LSAD Graduate Fashion Show 2016 struts its stuff on the catwalk

LSAD Graduate Fashion Show 2016 – Picture, Siobhan Gleeson-Hayes/Simply Photography.

LSAD Graduate Fashion Show 2016 – Picture: Siobhan Gleeson-Hayes/ Simply Photography

The Limerick School of Art and Design Graduate Fashion Show 2016 took place last Thursday night in the Limerick School of Art and Design, Clare Street. This year’s fashion department had 27 phenomenal students that graduated from the Limerick Art College, one of the highest numbers of students to graduate from the course in years due to the meticulousness of the fashion course.

I was left absolutely speechless at the end of the show, the 27 fashion graduates put on the most spectacular event I’ve ever seen. The venue itself was breathtaking as it was located in the older part of the school. The models that were all from Eddie Shanahan as they strutted their stuff on the catwalk through the crowd. The college opted to not have a raised platform runway as it was much more intimate for those sitting front row. The students had to create 6 completely different pieces for their collections.

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Their creations were viewed by over 400 on the night at the Limerick School of Art and Design. Renowned retail consultant, Eddie Shanahan, produced the entire show.

LSAD Graduate Fashion Show 2016 – Niamh Murray from Chelmsford village, Cork & her collection. Picture: Siobhan Gleeson-Hayes/ Simply Photography.

Each student was competing for the winning prize which was, the AIB Graduate Business Development Award worth €5,000 which includes a three-month paid work experience with leading London-based Irish fashion designer Richard Malone. There was a second prize of €2,000 for the student that demonstrated the most unique cut and technical creativity.

Undoubtedly the judges had a very difficult job due to the high standard that the students produced on the night. The crowd cheered on every single piece that walked past them and the atmosphere was electrifying! After the 27 collections had completed their walk it came to the moment of truth, announcing the winners. Watching the students I could sense their apprehensions of who would win.

The judges firstly announced the winner who demonstrated the most unique cut and technical creativity, which was, Niamh Murray from Chelmsford village, Cork with her collection entitled Gozen, inspired by Tomoe Gozen, the first Japanese female samurai of the 12th century. Niamh conveyed the warrior’s directional movement by using an innovative cut as well as changing the lining and form of the pieces.

Followed by this announcement was the nail biting moment of who won the €5,000 and three month paid work placement with London based Irish designer, Richard Malone.

The winning collection encapsulates the recurring nature of Ireland’s housing crisis won the overall prize at the 2016 Limerick School of Art and Design Fashion Show. Liadán Scott-Keogh from Portmarnock won the AIB Graduate Business Development award for her amazing collection.

Although there was only two winners that could win on the night, the 25 other graduates will no doubt go on to do and achieve amazing things. This year’s students have returned from exciting work placements all over the world including House of Holland, Temperley and Preen in London, Marchesa and Derek Lam in New York and Farrah Floyd in Berlin.

The themes of this year’s show were as diverse as the students’ use of fabric, colour and form, including sugar candy, legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, the Greek mythology Circe, deforestation, computer malfunction and the late rocker Kurt Cobain among others.

Ranked among the world’s top 50 fashion colleges, Limerick School of Art and Design is continuing to mould future Irish designers. I really cannot wait for next year’s graduate show and to see what is yet to come from the art college.

By I Love Limerick Correspondent, Sarah Hayes.

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