Class of 2020 – What’s Next
2020
WHAT’S NEXT?
29 June – 3 July 2020
As the Class of 2020 move into an exciting but uncertain future, they are better prepared than any of us to ask questions, challenge the past and re-think the future of the industry. This series of events is designed to support the graduates on their journey and start a conversation, asking What’s Next?
What’s Next for;
- The future of our industry
- Valuing Creativity
- Graduate careers and employability
- Presenting and showcasing fashion
There are also a wealth of events happening at the Manchester School of Art, please join us at 5pm on Monday 29th June when Sharon Handley, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, will give an opening address, followed by the School of Art digital launch, featuring some very special guests.
In addition, we are running a series of masterclasses for our graduating students including sessions from Robbie Sinclair, Creative Director of Youth at Fashion Snoops, New York; Siobhan Clare O’Donnell, CEO and Founder New Talent Fashion and Victoria Hunt, Menswear Design Manager River Island & Founder of The Outcrowd.
Finally, a big thank you to all of our speakers and contributors for sharing their valued expertise, and making time to support the Class of 2020.
Image Credit: Mia Thompson
Class of 2020: OPENING ADDRESS
The Class of 2020 digital showcase opens with a message for our Class of 2020.
Date/Times
Monday 29th June 11am
Watch Online
IN CONVERSATION WITH MARTINE ROSE
A conversation with Martine Rose, hosted by Kiran Gobin, Head of Atelier at the label, and Senior Lecturer in Fashion MMU and the Martine Rose team, who will be sharing insights into the internationally renowned and critically acclaimed brand.
Speakers
Kiran Gobin, Head of Atelier, and the Martine Rose team; Martine Rose: Creative Director and CEO, Nika Novozilova: Business Operations, Shauni Douglas: Designer, Sarah Holmes: Pattern Cutter, Harry Gibbs: Product Developer, Louis Trainor: Production Coordinator
Martine Rose established her eponymous label in London in 2007. Her innate authenticity and commitment to modernity have helped to create collections that retain their underground cult credentials while achieving global success. In addition, Martine has become one of the most in demand consultants and collaborators in fashion – and for many years now has consistently influenced the direction of contemporary menswear. Kiran Gobin holds the position of Head of Atelier at Martine Rose and has been with Martine Rose for nearly a decade. His expertise covers a wide range of categories including, Tailoring, Sportswear, Outerwear and Leather. A play of proportion, subversion and detail is what drives his work.
Date/Times
Monday 29th June 2pm – 3pm
The Future is COLLECTIVE
An exciting live studio session which references practices in design that could help rebuild the industry in a more empathetic and inclusive manner. How graduates can use their ideas to elevate communities rather than themselves as individuals. Working with marginalised communities, maintaining authenticity in production and communication, and adapting to an uncertain world.
Speaker
Shalini Gupta, HoD, Styling & Beauty, School of Fashion Pearl Academy, Delhi India.
A fashion and accessories designer by practice, Shalini Gupta ran a successful fashion label for 15 years before making the switch to education full time in 2014. She is currently Head of Department, Styling & Beauty, at Pearl Academy, India. Current projects include creating an ‘adaptive framework for teaching visual literacy’ to empower people from diverse backgrounds to create nuanced visual representations of their work and a project under the Crafting Futures India Scheme, by the British Council, examining ways of raising the awareness of the value of women-based crafts in India.
Date/Times
Tuesday 30th June 2:30pm – 3pm
Why Fashion Needs a Revolution
‘If we all work together, we can, and must, create a global fashion industry that conserves and restores the environment and values the wellbeing of everyone and everything living on this earth and in our oceans over growth and profit. Together, we will create a fashion revolution.’ Carry Somers
Speaker
Carry Somers, Founder and Global Operations Director, Fashion Revolution & Crew member eXXpedition Round the World.
