Commonwealth Couture Dazzles Birmingham with Student Designs from Around the Globe.
BCU and BMET stun with designs of the Commonwealth.
On the 19th of December 2024, the Parkside Building at Birmingham City University buzzed with energy as the much-anticipated “Commonwealth Couture” took over. This showcase of fashion talent, curated by BMET and BCU, launched a full-to-capacity house of 130 people into the wilds of student designs.
The moment the guests stepped into the building, they were immediately immersed in the creative spirit. The entrance on the ground floor lined displays of each outfit with informative descriptions, giving an insight into the inspiration and craftsmanship behind each. On the far side of the first floor, the main event – a dazzling fashion show presenting the captivating collections by the BCU and BMET students.
The students drew on the tapestry of rich cultures and traditions across the Commonwealth to create a really mesmerising collection of suits and shirts. The colours and patterns so bright in Indian textiles, the sleek lines of African silhouettes, and the bold modernity of Caribbean fashion each told a unique story.
The 20 suits and 19 shirts were an amazing variety of style, technique, and interpretation. Some students worked with bright colors and unusual materials; others created masterpieces of embroidery and draped garments. The result was a spectacular view of creativity and inventiveness.
This showcase was not just a celebration of students’ talents but also an avenue for awareness of relevant social and historical issues. In attendance were several important guests, which included The Lord Left Lieutenant, Oliver Stokes-Smith, and representatives of Genisys ARCt.
The Lord Left Lieutenant took to the floor, highlighting both the role of BMET and BCU within the Birmingham Commonwealth community. He discussed the need for more creativity and culture in the city. Oliver Stokes-Smith echoed his words and spoke about his pride in the quite stunning achievement of students work.
Genisys ARCt CEO Hyacinth Shirley-McLaughlin gave an introduction of the organisation and its mission in a five-minute speech. They showed the historical injustices that had been faced by the Windrush generation and emphasized that the government is continuing to support them through the Windrush Compensation Scheme and the soon-to-be launched Online Careers Event Bridge 2-ur Career.
Indeed, “Commonwealth Couture” proved quite the occasion to have been in, leaving many who attended quite touched. Not only did it demonstrate the genius of upcoming fashion designers, but also made everyone remember in powerful ways how fantastically culturally diverse the Commonwealth is, and matters of social justice and inclusion. This article is also a part of this month’s feature on the Aston canon student magazine, view here to learn more.
