Move over London, it's Watford's fashion week (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Move over London, it's Watford's fashion week

3:33pm Thursday 4th March 2010 in

More stories about: West Herts College

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London Fashion Week has a new rival as textile and fashion students from West Herts College grab the limelight with their colourful and inventive ‘60s inspired creations, which go on show in the Customer Service Centre at Watford Town Hall during March.

Nine of the college’s National Diploma in Fashion students created this eye-catching range of dresses, footwear, bags and mood boards in the first year of their course.

The college’s head of fashion, Sara Thrale, trained at the Society of Industrial Artists and Designers and has been working within the fashion department for the past 20 years.

Sara, who lives in Harpenden, points out that the projects set by her team cover a range of themes with an emphasis on teaching practical skills.

Our current first year students are exploring the theme of surrealism, while the second year has been to The Wallace Collection in London to research a project on armour

West Herts College head of fashion, Sara Thrale

“Our current first year students are exploring the theme of surrealism, while the second year has been to The Wallace Collection in London to research a project on armour.

“This group was given the ‘60s as a theme and a remit to create a shift dress influenced by pop art or music. After working on the design development, they had to cut the patterns and make up their garments. They all worked on the same cotton twill fabric in a range of primary colours, plus black white. They also had to add details such as applique; one student used plastic inserts.”

Sara says the courses give students a broad grounding in fashion before they go on to study a specialism at university, whether this be in fashion buying, design, promotion or creating costumes for theatre.

As well as drawings and costumes, the exhibition features a variety of small fabric patchwork bags and accessories.

l The West Herts College Fashion Showcase is at Watford Town Hall from Tuesday, March 4 to Saturday, March 27, open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.30pm. Details: 01923 812345, www.westherts.ac.uk