Carry Somers was inspired to act after the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh, seven years on Fashion Revolution has become the world’s largest fashion activism campaign. Millions of people have joined Fashion Revolution to demand a fairer, more transparent industry, asking the question #whomademyclothes? She has just returned from sailing 2000 miles from the Galapagos to Easter Island to investigate microplastic pollution. Carry has won numerous awards for her work and has been recognised for her significant contribution to British business. In 2019 Lyst named her one of 8 ‘sustainable icons’ pushing for change in the fashion industry alongside Emma Watson, Pharrell Williams and Stella McCartney.
Date/Times
Wednesday 1st July 12noon 12:40pm
What it Takes
An inspirational story about resilience and positivity, Katie Greenyer will talk about how a positive approach to creativity can influence, innovate and empower, reflecting on some of the challenges and opportunities that have helped her to develop her distinctive style and creative insight. Katie will reflect on ‘what it takes’ to succeed, sharing valuable advice with the Class of 2020.
Speaker
Katie Greenyer, Creative Talent & Network Director at Pentland Brands
Katie Greenyer is a creative mind, business leader and producer of innovative design. She believes passionately in the value of design education and is an ambassador for creative opportunity and new design talent. Katie currently holds the position of World President of the Textile Institute, is a Cordwainer liveryman with freedom of the City of London and a mentor for Graduate Fashion Week. As Creative Talent & Network Director at Pentland Brands, she continues to manage the creative direction of Red or Dead, while leading a global design team that generates campaigns for some of the world’s best-loved sports, fashion and outdoor brands (Speedo, Canterbury, Berghaus, Ellesse, Kickers, Mitre, Boxfresh, KangaROOs and Lacoste to name a few).
Date/Times
Thursday 2nd July 6:30pm – 7:00pm
Class of 2020 at China Graduate Fashion Week
Join the Class of 2020 in China for a scheduled video of the selected works from 30 students from our fashion design progammes, showing individual clips of the student work explaining the concept, design process and the outcome with a voice over and subtitles in Mandarin.
Showcasing: Students from BA Fashion & BA Fashion Design & Technology
China Graduate Fashion Week was established in 2013. Over the past 7 years, 7883 graduates from 61 fashion colleges, both across China and internationally, have presented their graduate designs on this platform. China Graduate Fashion Week has established a professional and high-quality platform for exchange, greatly contributing to the prosperous growth of China’s fashion industry and fashion education. This season, China Graduate Fashion Week is taking place on an innovative digital platform, presenting the work of leading fashion colleges, graduates of 2020 and enterprises from across the world.
Date/Times
Friday 3rd July 9.00am UK Time
Next Chapter
Join us for our closing event, a discussion with Justin Newlin and Victoria Hunt framed around your ‘Next chapter’, focussing on the talent, ideas and conversations they have experienced during the week. Justin will also talk about how to leverage technology to build your own brand, and the power of networking. This closing event is prioritised for the graduating cohort and will provide opportunity to engage in conversation with these two industry experts.
Speaker
Justin Newlin, Director, Portfolio Search: Design, Creative & Product at GAP inc.
Chair
Victoria Hunt RI Design Manager Menswear, founder of The Outcrowd
As Director of Talent Acquisition at Gap Inc, Justin Newlin leads the executive recruiting efforts for the company’s Design, Creative and Product teams. He and his is team are responsible for identifying and securing the best talent in the industry to lead Gap Inc. in to the future. Prior to his time at Gap Inc., he worked as a Merchant for Men’s collections at Levi Strauss & Co., an experience that allowed him to apply his understanding of design into hiring talent at the largest speciality apparel retailer in the U.S. He also has a background in business development and marketing from his time in the online, startup travel world. Victoria Hunt is Design Manager for Menswear at River Island, she previously held design positions for the high street and a number of brands in London and New York. Victoria is also founder of the The Outcrowd, a platform for designers to connect, share and network, including live events featuring interviews with industry leaders.
Date/Times
Friday 3rd July 6:00pm – 7:00pm
SHOWCASE YOURSELF VIA YOUR WORK
Do you want to Showcase your work to the industry?
Don’t file away your work to be seen again. Make your work showcase you, by uploading a profile to New Talent Fashion so that industry can fast-track to your capabilities and see how you can help their business grow.
Presentation by Siobhan O’Donnell at New Talent Fashion