Our Fashion Design BA specialises in helping our students become individual creative designers, capable of working at the highest levels of the international fashion industry.  

Recent graduates from the course are working in the design studios of international fashion houses including Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Lanvin, Alexander McQueen, Balmain, Smythson, JW Anderson, Stone Island, Calvin Klein, Ferragamo, Kenzo, Carven, and Loewe. 

This year we were delighted to present our final year end-of-year show to an audience of students, staff, family, friends, industry guests, employers and the public. The show was sponsored by L’Oréal Professionnel, The British Fashion Council, Alexander McQueen, Burberry and many more, and featured 22 of Westminster’s Fashion Design BA students undertaking their final year of study.  

We spoke with four of the designers, Isabel Ealand, Lydiah Holder, Markos Tranakas and Reece Sheikh after the show, to hear more about their experience of studying at Westminster and presenting their collections. 

What were you most excited about for your end of year degree show?  
 

Isabel: I was most excited about the opportunity to showcase my collection to so many influential people in the fashion industry. It was amazing to present all my hard work to an audience and see my collection come alive.  

Lydiah: I was most excited about the end-of-year show because it was both a pleasure and incredibly rewarding, especially considering how challenging this final year has been for me. I truly enjoy the behind-the-scenes aspect of fashion shows, and this event was a fantastic opportunity to showcase my work to industry professionals. Additionally, it was great to have the chance to represent the stories of Black and ethnic minorities in my collection, which made the experience even more meaningful. 

Reece: Being part of the show felt like the true conclusion of my university experience, even more so than graduating. For me, the show was a release of everything I’ve learned and developed up to that point. 

Markos: What I found most exciting about the end-of-year show was witnessing the emotional culmination of the past months’ efforts, presented before loved ones and important industry guests. The professional context in which my work was to be shown for the first time was equally enthralling.  

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How has your course prepared you for your final collection?  
 

Isabel: Throughout my time at university, we received invaluable pattern cutting assistance from a team of talented and experienced tutors, who have helped us to develop our designs into 3D forms. I learnt a lot through trial and error, learning from my mistakes along the way and building up my knowledge and confidence. Weekly feedback sessions with tutors Robert and Rosie were particularly helpful, as they encouraged me to strive for excellence. My year long industry placement at Emilia Wickstead was invaluable, allowing me to understand how different departments within a company collaborate.  
 

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Lydiah: I believe my placement year was the most instrumental in preparing me for my final collection. My internship at Nicholas Daley was particularly impactful from a design standpoint, as I learned how to incorporate my heritage and culture into my work in a way that resonates with a wide range of people. Additionally, my time at Christopher Kane significantly enhanced my pattern cutting knowledge, and deepened my understanding of fabrics, fabrications, and other technical skills. 

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What inspired your designs and final collection?  
 

Isabel: The drama and jeopardy of Victorian circus performers inspired me to create my innovative 21^st-century womenswear collection. I took a particular interest in the way acrobats would drape themselves from suspended metal hoops. This idea of mixing the look of floating with the effect of gravity inspired me to explore the concept of weight and resistance. The circular shape of the acrobatic hoops influenced my use of circular seaming. My colour palette of bright tomato-red, muted turquoise, dark grey and ivory was inspired by old Victorian circus posters.  

 

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Lydiah: Inspired by the vibrancy and comfort of my beloved late grandmother’s Melrose’s home, my menswear collection pays homage to her and the Windrush generation through this joyful, flamboyant collection. Referencing design evolution through 50’s and 70’s style, my re-imagined graphic prints echo the bold statement wallpaper and the confident, cool looks discovered in old family photographs. I use soft velvets, wool, satin, and faux suede in an uncompromising palette of camel, teal, plum, and purple to evoke the resilient Caribbean spirit and celebrate its influential, enduring impact on British culture. 

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Markos: My final collection was inspired by my passion for fine arts, specifically the Constructivist, Spatialist, and Op art movements represented by artists like Barbara Hepworth, Naum Gabo, Victor Vasarely, and Lucio Fontana. Focusing on the purity of form, I created pieces defined by precise cutting, luxurious volume, and refined colour. 

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Reece: For my final collection, I decided to explore the archetype of the ‘Damsel in the Distress’. The victimisation of a woman and ideas surrounding woman being tied up and helpless, enables men to be the ‘knight in shining armour’. The romanticism period plays a significant role in the development of this concept, with artists such as Friedrich, Fuseli and John William Waterhouse infusing a moody neutral colour palette. 

My collection reflects on how a woman is both the Damsel and the Knight.  

The collection also looks at the sexual connotations towards women being restricted.  

References to Shibari are introduced in the cutting of the garments. Panels are designed in the twists and knots of the Shibari techniques to create the illusion that the garment is restricted. The knitwear creates a restrictive but voluminous silhouette. This contrast is also iterated in the fragility of silk and lace in comparison to the heavy fabrics such as cotton drill and denim.  

A constant balance is created between masculinity and femininity. 

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How does it feel to show your collection with sponsors such as Burberry and Alexander McQueen whilst being a student?  
 

Isabel: It is an honour; it shows how highly the students on the Fashion Design course here at Westminster are regarded within the industry.  

Lydiah: It feels incredibly rewarding and exciting to show my collection with sponsors such as Burberry and Alexander McQueen while still being a student. Having the support and recognition of such prestigious names in the fashion industry is a significant honour and a fantastic opportunity to showcase my work on such an esteemed platform. 

Reece: It’s always a privilege to have recognisable names sponsoring the show.  

 
What are your career aspirations and how do you think your course has prepared you to help achieve this?  
 

Isabel: I aspire to work as a womenswear designer. My course has prepared me well, as I’ve gained extensive knowledge and confidence across all areas—from pattern cutting and construction to design development and digital skills. I now have a comprehensive understanding of the industry and feel capable of pursuing various career paths within fashion. 

Lydiah: My career aspirations are still evolving, as my course has exposed me to the many diverse avenues within the fashion industry. However, I am certain that I want to continue advocating for ethnic minorities and strive to have a positive impact on the industry. The comprehensive education and experiences I’ve gained through my course have prepared me well by providing a broad understanding of the field and instilling in me the skills and confidence to pursue my goals passionately and effectively. 

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Markos: My long-term career aspirations are to work as a senior designer in high fashion and ultimately moving into couture, my primary area of interest.  I also aspire to design for the performing arts, particularly for the stage productions. The fashion design course has enabled me to identify areas of interest and extensively cultivate and refine prized skills, namely in pattern cutting, textile design, as well as digital software. Over the past four years, I have been able to greatly mature as a designer and establish my own distinct design signature. A diverse range of projects has allowed me to showcase my different capabilities and build a dynamic portfolio suited to several areas of the industry. 

To find out more, please visit Westminster Degree Shows 2024 . Watch a TikTok of the show (below) or the full Fashion Design BA 2024 Show on YouTube. 

@uniwestminster

Have you wanted to know what goes on at a Fashion show? 👀    Watch as Tamera takes you along for the Westminster Fashion show, showcasinf finak collections from our Fashion BA students ✨    #wearewestminster

♬ original sound – University of Westminster

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About the University of Westminster 

As one of the most diverse universities in the UK, we are a global university with London energy with more than 19,000 students from 169 countries. To find out more about our courses, Visit our website to find out more about our Fashion courses.

_{Header image: Isabel Ealand (2024) – Subverting the Spectacle}