Fashion students from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) saw their designs hit the London catwalk today in front of some of the industry's biggest names as part of Graduate Fashion Week.
The world's biggest student fashion show, which took place in the trendy East End of London, offered the students the experience of a lifetime as their creativity was shown off to hundreds of influential fashion houses, journalists and bloggers from across Europe.
The DMU designs, by final year students from the university's world-renowned Fashion Design course, were worn on the runway by professional models accompanied by booming soundtracks and flashing lights.
As each collection was shown, the audience of more than 250 broke into applause. You can see more photos from the DMU catwalk in our Facebook gallery.
After the show, judges decided to award two students, Catriona Pringle and Nadia Kelly, a prestigious place in the final of the event and a chance to earn a GFW Gold Award.
Their creations will be shown again tomorrow (Tuesday 2 June) against the best of the rest of the universities who have taken part in the four day festival.
Catriona, from Buckinghamshire, and Nadia, from Liverpool, were still in a state of shock after the show but both overwhelmed and excited to have their talent recognised by the panel.
Catriona's work was influenced by her granny who had a fabric shop in the 70s and her embroidery work was based on Bargello designs.
She said: "I really can't believe it but at the same time I feel amazing. It's pretty cool."
Nadia, whose creations were influenced by the 70s and 80s in Liverpool under a Thatcher government, added: "My phone is already ringing and I have had magazines get in touch with me and others taking my details. It is absolutely brilliant."
Other students who showed their work, and dressed their models backstage, were also excited by the show.
Holly Walsh said: "It did not feel real. It was nerve wracking but I was also proud my work was going out on the catwalk."
Jack Dorman, from Leicestershire, added: "I feel really emotional as this is the culmination of three years' work and it is all there on the catwalk for a moment. It was over so quickly.
"I want to have my own menswear brand and I will spend a bit of time working out how best to do that. Hopefully with people seeing my work on the catwalk things may happen.
"The last three years have definitely been worth it. You really give blood, sweat and tears on this course so you must be prepared to work hard but when you see your work on the catwalk it makes everything worthwhile."
Beatrice Mabvuto said: "We are all tired and we worked so hard but it is a great feeling. I would say to anyone coming on the course to be prepared, know what you want and go for it. We all want to get to where we are and there are hundreds of students at this event. So you must be ready to fight for it. And if you do that it will all be worth it in the end."
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Della Swain, head of the Fashion Design course, said: "I think it was a really sharp catwalk show and I am so happy with the way it went. I think there was so much diversity and this catwalk show was a great example of what we are all about on this course at DMU. There have been some amazing collections this year and I am incredibly proud of all the students."
DMU also ran a stand at the show which covered a large area of the second floor of the venue where footwear, accessories and contour designs from the other fashion schools were also on display.
It was visited by hundreds of industry people as well as people wanting to find out more about DMU fashion and textiles courses.
Two of the students displaying their work were also shortlisted for GFW awards - Alexandra McGough, a third year on the Fashion and Textiles Accesories course, for her incredible leather work and Alex Piers Blackman for his collection of press moulded moccasins.
Posted on Monday 1 June 2015