Graduate Fashion Week kicks off at Earls Court

I have been going to Graduate Fashion Week for ten years now, first as a student, then graduate, now as a 'professional' (whatever that means!), and I love the electricity which crackles through the place throughout the event. To be honest, it still evokes all the same feelings - excitement, elation, fear(!) - now as it did when I graduated; I find it hugely inspirational. The more established in the industry really are behind the event and I hope that the students and graduates coming through can see and feel that, as standing on the outskirts of the industry it can be a somewhat daunting prospect deciding which path to set out on.
While yesterday was taken over by perusing the Royal College of Art's SHOW ONE, today will be given over to Graduate Fashion Week, as will a lot of this week, as the event runs til Thursday (June 12). I will be there later today, not least because my old college UCCA Epsom hosts its catwalk show, and hope to be blogging about all the agenda-setting collections and final major projects that the 53 (count em!!) colleges will be showcasing. This year, three of the colleges are from overseas - France's Institute Francais and Esmod International, and also The Netherlands' Amsterdam Fashion Institute - so will be interested to see where UK colleges differ, and where the similarities lie. I wonder whether we might see the GFW formula reworked for other countries at some point in the future - certainly it's a pretty unique event.
//// New service supports fashion industry newbies:
Is good to see that Fashion Monitor has launched Fashion Monitor Workshop - its free career website for those wanting to get a head start in the industry. The team has collaborated very closely with Terry Mansfield, who chairs the GFW committee, and June Barker, who runs the event, to create the add-on service, which will offer answers to all the questions buzzing around the mind of students, graduates and those seeking to establish themselves in the industry. I remember the leap from the cosseting college studio environment to the 'real world' and while the path has been extremely engaging and exciting, it has also been hard slog all the way too, and it is good to have as many places as possible that you can throw questions at in the challenging first few years.
//// So I will be attempting to catch at least some of the 22 catwalk shows taking place between yesterday and Wednesday, and will definitely be marking down the Gala Show, previewing the best of the collections, on Wednesday evening. Supermodel Claudia Schiffer and ELLE's Lorraine Candy have confirmed as guest judges for the awards which are presented on the night, with a further name (an international designer) tbc on the panel, which is chaired by River Island MD Richard Bradbury. Will see if I can find that name today when am down there.

\\\\ In case you fancy checking out the 'stars of tomorrow':::
&&&& Graduate Fashion Week runs til June 11, with an Education Day taking place June 12. The location is Earls Court 2, and it is a ticketed event on all days.
&&&& The GFW Gala Show takes place this Wednesday, with a show at 5.30pm open to the public. Again, tickets only, so book in advance!
Worth checking out the GFW website for more info, opening times etc.