Wuhan Graduate Fashion Week dazzles attendants

Wuhan Science & Technology Institute recently co-sponsored a Graduate Fashion Week in the city to showcase the talents of some 450 graduate students from all around China. Likely making this event the first major level graduate fashion week in China.

The event which took place on May 8 to 12 not only paraded the designs of students on the catwalk, but had them also compete for the top positions in as many as 14 different categories including best evening gown, swimwear, menswear and casual wear collection.

The collection by student Yan Jun, entitled ‘Flower in Water’ attracted lots of attention from onlookers, though the judges only awarded him third place in the Evening Dress Design Contest. His collection consisted of elegant pieces with simple lines in various contrasting shades of blue.

While the more long-established graduate fashion weeks in New York, Paris, Milan and London are more lavish and attended by top industry professionals. Wuhan’s show functioned as a more practical outlet to assist graduates in obtaining jobs in China’s already existing and ever expanding apparel industry.

Many of the graduates who participated will also hope that the attention they’ve gained from the event will bolster their chances of obtaining coveted postgraduate scholarships to such prestigious international design institutions as London’s Central St. Martins, Tokyo’s Bunka Fashion College and New York’s Parson’s School of Design. All of whom have produced such internationally renowned designers as Stella McCartney, Yohji Yamamoto, Anna Sui and many more.