For the class of 2020, graduates have had to quickly adapt to changing times and think of different ways to achieve their goals. We are living through an unprecedented global challenge, meaning sadly the end of year fashion shows like GFW have had to be cancelled and an alternative solution has been set in place. Graduate Fashion Foundation is doing all they can to listen to the class of 2020 and understand their needs.
With Graduate Fashion Week cancelled in June, the Graduate Fashion Foundation charity has launched a series of new partnerships and support platforms to aid its UK and International class of 2020 fashion enthusiasts. Organisers were determined to ensure that “the magic of GFW is not lost for the class of 2020” and therefore there will be a series of activities that will allow students’ to still showcase their work.
The charity is launching a series of initiatives which include a revision of the Graduate Fashion Foundation 2020 Awards, a new webinar series, an autumn portfolio and design Showcases for industry, and a digital portfolio platform partnership with ‘The Dots.’
Hilary Alexander, president of Graduate Fashion Foundation said in a statement: “I share with all universities and the Class of 2020, the disappointment that we are unable to run Graduate Fashion Week this year. But I am thrilled with and excited by the innovative projects and platforms that have been devised to launch the creativity and skills of our graduates for the attention of the fashion world. Difficult times bring difficult challenges.
With students now delivering their final degree projects from the comfort of their own home, the annual Graduate Fashion Foundation awards have had a shakeup with each category being amended to accommodate the change of circumstances. The catwalk awards have each been replaced by a Fashion Illustration, Range plan, Technical drawn and fashion concept award. The top 10 student shortlists for each award will be announced on June 10, with winners being announced in the Autumn.
Graduate Fashion Foundation is also offering guidance and advice in a series of webinar talks from industry experts across multiple disciplines.
Furthermore, the class of 2020 will still get the unique opportunity of showcasing their portfolio to potential recruiters in an event planned for Autumn. The foundation has teamed up with the professional network The dots to enable collection portfolios digitally.
None of us would have ever predicted finishing our university degrees within the four walls of our home and celebrating graduation with our friends and family but in these circumstances, we are all having to find new ways of being innovative and creative. Every cloud has a silver lining and we are given a gift of time, taking away all the background noise and allowing us to tune into our talents and hone in on where we want our degrees to lead us.