After four days comprising 350 catwalk shows by students from 52 universities across the country, Graduate Fashion Week 2009 closed yesterday with a spectacular Gala Show and the most significant prize – the River Island Gold Award, being awarded to Myrto Stamou.
Stamou, a graduate of University for the Creative Arts Rochester, was awarded £20,000 after impressing the judging panel – made up of designers Matthew Williamson and Giles Deacon, Elle magazine editor Lorraine Candy, and River Island CEO Richard Bradbury – with her collection.
Deacon, one of the most innovative young designers on the London Fashion Week schedule, said: "We felt her collection had a strong signature style. It was a cohesive range which could easily be sold tomorrow."
Stamou, who is 23 years old and from Greece, created a highly distinctive collection of draped skirts and dresses in muted hues of beige, grey and cream. The judges were unanimous in their belief that her designs would not look out of place in shops right now.
Richard Bradbury, CBE, who has overseen River Island's sponsorship of the event over the past five years said: "The quality, attention to detail and the clarity of the focus of the collection made it hard to believe this was the work of a graduating student."
Other winners celebrating last night included Mehmet Ali of Ravensbourne University who won the Menswear Award, and Charlotte Simpson from Northumbria University was awarded the Zandra Rhodes Catwalk Textiles Award.
Hosted by Caryn Franklin, this year’s Gala show saw an array of fashion luminaries lending their support to the event including Claudia Schiffer, Erin O’Connor, Zandra Rhodes, Amber le Bon, Rosie Huntington Whitely, Emma Hill (creative director at Mulberry), Mary McCartney, Jeff Banks (President, Graduate Fashion Week), Terry Mansfield CBE (Chairman, Graduate Fashion Week) and Sir Harold Tillman (Chairman, British Fashion Council).
Now in its 18th year, Graduate Fashion Week continues to grow as the showcase for promising young design talent. Since last year, the event has been held at the large exhibition space of Earl's Court 2 in west London, graduating from its former home at Battersea Park. The fashion-loving British public are also welcome to attend on the opening day to take a look at the exhibitors.