Graduate Fashion Week announced 2021 award winners

Graduate Fashion Week, the world’s greatest showcase of BA Fashion talent, has crowned Jasmin Bourne from Manchester Fashion Institute at Manchester Metropolitan University as the Christopher Bailey Assortment of the entire year Award first-place winner.

Bourne was inspired by her “deep-rooted love for tribal culture” on her behalf graduate collection, exploring heritage and cultural identity, and sharing her own interwoven Fijian and British background, while positioning sustainability in the centre of her designs.

Her collection viewed the iconic Fijian floral shirt, plus the blending of Fijian and British floral prints to create an “interwoven piece”. Bourne then combined denim with the bold Fijan warrior print as part of her creative process using the femininity and fragility of the floral shapes.

Key looks included a menswear shirt worn with a Fijan wrap skirt, a denim weave jacket and floral print clashes across shirts, trousers and Military-inspired jackets.

Darcie Hancock, a fashion knitwear and textiles designer from Kingston University London was awarded second place in the Christopher Bailey Award on her behalf ‘Life’s a Joke’ collection made from yarns and fabrics that biodegradable.

In third place was George Martin from the Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts for his technical menswear collection that champions British garden birds.

The final catwalk award, the Sustainability Trailblazer Award was won by Madeleine Lewis Brown from Salford University.

GFW names 2021 award winners
Commenting on the Class of 2021, Graduate Fashion Foundation president, Hilary Alexander, said in a statement: “We've been blown away by the innovation, resilience, creative imagination and determination displayed by the Class of 2021. Not merely have they completed their university careers by adapting to the present climate for another year, however the incredibly top quality of the work produced has exceeded our expectations. We’ve been very impressed by the Class of 2021 and we’re excited to keep supporting them as they enter the industry.”

In addition, there have been also 20 exhibition winners announced via live-stream from the Graduate Fashion Week home at Coal Drops Yard, Kings Cross, London.