This year’s show on 30th May will be the largest scale fashion show staged in Belfast in recent times and promises to be an extraordinary celebration of creativity, innovation and dedication to craft.
The graduating class from the BA (Hons) Textile Art, Design and Fashion course is comprised of 63 talented students, who will preview their degree collections of Textile Art and Textile Design with 40 students work taking to the catwalk and showcasing their unique fashion visions.
From avant-garde designs to sustainable fashion solutions and statements, the diverse range of collections reflects the breadth of artistic expression fostered within the course at Belfast School of Art, and each garment a testament to the creativity, skill and passion of our students who have honed their creativity and skills under the guidance of specialist lecturers and technicians.
The BA (Hons) Textile Art, Design and Fashion course at Belfast School of Art is a skills-based course with five dedicated workshops in embroidery, garment construction, knit, print and weave and offering specialisms in Textile Art, Textile Design and Fashion.
Dean Liggett, Lecturer in Fashion at Belfast School of Art is eagerly anticipating the fashion show:
“The global fashion industry is one of the world’s biggest employers and it is fantastic to have this opportunity to showcase the best of our home-grown textile and fashion creativity and talent. We are so proud to introduce the graduating class of 2024. This show is the culmination of hard work, innovation and creativity from an extremely innovative cohort of emerging designers and artists, who will showcase original work, tackle some of the issues facing the industry and display their unique skills and talent.”
As a milestone event in our 175th Anniversary year, the Graduate Fashion Show not only highlights the individual achievements of each graduate, but also serves to demonstrate the rich legacy and forward-thinking ethos of Belfast School of Art. Across 175 years, the School has continuously nurtured generations of artists and designers, helping to shape the cultural landscape of Belfast and beyond.
Partnering with Belfast School of Art, Style Academy will produce the show, bringing their expertise to this milestone event. Managing Director Tracey Rodgers expresses her pride:
“We are honoured to be involved once again, with this year promising to be quite simply the biggest and best yet! It’s the largest scale fashion show seen in Belfast for a very long time, featuring 25 of our top runway models from as far afield as Sweden & Portugal, modelling collections from some 36 graduates, on a 90-metre-long catwalk! It’s quite an undertaking, but one we will relish and certainly not to be missed.”
McConnell’s Irish Whiskey are also backing the event, John Kelly, CEO, said:
“We are delighted to support the Belfast School of Art 175th anniversary showcase of the Textile Art Design and Fashion Graduate Fashion show. As a proudly Belfast brand, we are highly invested in our local community and Ulster University is one of our valued neighbours. Having recently opened our new home on the Crumlin Road, the McConnell’s Distillery and Visitor Experience, this is a great opportunity to align both organisations in a milestone year.”
“We are thrilled to celebrate this 175th anniversary year with our annual Graduate Fashion Show,” said Brian Dixon, Head of Belfast School of Art Fashion Design at Belfast School of Art. “This event not only marks the culmination of years of hard work for our graduating students but also showcases the creativity and innovation that have defined our institution for the last nearly two centuries. We are immensely proud of our graduates and excited to see them make their mark in the world of fashion.”
The Graduate Fashion Show 2024 will take place at our Belfast Campus, York Street on 30th May 2024, welcoming friends and family, industry professionals, fashion enthusiasts, and supporters of the arts to witness this next generation of fashion talent emerge from Belfast School of Art.