Cutting edge of fashion

Jun 2 2009 by Liz Lamb, The Journal

Final-year students on the fashion design course at Northumbria University will be displaying their talents at Graduate Fashion Week this weekend. LIZ LAMB speaks to some of the rising stars of tomorrow.

Alison Winstanley

ALISON’S menswear collection was inspired by hip- hop music and a 1930s American film called Grapes of Wrath.

She says: "I have used silhouettes based on oversized and undersized shapes.

"It’s probably quite a lot of trousers in there, I am a tomboy myself. I’ve used big silhouettes in trousers to skinny trousers and I’ve used different detailing.

"I have used orange on my borders and used lots of dark grey and I used another fabric for highlighting detail.

"It’s been quite stressful bringing it all together. It’s taken about four and five months to bring it all together from the development stage.

"I have tried to pace myself and keep on top of everything.

"It’s hard for it to sink in that I am going to Graduate Fashion Week.

"Until I see my clothes coming down the catwalk I won’t believe it.

"At the moment I don’t have time to get excited so I am really looking forward to the show.

"All my hard work will be worth it.

"I’d really like to work in sportswear and I am hoping that opportunities might come up at fashion week.

All of my family are really proud of me."