Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) is celebrating an outstanding achievement as 12 students have been named on the official shortlists for the prestigious Graduate Fashion Week (GFW) 2026 portfolio awards.
Organised by the Graduate Fashion Foundation (GFF), the awards are a cornerstone of the industry, spotlighting the very best emerging talent and connecting innovative graduates with top-tier fashion professionals.
The shortlisted AUB students span an impressive range of categories, showcasing the multi-disciplinary excellence AUB’s BA (Hons) Fashion, BA (Hons) Fashion Communication and BA (Hons) Textiles Design degrees.
The finalists will now progress to live judging sessions held on-site during GFW from 15–17 June 2026.
“We are absolutely thrilled to see so many of our students recognised on the Graduate Fashion Week shortlists this year," comments El Crehan, Course Leader for BA (Hons) Fashion and BA (Hons) Textiles Design at AUB.
“To have AUB talent represented across such a diverse range of disciplines from traditional tailoring and constructed textiles to digital media and business innovation is a true testament to the dedication, creativity, and hard work of our graduating cohort.”
Corinna Budnarowka, Course Leader for BA (Hons) Fashion Communication, adds, “The portfolio awards and presentation opportunities at Graduate Fashion Week create an exciting real world platform for graduating students to showcase their hard work and talent at an industry level, and we are so proud of our fantastic AUB Fashion graduates for 2026.”
The AUB nominees will compete across distinct categories, with winners announced daily during celebratory evening award shows.
Beyond the live judging sessions, the shortlisted students have been invited to a full day of invaluable career-building opportunities. They'll gain direct access to industry judges, take part in networking events and masterclasses, and receive professional CV and portfolio reviews from top recruitment agencies.
“GFW is an incredible platform that bridges the gap between education and the professional fashion industry” explains El. “These nominations, catwalk selections, and industry pitches give our students a well-deserved spotlight and an invaluable springboard for their future careers. The AUB x Fashion team is incredibly proud of what they have achieved, and we can’t wait to cheer them on in London.”
- Fashion Illustration Award – Ellie Briggs
- Constructed Textiles Award – Halley Richardson, Violet Edwards
- Knit Portfolio Award – Maeve Dean
- Accessories and Footwear Award – Molly Jacob
- Dame Zandra Rhodes Fashion Printed Textiles Award – Chloe Adams
- Fashion Communication Portfolio Award – Hope Millard
- New Business Award – Jonny Langridge
- Fashion Styling and Creative Direction Award – Jennie Grincell
- Digital Fashion Media Award – Rhianna Major
- Childrenswear Award – Poppy Jones
- Tailoring Award – Maeve Dean, Mayo Kanamori
- The Hilary Alexander Sustainable Trailblazer Collection Award – Maeve Dean
In addition to the above, the following students have been selected to take part in live GFF events running throughout the week.
Catwalk show selections
- F&F Catwalk Show – Ellie Briggs, Ellie Humphrey
- Menswear Catwalk Show – Nirvaan Mehra
Industry project pitches
- Fashion marketing – Mayhar Malhotra, Cali Topley Nassar, Zakira Hancock
- Business – Jonny Langridge
Industry day selections
- ASOS Portfolio Day – Lauren Mallinson
