At Graduate Fashion Week, 40 Student Designers Reinvented Florals for Liberty Fabrics' 35th Anniversary
by Tia Janowski
Closing the second day of Graduate Fashion Week, Liberty Fabrics’ Floral Rebellion showcase challenged 40 students to rethink one of fashion’s most recognisable motifs.
Rather than celebrating florals in the traditional sense, the designers manipulated Liberty’s iconic prints through unexpected silhouettes, fabric techniques and colour palettes, demonstrating just how versatile floral design can be.
Lucy Dent from the University of Derby reinterpreted the brief through abstract floral motifs and thoughtful layering rather than bold botanical prints. Working with a palette of burgundy, navy and white, Dent layered a waistcoat beneath a sleeveless jacket, allowing flashes of Liberty’s floral prints to emerge gradually throughout the look. The restrained approach offered a subtle yet effective take on the theme.
Yolanda Cookson-Sanz from the University of Lancashire took the brief in a bolder direction, embracing pattern clashing. Combining floral and tartan fabrics, the look featured cropped trousers and a fan-pleated top. Working with a palette of red, blue and yellow, Cookson-Sanz proved that clashing prints could feel playful, theatrical and cohesive all at once.
Manchester Fashion Institute’s Somya Reddy offered a softer interpretation through a layered two-piece in varying shades of blue. Two complementary floral prints, layered ruffles and a cropped top with flowing sleeves balanced rebellion with delicacy, offering a refined take on the challenge.
Bath Spa University’s Emily Kitto explored the contrast between softness and structure. A short layered dress in a delicate white floral fabric was paired with a quilted tie-front vest featuring an abstract burgundy print. Puffy sleeves and a flowing skirt softened the structured outer layer, creating a thoughtful balance between delicacy and defiance.
Nottingham Trent University’s Amy Shepard-Bowman brought a refreshing menswear interpretation to the brief, with a relaxed matching shirt and trouser set in shades of orange, burgundy and brown. Abstract floral trim framed the sleeves, shirt placket and trouser seams, complementing the primary print while allowing the tailoring to take centre stage.
Rather than treating Liberty’s iconic prints as a limitation, the designers used them as a starting point for experimentation. Together, the showcase demonstrated that floral design can be nostalgic, rebellious, delicate and contemporary all at once, making Floral Rebellion a fitting conclusion to the day’s runway programme.
Edited by Emily Duff