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.

Louise Brownless

LOUISE always wanted to work in fashion and has been influenced by her dad Geoff, who owns Union Clothing, in Grey Street, Newcastle, with Louise’s uncle, Doug Ellison.

"I have grown up with it," says the 23-year-old from Gosforth.

"My dad thinks it’s great. He likes that I love design. He said I grew up sitting on a cutting table."

Louise’s collection is based on the character Withnail from the film Withnail and I.

She says: "It’s got lots of military detailing and I have taken historical references and used them in pieces. I went to the Discovery Museum and Greenwich Maritime Museum and looked through their archives.

"The collection includes a suit, coat and knitwear and I have used English fabrics. I am excited about fashion week as I think it will open lots of doors."

:: GRADUATE Fashion Week takes place at Earl’s Court London between June 7 and 11.

The event, which is sponsored by River Island, is attended by industry and Press from across the world and acts as a showcase for up-and- coming fashion design talent from UK universities.

It is now in its 18th year.

Richard Bradbury, chief executive of River Island, says: “Our industry thrives on new ideas and I think that now, more than ever before, it is important to inject new energy and life into our design studios and creative teams.

“Our sponsorship of Graduate Fashion Week has put us in the enviable position of being among the first to witness and embrace the emergence of some of the brightest new stars in the industry and I am proud to say that a large percentage of our current team is full of talent sourced at this exciting event.” Christopher Hodge, programme leader of the fashion design course at Northumbria University, believes Graduate Fashion Week gives his students a unique opportunity.

He says: “It’s the 18th year we have been involved as a university. We have been right there from the early days.

“It’s a big international show that’s not only attended by the world’s Press but international employers. We have had past students who have got jobs from showcasing at Graduate Fashion Week.

“It’s hard to get a job in fashion, but we are finding students are going into a broader variety of jobs such as marketing, journalism and buying. A few students have also set up their own small businesses.”

For information on Graduate Fashion Week, go to www.gfw.org.uk