Graduate Fashion Week is one of those occasions that fashion lovers (myself very much included) have circled in the diary - and this year definitely didn’t disappoint.
Held at London’s Truman Brewery and presented by F&F, the event is where the designers of tomorrow enjoy their moment in the spotlight. With alumni like Stella McCartney and Christopher Bailey launching their careers at the event, you can’t help but wonder whether you're looking at the next big name before the rest of the fashion world catches on.
Even though the heatwave was unrelenting (there was a point where I genuinely thought I'd melt into the front row), my iced coffee budget was out of control and my body temperature soared to heights I didn't know were humanly possible, I'd do it all over again. Why? Because from the moment I arrived, the atmosphere was electric.
Students, buyers, editors and industry insiders darted between catwalks with cameras in one hand and chilled drinks in the other, all fuelled by pure excitement. Everywhere you looked something was happening - from runway shows to portfolio displays and networking corners abuzz with conversation. It felt like the fashion industry’s version of Freshers' week - equal parts excitement, ambition and semi-organised chaos, but with much better outfits.
The collections I’d wear in a heartbeat:
One of my favourite moments came courtesy of the Graduate Fashion Foundation’s collaboration with retailer F&F, whose chic catwalk showcase Redefine the High Street proved that affordable fashion doesn't have to play it safe. Think bold silhouettes, quirky tailoring and enough personality to make the average high street rail look positively sleepy. Honestly, I'd have happily taken most of the collection straight home with me.
If there was one collection everyone seemed to be whispering about afterwards, it was Bath Spa University graduate Pippa Bowerman’s winning BSU Catwalk collection, Future Archive. Fusing sharp menswear-inspired tailoring with delicate, almost ethereal fabrics seamlessly, the collection was so effortlessly cool. I was jealous that I wasn't wearing it there and then.
Sheer layers, distressed textures, earthy and tan shades alongside structured jackets nodded to the coming autumn trends while still feeling completely timeless. I can confidently say that the collection looked just as at home on the runway as it would on an editorial shoot.
Another standout had to be Liberty London’s collaboration with emerging designers from universities across the UK. Celebrating the iconic brand’s 150th anniversary, around 40 students were invited to create original looks using Liberty’s spring/summer 2026 collection, Floral Rebellion. Inspired by Liberty’s legendary archive but infused with punk, disco, and unmistakable "70s rock-and-roll" influences, the results felt refreshingly unexpected. Think flower power, Rolling Stones and Bob Marley. The designs and prints were anything but traditional and very "hip"- as the aforementioned rockers would have said back in the day.
Watching Liberty’s iconic florals transform into something so contemporary was genuinely fascinating. What could have easily felt nostalgic instead looked fresh, rebellious and completely relevant. It was a reminder that heritage prints don't have to stay in the past. In the right hands, a centuries-old design can feel every bit as exciting as something created yesterday - even if it involves plenty of glue, loose threads and late-night studio sessions along the way.
One designer who fully captivated my attention was Amy Brown, whose award-winning collection drew inspiration from the surrealist world of Salvador Dali. Imagine clashing florals, dreamy pyjama-inspired tailoring, pieces comfortable enough to lounge in but dramatic enough for the front row, all tied together with an eccentric edge. It was playful, imaginative and wearable.
I was equally impressed by Abbie Jarvis’ take on Floral Rebellion. Her clever fusion of classic tweed with vibrant floral prints created pieces that felt injected with British heritage and strikingly modern. Maria Giordano also caught my eye, reinvigorating Liberty’s signature fabrics through contemporary designs that felt confident, effortless and, as my generation would say, beautifully nonchalant. It was giving ‘I just threw this on’ energy - when we all know outfits this good usually mean the rest of your wardrobe is lying in a heap on the bedroom floor.
Of course, Graduate Fashion Week is about so much more than what happens on the runway. It's where education meets industry, where careers begin and where the conversations in the Careers Quarter (where I was lucky enough to help out), can end up kick-starting the rest of your professional life.
As I left Truman Brewery, I couldn't help feeling excited about what’s next for British fashion. I arrived expecting great catwalks and left mentally redesigning my wardrobe - and convincing myself I suddenly needed sheer layers, oversized tailoring and at least one dramatically structured jacket. If this year’s graduates are anything to go by, the future is looking incredibly creative, fearless, imaginative and exceptionally well-dressed.
By Ella Ahmed
