GUCFS intrigued us with eccentric collections and a euphoric atmosphere. We spoke to the event’s talented team to learn more about the intricate model selection process and charity partnership.
Join Rebecca Quinton, Curator of European Dress, for a series of 10-15 mini bite-size talks exploring the key outfits featured in the Mary Quant exhibition. These sessions are included with the price of your ticket.
Glasgow Fashion Week
The Scottish Style Awards, an annual celebration of the country’s most stylish Scots, was held in Glasgow last month. The event was hosted by actresses Louise Linton and Emily Mortimer and featured performances from Dame Vivienne Westwood, rock band Codeine Velvet Club, and Michelin-starred chef Martin Wishart.
Almost all of the winners were dressed in Scotland’s national tartan, although some had added splashes of color with vibrant suits and dresses. Iconic fashion designer Vivienne Westwood won the award for International Style Icon. In her acceptance speech she paid tribute to Scotland, a place that had exerted a singular influence on her iconic brand of iconoclastic fusion of old and new styles.
Glasgow’s Fashion Week is an annual platform that provides a platform for local models to showcase their talent. The fashion shows are curated by a panel of judges and showcase a variety of different styles. The shows are held in a variety of venues from churches to warehouses and back of restaurants. The organisers aim to provide a platform for emerging designers and stylists to be seen by a wider audience.
This year, the Glasgow Fashion Week saw a range of innovative collections on the catwalk. From a sustainable fashion line made from excess cashmere waste to a streetwear collection inspired by listening to first-hand accounts from those living in homelessness, the designers did not disappoint.
Students from the Glasgow Caledonian University also took to the runway in their ethereal and sexy designs. A favorite was Flint James McDonald’s collection inspired by 1980s New Romanticism, with a blending of masculine elements and feminity in fitted bodices and pleated skirts. Similarly, Di Pesta’s visceral female coming-of-age collection was evocative and transcendent. Her use of recycled fabrics and vegan leather corsets evoked Persephone, the goddess of the underworld.
Fashion shows are no longer just about extravagant costumes and concepts. They are also used as social commentary and as a means of highlighting issues and events. Glasgow’s top fashion photographers have incorporated these trends into their work while honoring their city and heritage. The Street Level Photoworks gallery, a cultural hub in the Merchant City, exhibits great snappers both Glaswegian and from further afield.
Glasgow University Catwalk Fashion Show (GUCFS)
GUCFS is a platform that provides a platform for local models to showcase their talent. The team is incredibly dedicated to making the show as perfect as possible. This year, the designers were inspired by youth culture and the way subcultural style forms identities within it. The result is a highly creative and visually captivating show.
The team has also worked hard to make this event as accessible as possible for everyone. Standard tickets include entry to the actual fashion and to the afterparty. VIP tickets also include access to the VIP pre party an hour and a half before everyone else and a minimum of four drinks redeemable from popup bars around the venue.
This year’s charity partner is Glasgow Women’s Aid, a charity that works to support victims of domestic abuse. Raphaella Gordon-Saker, a 2015 MES leaver and President of GUCFS, explains:
“We are very pleased to have been able to support such an amazing local charity. Especially since it’s a cause close to home for many of the committee members and many of the models.”
This is one of the few events that bring together students, industry professionals and alumni to celebrate Scottish creativity in fashion. The event will feature over 40 collections from emerging Scottish designers. The designs will be showcased on a large catwalk, and a selection will be available to purchase in a pop-up shop on the night of the show.
The event is also set to host an exhibition of graduate portfolios. The winners of the prestigious Graduation Fashion Week awards will be announced on the evening as well. This includes Monika Pohorska from Kingston University, who won the Zandra Rhodes Fashion Textiles Award for her ‘Voices of Nature’ collection, and Harriet Hooper from Leeds Arts University, who won the Accessories Award Supported by YKK for her intricate ‘Bilateral Being’ collection which included a coat that converted into a bag, and other multifunctional garments.
The ethos behind this event is to promote the best of Scotland’s young design and creative talent, and it’s clear that the GUCFS team has achieved this with their dedication and sophistication. It’s rare to see such an impressive fashion event outside of London or Paris, and it certainly has the potential to rival the St Andrew’s Charity Fashion Show in terms of popularity.
House of Kungi
The House of Kungi is a platform that provides a platform for local models to showcase their talent. The fashion show is an annual event that raises funds for charity. This year the show raised money for Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis. This is a great way to give back to the community. The show featured local models in a glamorous setting with stunning gowns and accessories. It is a must-see for all fashion lovers.
Divine Tasinda is a Scottish-based artist and choreographer who works across dance, music and fashion. She specialises in a range of dance styles including Hip hop, Afro and Dancehall, and is the founder of Three60 street dance company, Ako and House of Kungi. She also teaches at the Glasgow Breakin Convention.
She is an advocate for Black womxn, and has worked on numerous projects that highlight anti-racist and pro-black advocacy. She was also a cast member in the film ‘Lagareh- The Last Born’. She is the co-founder of NG homes and has a strong interest in developing creative solutions to local problems. Thomas McAlister from UnLtd Scotland praised the effort, saying, “We think that House of Kungi will help to showcase local talent and encourage other young people into taking social action.”
A conversation with dancer and curator Eoin Dara will explore this work, using ‘movement’ as an interpretive framework for discussion. The discussion will address a range of themes, including the artist’s specific aesthetic decisions and Scotland’s historic connections to chattel slavery. The discussion will be live captioned.
The event also features a number of other performances and events, from music to poetry readings. In addition, a fashion show is set to feature designers from the area. These shows are a great way for new designers to gain exposure and showcase their creations. The event is open to the public, and tickets can be purchased online.
The event will feature a variety of local designers from Glasgow and beyond. Guests will have the opportunity to meet the designers and learn about their unique styles and designs. The show will also feature a fashion history short film and an exhibition space featuring the work of the designers.
Unheard Voices
Unheard Voices is a platform that provides local models with the opportunity to showcase their talent in fashion shows. These events take place in a variety of locations, including churches, warehouses, and back of restaurants. It is important for fashion shows to expose a wide audience, and the more diverse the venue, the better. It also helps potential customers get a feel for the brand.
Often, these fashion shows are produced as theatrical productions that include elaborate sets and added elements like live music or holograms. They can even be presented in the form of a film. Some are produced by student groups, and others are run by professional producers. These events are a great way to build community, and provide students with the skills they need to be successful in the industry.
Fashion shows can be a great opportunity for designers to promote their clothing and services, but they can also be a powerful tool for social change. They can highlight a specific cause or topic, and give people the chance to show their support for it. Whether it’s a political issue or a cause close to your heart, it is important to take the time to listen to others.
For example, the GCU Urban fashion show in 2023 features garments made of tartan fabric in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Mackintosh brand. Other pieces celebrate the city’s architectural heritage with geometric shapes and bright colors inspired by the Cubist movement. The show is a collaboration with a local charity, Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis.
Another example of a fashion show with a social impact is the Dear Home Office play, which tells the stories of refugee young people who were detained by faceless Home Office officials in Calais. The play was written by a Scottish refugee youth worker and her friend, who is an English teacher and intercultural theatre practitioner. It is a powerful way to convey the importance of respect for human rights.
