Graduate Fashion Week celebrates its 20th anniversary

Graduate Fashion Week celebrates its 20th anniversary this year at Earls Court with shows and exhibitions from over 1,000 British and international design students.

Starting on Sunday 5th June, there will be 19 catwalk shows for the public to take in before the best collections are selected for the gala shows on Wednesday. An impressive panel of judges, including Amanda Wakeley, Mark Eley of the brand Eley Kishimoto and Lucy Yeomans, editor of Harper's Bazaar , will then pick the winner of the Gold Award, who will receive the prize of £20,000. Meanwhile, the Telegraph's Hilary Alexander will present the winner of the First Word Journalism Award.

Terry Mansfield, chairman of GFW, said: "Graduate Fashion Week is the starting point for the future of British Fashion. It is an event that has an impact on not just our home-grown style, but that of the world. Our Graduates are the future of fashion, whether it is on the high street or the catwalk. This is the chance for the industry and public to see them first and understand why supporting our British fashion education system is so important. We are delighted that George at Asda has agreed to support us in 2011. At this increasingly difficult time for students, it is more than ever essential that the industry pulls together to help educate the next generation."

There will also opportunities to find out about other careers in the industry. With around 5,000 fashion graduates joining the job market this summer, Graduate Fashion Week and George at Asda, which replaces River Island as sponsor, is keen to promote the "business of fashion". From marketing to buying and product development, advisors will be on hand to guide graduates on jobs outside of the design studio.

Source: Telegraph.co.uk, Friday 3rd June 2011