by Tia Janowski
To close the second day of Graduate Fashion Week, a curated menswear showcase brought together twenty of the most exciting emerging talents in the country. The runway delivered collections rich in technical finesse, strong visual identity, and bold reimaginings of contemporary menswear. Here are Darling’s three standout collections from the show.
Amaani Chowdhary - Clothing as Comfort
From Arts University Bournemouth, Amaani Chowdhary (@clothingbyamaani) presented “Clothing as Comfort”, a deeply personal collection inspired by their experience with seasonal affective disorder and the emotional connections we form with objects during difficult times. Designed to be both protective and wearable, the garments combined oversized knitwear, quilted fabrics, and waterproof outerwear in a palette of red, grey, and orange.
Slouchy turtle necks, puffy quilted trousers, and a drooping red puffy coat captured the feeling of warmth and safety while also nodding to contemporary streetwear trends. Chowdhary’s use of denim and durable materials added function to the pieces, and each look stood confidently on its own while contributing to a cohesive narrative. A favourite piece was the two-toned red and orange knit, intricately knitted yet understated, perfectly balancing comfort with craftsmanship.
Alicia Bambury
Representing Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts, Alicia Bambury’s (@a.r.bambury) award-winning collection “That-has-been” was a poetic exploration of memory, heritage, and sustainability. Drawing inspiration from photographs and film slides of her grandfather, Bambury used headstock fabrics, repurposed blankets, second-hand pony skin, and even curtains to evoke a sense of emotional time travel.
The collection married classic utilitarian tailoring with experimental textile work, including hand-knitted and crocheted elements made by her grandmother. These intergenerational touches grounded the collection in personal history. Cyanotypes and photographic prints transformed the garments into wearable archives, making the past tangible in every stitch.
Tones of mustard, brown, beige, and soft blue gave the collection a gentle but striking visual identity. Pieces ranged from lace-detail tailcoats and sweater vests to structured workwear silhouettes. The emotional resonance of the collection was elevated by two older male models walking the runway, bringing its story of generational continuity to life in a powerful and moving way.
Maya Higgins
Maya Higgins (@mayahigginsknitwear) from Nottingham School of Art and Design delivered a menswear collection defined by impeccable construction and tactile sophistication. Deep blue, burnt orange and khaki green block tones ran throughout, providing a grounded colour story that felt timeless and contemporary.
What set Higgins’ collection apart was its subtle reinvention of knitwear. On first glance, you might not even realise many of the garments were knitted, underscoring both the technical mastery and wearability of her designs. Cropped shirts, oversized quilted jackets, and sculptural scarves gave the collection shape and presence, while knitted and quilted trousers added dimensional texture. Her tailoring was clean, the silhouettes strong, and the detailing thoughtful, resulting in a menswear range that felt both innovative and effortless.
Other standout contributions included Emma Gillie’s vibrant, knitted take on power suits, Ying Zhong’s culturally rich, colour-forward pieces, and Delaney Gamboa’s whimsical, voluminous designs in baby blue and pink.
This year’s menswear catwalk was a celebration of innovation, identity, and emotion. Each designer brought their own narrative, style, and perspective to the runway, redefining what menswear can be. From emotional resilience to family heritage and wearable reinvention, GFW’s second day proved that the future of menswear lies within meaningful reinventions of tailoring and streetwear.