Creative De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) students are among an exclusive group selected for the Talent of Tomorrow campaign, run by the Graduate Fashion Foundation (GFF).
Estelle Brightmore design
Spotlighting emerging designers and other creatives, Talent of Tomorrow is a promotional campaign for Graduate Fashion Week (GFW), the world’s largest showcase of undergraduate fashion talent which brings together graduates, educators and industry.
Outfits by three Fashion Design students – Estelle Brightmore, Kira Uddin and Meg Gibson – were among those picked by the GFF judges to be photographed for the campaign. All three designers have also been selected by their tutor to show their collections as part of DMU’s catwalk at GFW on Tuesday 11 June.
Inspired by things associated with home comforts, such as cosy rugs and net curtains, Estelle’s outfit combines knitted and lace textures with bright colours to conjure up a sense of nostalgia.
Kira Uddin's design
The 21-year-old from Sheffield said: “It was a new experience for me to send an outfit off, step back and let someone else style it. It’s been really interesting to see how they’ve interpreted it, and it’s exciting to be part of this campaign and get more people to see my work.”
Kira blends traditional tailoring techniques with modern elements to give men the innovative yet subtle outfit options they often lack. “It’s such a proud and surreal moment to feature in the campaign,” said the 21-year-old from Hertfordshire.
“From my first year at DMU, the end goal has always been to get on the GFW catwalk, so I feel like I can breathe now that I’ve been selected. I can’t wait to show my collection in front of the industry.”
Meg Gibson's design
Her military upbringing has influenced Meg’s designs, which combine metal hardware to reflect her father’s career as a helicopter engineer and wing commander, with feminine features to represent herself and her sister during their childhood.
The 23-year-old from Cheshire said: “I never realised that my upbringing wasn’t considered ‘normal’ until my dad retired and we stopped moving around. It’s all I knew growing up and it taught me that home isn’t a place, home is where your family is.
“It feels very wholesome to be experiencing this with Estelle and Kira. We’ve all worked really hard, so I’m really proud of and excited for us.”
Seven of DMU’s Fashion Communication and Styling students were also chosen for the campaign, taking up positions such as videographers, stylists and photographers on the shoot.
Behind the scenes captured by Lauren Fraser
They were placed in groups with other chosen students from around the country, and each group was tasked with shooting 10 of the graduate outfits picked by the judges. Working from an industrial warehouse in London, they collaborated closely to overcome challenges encountered on the day.
Samantha Lee was a behind-the-scenes photographer on the shoot. “I’m quite a shy person, but because it was such a good experience, I feel like I’ve grown in confidence,” said the 21-year-old from Gloucestershire.
“I set up the lighting in the studio area, which was really tricky to get right, but it helped that I bought a speed light with me to the shoot. Working closely with our group’s main photographer has also helped to improve my technical knowledge and skills.”
Working as the main photographer in his group, Sam Thacker brought a wealth of freelance experience with him. He made such a good impression that he’s been invited back to photograph behind the scenes during GFW.
Sam Thacker and Jolan Wojcik (far right) with their group
The 23-year-old from Reading said: “The Talent of Tomorrow shoot ran really smoothly for our group. I took on a bit of a leadership and organisational role, but we just had really good chemistry on set and we all worked well together.”
Tasked with styling a set of particularly unusual outfits for her group, Bruna Chorincas had her work cut out for her. “I was working with some very tricky and heavy garments, so it was a little bit stressful getting the models changed and ready to shoot quickly,” said the 21-year-old from Portugal.
“However, I learned that sometimes you don’t have to do too much styling – you’ve just got to let a statement piece shine. It was a really positive experience overall.”
Also working as a behind-the-scenes photographer, Jolan Wojcik felt well-prepared for the campaign thanks to her course. The 28-year-old from the Netherlands said: “We had the advantage that our degree is really broad at DMU, so you learn the skills to do every role involved in a shoot like this.
“Although it was really nice just having one role to focus on, it was also great being able to step in and help others in my group when they needed it. It was such a fun experience.”
As a videographer on shoot, Lauren Fraser enjoyed the broad nature of her role and the chance to refine her skills. “I feel like our course has prepared us for anything and it was a great experience to be involved in such a well-known campaign,” said the 20-year-old from South London.
“There are still so many opportunities for us during GFW as well, like entering awards, showcasing our portfolios and working on set. It’s an exciting time for us just before we graduate.”
Posted on Monday 3 June 2024