CREATIVE Arts students from across Wiltshire College & University Centre lit up the runway in a dazzling celebration of design, innovation and collaboration at the annual fashion show.

Held at the Trowbridge campus, the catwalk event brought together work from around 45 students across Level 2 and Level 3 Art, Design, Fashion and Textiles courses. Each student showcased original garments designed and constructed throughout the year, with many pieces made specifically for their chosen models.

“The Fashion Show is always a highlight of the year,” said Helen Chivers, Lecturer in Fashion and Textiles. “It brings together so many different elements of creativity – design, performance, photography, styling – and gives our students a real insight into the collaborative nature of the fashion industry. It’s exciting, energetic and a brilliant platform to celebrate the diversity of talent across our courses.”

More than 90 people filled the audience – made up of friends, family members, prospective students and invited guests – with a further 40 to 50 students and staff working hard behind the scenes to bring the show together.

Among the audience was a special guest from local charity Dorothy House, which has generously supported students throughout the year with fabric donations.

A highlight of the event was the fusion of fashion with other creative disciplines. Alongside couture and costume, the show included photography and styling work, with images and videos from student-led photoshoots used to introduce each new collection.

The result was a dynamic, visually rich performance that reflected the diversity of student talent, and the breadth of skills developed throughout their courses.

Inclusivity was also at the heart of the show, with a cast of around 30 student and guest models representing a range of genders and abilities – including a wheelchair user modelling a bespoke final project piece.

The professional standard of the production gave students a unique opportunity to experience what it’s like to present their work in a live show environment, offering an authentic insight into the creative industries and the energy of fashion week events.

“Fashion is a wearable, three-dimensional form – it’s designed to move, to be seen and experienced in the moment,” Helen added. “While the end-of-year exhibition is a brilliant way to present the detail and craftsmanship involved, a catwalk show added something completely different. There’s music, movement, a crowd – it really energises the designs and shows them at their best.”