Digital memories, Ghanaian symbols and adaptive clothing for disabled people showcased at flagship fashion event

The next generation of fashion talent is brought to life this week as designs embracing AI, disability and Black heritage converge to give audiences a glimpse of the individuals and processes behind the curated costumes.

Manchester Met’s Interfaces Graduate Showcase was launched with the much-anticipated runway show featuring stand-out designs including pro-disability ‘adaptive clothing’, outfits inspired by Ghanaian culture, and technology that allows users to preserve the memories of loved ones using AI.

Returning to campus this year at the historic and newly refurbished Holden Gallery, the show attracted audiences including a front row of VIP industry guests who were presented with the final year collections of students on prestigious Manchester Fashion Institute courses.

Among the highlights were disabled BA Fashion Design Technology student Michelle McKim’s colourful Complex Being collection which incorporates features such as zips so wearers can easily give blood, and snap fasteners so they can access feeding tubes.

A menswear collection by fellow student Jasmine Kelly was inspired by her grandfather Billy Kelly and includes design elements like the stamps and souvenirs he collected on his travels as a marine engineer. Each garment includes a scannable QR code, enabling a digital version to be downloaded and worn by a gaming avatar.

Meanwhile, BA Fashion’s Rhodel Mintah took inspiration from her home country Ghana, with the bold prints of her designs representing vibrant street culture in Accra. A recipient of Manchester Fashion Institute’s prestigious Max Mara scholarship in 2022, Mintah benefitted from funding that enabled her to switch studies to pursue her dream of becoming a fashion designer.

The annual runway show incorporated real life models alongside screens showing life-like avatars modelling digital collections. The film was created using a complex digital workflow and a combination of green screen photography and a variety of 3D software,

It kicked off the Graduate Showcase, a wider week-long programme of campus events including presentations from Fashion Business students and a physical and digital public exhibition of innovative Fashion Communications student work.

The activities showcase the wealth of talent at Manchester Fashion Institute across all aspects of the fashion supply chain from concept and design through to buying, merchandising, marketing and communication.

Head of Manchester Fashion Institute Professor Liz Barnes said: “This event is the culmination of three years of hard work and dedication from our talented students and across all our programmes.

“This year we wanted to explore the multifaceted nature of fashion. We’re looking beyond the beautifully designed finished products to also celebrate the individuals behind the collections, images and business plans. It’s their inspiring stories and innovative processes that really bring fashion to life.”

Speaking about her collection, student Jasmine Kelly said: “It was important for me to use the digital elements to preserve my grandad’s memory and create a collection that was inspired by time, but not affected by it. My clothes have a QR code and if you scan them, you have the option of getting a digital version of the garment that can be used on gaming avatars from, say, Fortnite. You also get complete transparency on scanning the QR code: where the fabrics are from and how the clothes are made.”

Max Mara Scholarship student Rhodel Mintah said: “My designs are inspired by the diverse lifestyle of Accra where I grew up, and particularly the colourful Chale Wote Street Art Festival. I’ve enjoyed exploring sacred Ghanaian symbols in my prints, as well as the idea of colonialism through my British-inspired tailored silhouettes.”

On the concept behind her adaptive clothing collection, student Michelle McKim added: “I have a few long-term health issues including a musco-skeletal condition that affects my ribcage and sternum which sometimes limit how much I can do on any given day or even what clothing I wear.

“I wanted to put my focus on the functionality and accessibility of my garments, not just the visual aesthetic. I wanted to create something that empowers and works for a wider audience who often don’t have much choice in terms of what they can to wear. 

“My garments feature design elements like magnetic zips designed for one-handed use, ports for feeding tubes, zips to access medical devices without needing to undress, and other adaptations to support people with disabilities like limb and sensory differences.”

Watch a live video stream of Manchester Fashion Institute’s Interfaces Graduate Showcase here.