Whilst covering Graduate Fashion Week 2011, ARTS THREAD caught up with some of the graduate designers, college lecturers and industry professionals who have been using our online portfolio service. To hear what they had to say and to find out why you should set up your own free ARTS THREAD portfolio, make sure to watch our new video!

Gold Award Winner Rory Longdon, Nottingham Trent University

The Graduate Fashion Week Gala show is always an event to look forward to at the end of a glorious week that showcases the best of British young talent. Celebrating the 20th anniversary and a brand new sponsor in the shape of George at Asda, this year’s Gala evening celebrated the innovation and dedication of fashion graduates from across the UK.

Raj Shinji, Salisbury College

The fashion and textile graduates from Salisbury College hit the catwalk with eleven womenswear collections that showcased a range of talents from origami structuring to flawless draping.

Olivia Hewitt, Manchester School of Art

Manchester School of Art Presented a unique show with a ‘Back to Basics’ style, with chalkboards used to post up the graduates’ names.

Christina Economou, Marangoni Paris

Graduate Fashion Week has the privilege of hosting some of Europe’s top design schools. This year five programs showed off a selective group of talented, up-and-coming designers. The International Award this year went to Christina Economou of Marangoni Paris.

Lauren Brown , Sophia Sabados, UCA Epsom

Lauren Brown and Sophia Sabados from UCA Epsom won the Lifeline I.T Media & Design Award. Runners up included graduates from the University of Salford, as well as Ravensbourne.

Kristabel Plummer, Nottingham Trent University

The 25 student designers from Nottingham Trent University showed a range of construction skills — the best of which was knitwear.

Clare Harman, The Arts University College at Bournemouth

The small but mighty 13 designers from Bournemouth couldn’t have created collections that were more dissimilar — giving the presentation a fresh, beating pulse. The audience was on their toes guessing what the burgeoning talent would send down the runway next.

Faye De Booder, UCA Rochester

Known as the creative hub of the South East, University of the Creative Arts Rochester graduates produced a show of inspirational collections. From ‘Dunnys’ to holographic prints, there was a fair balance of menswear and womenswear collection, which all had their very own theme behind them. With 24 students on show, there was plenty to see, here’s a selection of our favourites.

Lucy Haugh, Kingston University

Kingston University brought their A-game to Graduate Fashion Week with well-crafted designs and an excellent eye for showmanship. The designers created equally outstanding garments for men as well as women. The standard was set high.