Hidden Stories and Graduate Fashion Show @ Dovecot Studios, 7 Jun

Heriot-Watt University’s School of Textiles & Design will present its end of year exhibition Hidden Stories and also their Graduate Fashion Show this June at the lovely Dovecot Studios.

Some of this year’s graduates have already been noticed, with six of them – Natalie Traynor, Joanne McGillivray, David Black, Catriona Clark, Coryn Dickson and Deborah Morgan – nominated (out of a total of 8 contenders) for the Scottish Graduate of the Year Award, at the Scottish Fashion Awards 2012 later this month.

Dickson’s work, initially inspired by the work of photographer Thomas Struth, focuses on differences between western youth culture and life in the Peruvian slums, whilst Clark’s features elegant fitted silhouettes, which incorporate laser cutting features and panels inspired by architectural structures. Traynor, on the other hand, researched natural disasters and chose to look at the beauty in destruction.

Other names to note are post-grad student Sam Fenn-Johnstone, winner of the Harlequin New Designers Award 2011; Stephanie Ruddie, who recently completed a work placement with Bute Fabrics; and Amber Hunter who is currently sponsored by Hermes. Finally, Masters student Rhona Ferguson was awarded a bursary by the Framework Knitters livery company for her project on pressure garments for the treatment of burn scars.

The Creative Director for this year’s event is British print designer Mark Eley, Trustee of Graduate Fashion Week. Alumni from the School include Judy R Clark, Obscure Couture, William Chambers and Samantha McEwen of Isolated Heroes – all amongst the nominees for the 2012 Scottish Fashion Award.