'I'm living up on Cloud 9!'

Fashion students from LJMU rose to the top at Graduate Fashion Week, the world’s largest showcase of undergraduate talent.

GFW has launched the careers of some of the biggest names in fashion including Julien MacDonald, Matthew Williamson and Stella McCartney.

The best graduate collections and portfolios from the four-day 2023 show, in London, featured a host of talent from Liverpool School of Art & Design – including one outright winner and six finalists.

Collections by Paola Preti (pictured below) and Meg Wooldridge (pictured above) were shown in the ‘Best of GWF’ show after being selected by industry judges.

Future designer John-Owen Hicks went one better, sweeping all before him to scoop the Fashion Illustration Award.

We almost did the double, but not quite, Sophie Leigh was runner up in the Fashion Communications Portfolio Award’.

Samir Edwards-Sutton, Jake Le Grys and Isobel Woosnam (sponsored by Harris Tweed) – were shortlisted for various awards.

Paola Preti reacted on Instagram after an avalanche of congratulations: “Still incredibly over the moon! Thank you to all my amazing teachers who guided and supported me over the years.”

And Meg said: “Still in complete shock that my ‘Poppet’ collection walked the runway at Graduate Fashion Week 23. To be on best of show with designs based on witchy little dolls challenging the big bad patriarchy!”

And she added: “Currently living up on Cloud 9!”.

Andrew Ibi, programme leader for BA Fashion: Design and Communication, said: “What amazing talent we have here at LJMU. They were all brilliant. It really is some achievement.”

Professor Joasia Krysa, Head of Art and Design, said: “A big Thank You to Andrew and the Fashion programme staff; outstanding work, brilliant results. Thank you to everyone contributing to this major success for the School and LJMU.”

SHORTLISTED 2023:

Isobel Woosnam: The Fashion Portfolio Award

Sophie Leigh: The Fashion Communications Portfolio Award

Samir Edwards-Sutton: The Fashion Innovation Award

John-Owen Hicks: The Fashion Illustration Award

Jake Le Grys: The Acessories Award supported by YKK

NOMINATED 2023:

Amina Mwande & Jesus Ramirez-Barron: The Culture and Heritage Award

Jesus Ramirez-Barron: The FACE Excellence Prize

Scarlett Chapman & Ellie Childs: The Considered Fashion Award

Paola Preti:The Creative Pattern Cutting Award

Paola Preti & John-Owen Hicks: The Fashion Illustration Award

Lilliana Scott & Isobel Woosnam: The Fashion Portfolio Award

Thalia Traynor & Sophie Leigh: The Fashion Communications Portfolio Award

Thalia Traynor & Samir Edwards-Sutton: The Fashion Innovation Award

Eliza Burt & Emily Davies: The Fashion Moving Image Award

Scarlett Chapman: The Terry Mansfield Fashion Publication Award

Jake Le Grys: The Acessories Award supported by YKK

Jake Le Grys: The Digital Fashion Award

Jake Le Grys & & Georgia Lischke: The Fashion Photography Award

Jake Jervis & Ellie Byrne: The Fashion Styling and Creative Direction Award