi Kusama, Choi Xooang and Gunther von Hagen – and was particularly fascinated with anatomical preservation. I created a tailored collection greatly influenced by von Hagen’s muscle preservation, for example.
“Moving forward, the Birmingham New Street station catwalk has been a fantastic opportunity for me to showcase my designs, allowing me to further develop industry contacts and relationships, especially as I am currently looking for internships and additional experience to develop my fashion practice.”
Alumni
The New Street catwalk show was produced by Birmingham City University alumnus Lee Lapthorne, who has previously worked as a creative director for fashion brands such as Calvin Klein, Gucci and Ted Baker. The spectacle was documented by Birmingham City University alumnus and photographer Jabr, and Birmingham-based Cloud One were responsible for the event’s sound and light installations.
Following a major redevelopment which opened in September 2015, Birmingham New Street station has been transformed into a major transport and shopping hub. Welcoming 140,000 passengers daily, its new concourse is now three and a half times bigger than before. This space is enclosed by a giant glass-roofed atrium, allowing natural light to brighten the entire area, including all 12 refurbished platforms.