Two BA (Hons) Fashion graduates from Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) excelled at this year’s Graduate Fashion Week (GFW) with head-turning menswear collections.
Amaani Chowdhary and Ethan Hopkins, both of whom graduated from AUB in July, were among the 17 students from both BA (Hons) Fashion and BA (Hons) Fashion Communication who received nominations, interviews, selections and project pitches at GFW this year.
“My final major project was originally inspired by my love for festivals,” explains Amaani. “This is rooted from my struggles with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and festivals being one of my holy grails that gets me through the winter months.
“I researched how anxiety and depression can prompt us to form connections with inanimate objects, and this was pivotal in my design process. For me, my bed and my SAD lamp are the main things that help me in winter - my bed being my place of protection, and my SAD lamp providing me with the vitamins the sun should. With these two objects I began experimenting with my light and bedding.
“My clothing is designed to purposely oversized, warm and provide comfort to bring back that connection between myself and my inanimate object. The garments were made out durable fabrics such as denim and ripstop, whilst also implementing waterproofs, Lycra and puff. The design and the materials worked together in this collection to protect the mind and the body from the outside world. This is how my collection, Clothing as Comfort, was born.”
In addition to the AUB catwalk show, Both Amaani and Ethan’s collections were selected as part of the GFW Menswear Showcase.
After winning the University catwalk show, Ethan’s work was additionally recognised in the GFW Best of Gala Show.
Meanwhile, Amaani’s collection received further commendations on multiple online fashion platforms, including 10 Magazine.
“The support I’ve had at and since GFW has been incredibly overwhelming and surreal in the best way possible,” Amaani says. “There were countless times where I felt like I wasn't enough, and at this point I was completely doubting my abilities – I would not have got through this without all my amazing friends, family and lecturers’ support.
“To have this feeling at the beginning of the year and come out of my degree with a collection I am super proud of and the opportunity to showcase my final collection on two runway shows at GFW has given me so much motivation to continue fulfilling my dreams.
“I also had the opportunity to present my portfolio to ASOS, a brand I am a massive fan of. It all felt like a fever dream!”
The GFW successes were not reserved for BA (Hons) Fashion students, as Emma Avent, a graduate of our BA (Hons) Fashion Communication course, came away with the Moving Image Award for a film as part of her Final Major Project, Land Made.
Emma was also one of five students shortlisted for the Terry Mansfield Fashion Publication Award.
Graduate Fashion Week brings together students from fashion courses across the country, as well as industry professionals and alumni, including AUB’s own graduates, with several in attendance who are now fashion professionals in their own right.
They included BA (Hons) Fashion Branding and Communication alumnus Brandon Bolland (graduated 2024), now Associate Lecturer at the Fashion Retail Academy; GFW 2024 award-winners Nicole Singleton and Holly Evans (BA (Hons) Fashion, graduated 2024), who work for Next and PVH Corp. respectively; Polina Oleynikova (graduated 2018), who’s running her own label and taking part in the GFW Accelerator programme for start-up fashion businesses; and Hayley Carter (graduated 2016), who’s currently a pattern cutter at COS.
Now an alumna herself, Amaani says she’s already had some amazing opportunities since graduating.
“I recently had one of my favourite artists wear my clothes from my final collection at Dour Festival in Belgium and Boardmasters Festival,” she says. “Having my stuff worn at festivals feels like a full circle moment, it is so surreal.
“I think my next steps are to continue this exposure and get my work out there. I am looking to find a job within fashion, working as a menswear designer. Eventually, one day, my goal is to have my own streetwear brand, this is something I aim to do within the next few years after I’ve gained some more industry experience – so watch this space!”
