Kingston’s show was eagerly anticipated, and Theatre A was packed to the hilt to see the 2010 graduates. This was a great parade of accomplished, exciting, and professional collections.

Alice Early’s beautiful collection opened the show. Inspired by the craftsmanship involved in traditional bespoke tailoring, and the work of artist Antony Gormley, her pieces are sculptural yet wearable. Soft, smudgy prints added drama and complemented her palette of pale blue and black, for a great, considered and accomplished line up.

Kalina Blajeva’s elegant take on sportswear, creates a refreshing new aesthetic, with clever, layered pieces that made for a fascinating mix using nylon and latex alongside organza. Pastel shades of lemon and blue were tempered with grey tones for parkas, bomber jackets and worn with detailed tights and mini-skirts.

We loved Nathalie Tunna’s collection inspired by a bygone age of ‘etiquette, decorum and poise’. Her grown-up and ‘proper’, ladylike pieces used duchesse satin and pretty, sugary pastels for pieces that sported long skirts, high waists, smart collars and big structured bags.

Lucy Hammond’s vibrant knits were beautifully executed. Chevrons, stripes and laddered effects, dazzled the crowd, some embellished with sequins and bows.

Also worth a mention are Naomi Stahl for her fluid, sophisticated womenswear, and Sophie Hudsputh’s lovely grown-up fine-knits in sand, cream and grey.

Menswear was strong; notably Zac Marshall’s collection, created through his conceptual fantasy of ‘a post-human landscape’, and named ’Archaeologists’. His individual yet eminently commercial collection features memorable pieces including a sweater featuring ‘childlike and curious’ creatures, and layered, constructed pieces with flashes of bright colour.

Sarah Shuttleworth’s menswear also caught our eye with her use of reflective fabrics and photo-sensitive inks, in a collection which she describes as ‘where technology, form, and traditional process collide’.

Harriet De Roeper’s covetable womenswear finale had terrific impact, in black and white with devoré velvet giving a fitting, fuzzy texture to her beautiful black blue-bottle fly motifs.

Image credits: Photography by Simon Armstrong

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