Second year BA (Hons) Fashion students are showing their collections to the public this week, at the culmination of a four-month partnership with real-world retailers.

Exhibition: Coordinated opened at a preview event on Thursday evening, and is open to the public to visit free of charge, from 1 to 3 May, from 10am to 4pm, at First Floor Genesis Studio, Multrees Walk.

The students were challenged to create commercially-minded co-ord garments that balanced creative ambition with real-world retail considerations. They were supported by experts from Multrees Walk and retail partners Louis Vuitton, Harvey Nichols and Johnstons of Elgin. The project saw them develop their concepts from initial sketches to finished pieces, exploring design development, sustainability and material responsibility, audience insight, brand positioning, and storytelling.

Professor Mal James, Programme Director, Personal Chair of Fashion Design, said: “Having our students’ designs and final garments exhibited within Multrees Walk is a rewarding opportunity. By taking their ideas out with the college studios and directly into the city’s heart of fashion, this allows their creativity to be seen in the same space as some of the world’s leading brands. 

“This event is truly a celebration of their hard work, talent and creativity - we are thankful to Multrees Walk for this fantastic opportunity, and to our fashion lecturers and technicians who worked closely with them on the project.”

Dr Patricia Wu Wu, Year 2 Fashion Lecturer and academic project lead, added: “Collaborating on this project has been a delight. It has provided students with an enriching experience, teaching them the importance of commercial design and the relationship between designers and real-world customers beyond fashion shows. This project encouraged students to consider consumer preferences while allowing them to express their unique design identities.”

Leigh Aitchison, Centre Manager at Multrees Walk, said: “Over the past academic year, and through mentorship and real-world insight from our retailers, the students have developed a real understanding of the commercial world of fashion. We have all been truly impressed and inspired by the students’ creativity, their passion for research and the original ideas they brought to life through their final designs.”