A total of 22 Contour Fashion students from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) have been selected to show their collections at an exclusive London catwalk show marking the course’s 70th anniversary.
DMU is home to the oldest contour fashion course in the world which was established in 1947 to train workers for the burgeoning corset industry in the surrounding area.
Now, to mark the magnificent milestone, final year students will dress professional models in their garments before the models walk along a specially constructed runway in the opulent surroundings of the Grand Temple in Freemasons’ Hall, Covent Garden.
VIPS from the world of fashion will be at the show to cast their eye over the next generation of design talent.
The 21 students had to show their work – which included lingerie, swimwear, sportswear and nightwear - to a panel of judges, including a representative from high street giants Debenhams.
Final year student Posie Upshall, 22, from Somerset, has created a lingerie collection out of material she had GROWN herself, meaning the entire collection is biodegradable. The recipe for the material included green tea, sugar, vinegar and kombucha, a kind of fermented tea. The resulting fabric has a leathery feel to it and lasts for about five years.
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Posie said: “I am very excited about the catwalk show, mainly because my collection features different shades of nude underwear and has a message behind it that I want to get across to people.
“Biodegradable material is the future for fashion. We have to be sustainable. Fashion is one of the largest polluting industries in the world so we have to think about materials to replace what we already have.”
Lucy Watkins, 21, of Burbage, Leicestershire, created a swimwear range influenced by Roman architecture.
She said: “I am completely overwhelmed. I was not expecting this at all. The whole selection day was scary but exciting at the same time and the judges really didn’t give anything away.
“It is a real honour to be on the catwalk, especially with it being the 70th anniversary of the course.
“I am going to bring as many members of my family as possible. The course has been amazing and I would tell anyone to study Contour Fashion. We have so much support from the tutors.”
Contour Fashion at DMU was established in 1947 by the British Corset Industry to support the rise of innovative and technical local designers.
Today it is a course dedicated to intimate apparel design and is widely regarded by industry experts as one of the best in the world.
Over the last 70 years, thousands of our students have dared to be different and created stunning designs which have earned themselves prestigious positions within the industry.
There are very few large businesses specialising in lingerie, swimwear, leisurewear and nightwear that have not been influenced, in some way, by our exceptional graduates.
DMU graduates can be found working for ASOS, Calvin Klein, Gossard, H&M, Tommy Hilfiger, Aubade, Curvy Kate and Stretchline, among others.
Under the tutelage of Gillian Proctor and her team, many alumni have gone on to create their own labels, causing a sensation when their work has been worn by superstars including Beyoncé, Rita Ora and Paloma Faith.
The full list of Contour Fashion final year students who will be showing their collections in Covent Garden on June 8 is Elly Gough, Cassy Blowen, Emily Bell, Lauren Smith, Cat Lovick, Abby Mellor, Sophie Welborn, Heather McCarter, Roisin Reuss, Lucy Watkins, Jade Roe, Posie Upshall, Charley Chiddle, Alice Haspel, Georgia Phillips, Jessie Drabble, Hannah Durling, Sophie Hughes, Tamzin Grigg, Ellie Beaumont, Tara O'Donovan and Molly Falkingham.
Posted on Monday 5 June 2017