Student trip to London
The School of Fashion and Textiles organized a research trip for the second-year HND students of fashion design and fashion technology. The destination was none other than London, one of the fashion capitals of the world. The purpose of this trip was to broaden the horizons of our students and expose them to the latest trends and techniques in the fashion industry.
DAY 1
On the first day of the trip, we took our students to Borough market as we walked towards the Tames. We wanted to show them the vibrant culture and architecture of London as well as the modern art that is often a source of inspiration for fashion designers. We visited the Tate Modern and saw the 'Materials and Objects' exhibition which displayed unconventional use of materials in art and design. Other relevant exhibitions also added to the students' knowledge of art, media, form, and influences.
DAY 2
The second day of the trip was dedicated to fabric shopping. We visited Berwick St and Gold Hawk Rd, the go-to places for fashion designers couturiers from all over the world. This experience allowed our students to gather samples for their ongoing collections and find the final fabrics they needed to make their graduate collections.
To end the day, we visited the Victoria and Albert Museum. The objective of this activity was to visit the Africa Fashion exhibition and broaden our understanding of African textiles, fashion, and design.
The exhibition showcased over 250 beautiful and fascinating pieces of fashion and textiles work. Each of the works displayed the rich cultural heritage of African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, and Cameroon. As we explored the gallery room, we saw impressive works of art, including traditional patterns, vividly colored silks, and beautiful embroidery created by talented African artisans. We had the chance to study the techniques used to create various African textiles and appreciate the extraordinary design skills involved in crafting such beautiful pieces of work.
We also had the opportunity to see the impact of African fashion in the modern world. The exhibition displayed the works of various contemporary fashion designers who have been influenced by African fashion style. From recent fashion shows to celebratory events, as well as Reebok’s collections.
DAY3
On our last day it was time for some shopping. We visited the iconic Selfridges to view the fascinating displays of modern and contemporary fashion designs. The vibrant colours and intricate details of the garments left us awe-struck.
In addition to shopping we visited Loewe “corner shop” , an educational pop-up shop celebrating celebrate the final collaboration between LOEWE and the Japanese animation powerhouse; Studio Ghibli. We were particularly impressed with the fusion of technology and fashion, which could be seen in some of the pieces. We also had the opportunity to witness a live demonstration of 3D printing technology and its application in the fashion industry. The trip ignited our creativity and sparked new ideas for our future fashion designs.
To conclude our trip we headed to our private educational showing of Alexander McQueen's archive at his flagship store. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the store's staff and then led to a private viewing area where we enjoyed a tour of the collections and were invited to ask questions.
The iconic gown were displayed around the room so we could walk round and see the intricate details of each garment. The walls of the room were lined with sample textiles, archive images and sketches. It was a rare opportunity for us to get an intimate look into the mind of the late designer, his inspirations, and the creative processes behind his revolutionary pieces. We were shown prototypes, sample textiles, sketches, and notes that illustrated the meticulous detail that went into his designs.
We had a great trip and came home inspired and hungry for the next challenge.