Nightwalk @ The Arches

When Nightwalk was conceived, it consciously drew on the many strands of The Arches' engagement with Glasgow’s alternative cultures. DJs from various club nights, a cross section of performers and the famous Arches atmosphere were clustered around an hour long fashion show, both highlighting the West Coast’s dynamic designers and the DIY ethic that dominates the city. With the beautiful people in attendance, and an opening dance piece that bridged the gap between disco showing out and modern choreography, and a visit from drag queens who parodied the very format of the catwalk, Nightwalk infused the glamour of the clothing with a very underground aesthetic.

Above all, the fashion show revealed the imagination and diversity of Scottish design, challenging both traditional and contemporary trends. Pulled together on a limited budget, it nevertheless stood proud against larger, more established catwalks.

The appearance of Lady Munter, especially as a post-catwalk encore, lightly sent up the promotion of beauty and appearance, mocking the possible pretension of the main event. Subtly undercutting the seriousness without distracting from the technique and skills, Lady Munter offers a fine burlesque of fashion.

Nightwalk is a worthy and enjoyable introduction to fashion on the West Coast, and the nightclub surrounding the event takes it away from a straightforward show. By building on the performance aspects, and collating a mixture of techno and electro DJs, Nightwalk leaps clear of pretension and creates a space for future discussion between Glasgow’s hip and beautiful performance scenes.