Heriot-Watt University’s School of Textiles & Design will present its end of year Exhibition and Graduate Fashion Show, Hidden Stories, at Edinburgh’s Dovecot Studios on Infirmary Street from 02-08 June 2012.

Those displaying at the Dovecot include Deborah Morgan, who is among six of the School’s Graduates nominated from a total of eight for the Scottish Graduate of the Year Award, sponsored by Marks & Spencer, at the Scottish Fashion Awards 2012 this June.  

Among others showing are Post Graduate student Sam Fenn-Johnstone, winner of the Harlequin New Designers Award 2011, woven Textile Design student Stephanie Ruddie who recently completed a work placement with Bute Fabrics, and final year student Amber Hunter who is currently sponsored by Hermès.

One Masters student in the mix is Rhona Ferguson, recently awarded a £2500 bursary by the Framework Knitters livery company for her project on pressure garments for the treatment of burn scars.  The bursary supports the costs of the project and presentation of her findings at the International Society for Burn Injuries conference in September 2012. In addition to the cash prize she has also been awarded 2 industrial mentors (Professor Julian Ellis OBE and Hon David Sanderson). 

Featuring visual, aural and archival references to the School’s history and current local and global presence, the week’s programme of events includes the annual favourite Graduate Fashion Show on Thursday 7th.  Exhibits will be a mix of graduating textile students and Creative Residencies, supported by Creative Scotland. 

The School’s end of year show has previously seen designs from alumni including William Chambers, Judy R Clark, Obscure Couture and Samantha McEwen of Isolated Heroes. All of whom are also amongst the nominees for the 2012 Scottish Fashion Awards. Honorary Graduates of the School include Jasper Conran, Colin McDowell, Bruce Oldfield, Mary Portas, Mary Quant, Zandra Rhodes and Dame Vivienne Westwood. Rhodes said, "Heriot-Watt’s School of Textiles & Design is fabulous. Students: follow your dreams and never give up."  Westwood added, "The best facilities in the country."

Supported by WeSC, WeAretheSuperlativeConspiracy, and artistic members from multi-award winning Edinburgh hairdressing group Charlie Miller with make-up provided by MAC, the event this year has renowned British print designer Mark Eley as Creative Director.

Eley stated, "Thanks to our sponsors’ I’ll be working closely with Fashion Lecturer Mark Timmins & Textile Design Lecturer Mark Parker to ensure their Graduates get an excellent platform. I think design education is vital to the future of our industry and creating an environment and installations to showcase the School’s graduate fashion talent and its Hidden Stories is an exciting challenge for 2012."

Eley, who recently became a Trustee of Graduate Fashion Week alongside Fashion Director Hilary Alexander, is one half of the ELEY KISHIMOTO partnership forged in the early 90’s with Wakako Kishimoto. The two quickly gained a reputation for incisive and intelligent print design with their craftmanship gracing the world's catwalks via work with Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen, Alber Elbaz and Jil Sander, to name but a few before producing their own line in the mid 90’s.

Professor Alison Harley, Head of School, commented, "I am thrilled that the School has produced so many nominees for 2012's Scottish Fashion Awards, which is a credit to our staff. Having collaborated with Mark Eley previously, I knew his ethos and creativity would help us further to formulate an inspiring and educational platform for this exhibition, and a vital platform for our graduates."

Heriot-Watt University‘s School of Textiles & Design was established in 1883 to lead the textile industry in training and education. Their portfolio continues to evolve and reflect current and future developments in textiles, fashion and design. Today the School has a reputation as one of the world’s leading education and research institutions with specialist resources that are among the best in the world.

The Hidden Stories exhibition is free, and open from 10.30am – 5.30pm from Saturday 2nd June - Friday 8th June (closed Sunday 3rd).

The Graduate Fashion Show is on Thursday 7th June at 8pm, priced £15 seated and £10 standing. Tickets are available from www.hubtickets.co.uk 

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