Graduate Fashion Week 2013 (Part One)

                                               

Graduate Fashion Week (GFW) aims to showcase and promote employability, draw a strong fashion crowd and offer workshops. Now in its 22^nd year, a warm summer day in June called me to Earls Court 2. The much anticipated GFW, hailed as the biggest of its kind worldwide, was sponsored by George, Walmart's clothing brand. The word exciting lurches  at me whilst I lunge into my bag to gently pull out my date for the day. 'Nick' is an advocate of all things artistic with a fine eye for detail, provided Nick is pointed in the right direction and not man-handled, when summoned by myself to capture the beauty of what lies ahead. Yes in a perverse manner I have a relationship with my camera, aptly named 'Nick'. A Nikon D5100 with all the extra accessory trimmings, too many to mention. Back to GFW.

I rush through registration to be ushered into the arena I have been anticipating for several weeks now. In no way am I disappointed as I prowl through the spacious aisles. It’s not long before I remember I am accompanied by Nick, take a short deep breath and say, "Let’s do this". Nick agrees.

I walk, I point, I snap, I turn, I browse, I stop, I enquire, I listen, I snap, I walk. All is going swimmingly well, until I am asked by a graduate designer what I am doing; and that I should not be taking pictures of her designs because of plagiarism. Truth be told, I had not heard that word in such a long time, school actually. I laughed so hard (inside though).

So now it’s a question: a snap with stealth, or be polite and ask? Truth be told, if you’re scared of plagiarism and you have brought your wears to GFW to exhibit, you’re in the wrong place, darling. Simples. Nick concurs. Our date interrupted at this juncture and an ever increasing awareness of feeling the need to ask when I really don’t wish to, as other photographers with their 'Nicks' are doing similar.

Here's what caught my eye:

   Colchester School of Art 

Bradford College

Edinburgh College of Art

Esmod

Esmod Oslo

Instituto Marangoni

Bath Spa University

This is only the beginning. Look out for part 2 coming soon!

Kassim Makorie

Blogger and photographer

Pants to Poverty London Fashion Show

Pants to Poverty is a seemingly relentless cog to the #IF Campaign. Raising awareness since 2005 to the plight of global hunger .Born through Nelson Mandela's call for" a generation to rise up and Make Poverty History " .The Pants to Poverty brand now  sells its ethically approved Fairtrade  pants in over 20 countries.Their catchy slogan "buy our pantatstic underwear " found me  face to face at their Diaspora Catwalk at the Tabernacle in Notting Hill back in June in a truly pantatstic mood.Hosted by Analiese Dayes , the show proved enthralling.

The fashion show exhibited not only its ethically approved Fairtrade underwear range but a number of exciting  designers whose lines kept the evening exciting , energetic , vibrant with the audience.

Here is what caught my eye: 

1st impressions count and a knockout performance anticipated by the crowd was captured when these gloves did come off.

Rosemary Chileshe, former Miss Zambia and Miss Universe, elegantly graced the Diaspora catwalk.

I would like to say thank you to @PantstoPoverty, www.enoughfoodif.org for the invitation and for the opportunity to be part of an exciting evening that not only raised the roof, but raised awarness.

Til next time,

Kassim Makorie
BFF blogger and photographer