Fashion students from the University of Northampton took to the catwalk at this year’s Graduate Fashion Week catwalk, showing off an array of colours, textures and styles.
With collections inspired by homelessness, bullfighting and even the plastic bag charge, the 16 budding fashionistas presented their final year work to an audience of fashion glitterati, including established designers, journalists and bloggers at the Truman Brewery in Shoreditch.
The students created a range of fashion garments, textile prints, footwear and accessories using different materials including leather.
The inspiration for Alice Chamber’s leather and suede collection came from a Natural History Museum exhibition on cities that had been lost or submerged by the sea. Laura Budryte hit the catwalk with her collection based around identity, particularly in women, where she used laser cutting to create her leather pieces.
Rachel Garwood, Director of the Institute for Creative Leather Technologies, said: "The University of Northampton is the global epicentre of leather education and offers students a full working tannery. This close link with the leather industry offers fashion students a unique opportunity to develop their knowledge and expertise when working with leather.
"Our students have a complete hide to high street experience of the leather making process, understanding the importance of sustainable and ethical sourcing of the raw materials, through to high end leather working for the fashion and footwear industries."
