Graduates celebrate successes
at GFW25

Fashion Design graduate, Le Wan Tan, was named winner of the GFW25 UCA Epsom solo catwalk show with Eli Ng receiving the Highly Commended Award. 

Le Wan Tan, was also selected to show their design at the Best of GFW25 Catwalk, going on to win Best of GFW25 Silver Award, judged by industry experts,

Le Wan Tan’s graduate collection took inspiration from clowns and circus motifs, and captured the judges attention for it's playful and personal approach. The looks included a polka dot mini dress with a mega flower pin, inspired by circus tents and clown squirt flowers, and a puffy, super gathered shirt with polka dots – simple and chic, clown costumes influencing the silhouette.

GFW said of Le Wan Tan’s collection: “With a confident mix of texture, pattern and character, Le Wan Tan’s work stood out as a joyful expression of style – refreshingly individual.”

Winning The Zandra Rhodes Fashion Award was Célian Dewasmes, who describes his clothing as honest, emotional, and intuitive.

The award is named in honour of globally renowned print and fashion designer Dame Zandra Rhodes, a lifetime patron of the Graduate Fashion Foundation and UCA Chancellor Emerita.

In writing about his design inspiration, Celian explained: “I was raised in a creative environment that greatly influenced the development of my identity. I was often surrounded by paper, which led me to craft objects out of anything I could find in my mother’s studio. Today, I approach textiles in an experimental way, treating them like paper and drawing inspiration from the pop-up books that once fascinated me. This emotional background is something I bring into every concept I create.”

Elsewhere, William George, BA (Hons) Fashion Atelier & Tailoring graduate, was shortlisted by industry judges and his collection shown at two further catwalk shows, the GFW25 Debenhams.com Catwalk to Commercial Catwalk Show and GFW25 Mens Collective Catwalk Show. Earlier in the year saw William become a finalist at the Golden Shears Awards.

Patryk Lotocki and Tyler Stuart-Raddon, also BA (Hons) Fashion Atelier & Tailoring graduates, joined William and had their collections showcased for a second time at the GFW25 Mens Collective Catwalk Show.

While at the entrance hall of the GFW25 exhibition Ellen Stockdale, BA (Hons) Fashion Atelier & Tailoring, had part of her final collection showcased, selected from online entries.

Lastly, the following UCA Epsom fashion students were shortlisted from online entries by the industry judges and interviewed in-person at GFW, in the following awards categories:

• Money Yee, BA (Hons) Fashion Design (Y3), was shortlisted for both the GFW25 Fashion Illustration Award and the GFW25 Pattern Cutting Award
• Diksha Balasubramanian, BA (Hons) Fashion Design (Y3), was shortlisted for the GFW25 Snag Inclusive Fashion Award
• Emma Bincalar, BA (Hons) Fashion Image and Styling, was shortlisted for the GFW25 Terry Mansfield Fashion Publication Award
• Temi Akinyede, BA (Hons) Fashion Design (Y3), was shortlisted for the GFW25 Culture & Heritage Design Award
• Prachi Dokania, BA (Hons) Fashion Design (Y3), was shortlisted for the GFW25 Fashion Portfolio Award
• Eli Ng, BA (Hons) Fashion Design (Y3), was shortlisted for the GFW25 Next Trend Forecasting Award
• Chengxuan Ni, BA (Hons) Fashion Design (Y3), was shortlisted for the GFW25 Considered Fashion Award
• Schenric Toh, BA (Hons) Fashion Design (Y3), was shortlisted for the GFW25 Sportswear & Leisurewear Award

Full of fashion creativity and innovation, GFW25 gave UCA’s emerging designers a platform to showcase their designs to potential recruiters, buyers, designers, stylists, and fashion representatives, putting them at the forefront of the fashion industry and creative career.

To find out more about studying fashion at UCA, visit the course pages.