• Gazelle Local Launch

  06 June 2013

  • We will be unveiling Gazelle Local at Highbury Campus on Thursday 6 June. Businesses and entrepreneurs are invited to attend the launch to find out how they can work with our learning companies and help shape the future of education. It will be an opportunity to learn how they can actively support the college and its entrepreneurial ethos through mentoring, or helping the college to capitalise on its access to the community .
• Celebration of Achievement

  12 July 2013

  • This annual event held at The Guildhall, Portsmouth acknowledges the achievements of both higher and further education students from Highbury College

Highbury College students drew on themes ranging from tribal Africa to Hollywood glamour in their end of year fashion show.

The aptly named 'Miss Cellaneous' featured clothes modelled and made by Highbury College's Level 2 and 3 fashion students.

The show was held at the Pyramids Centre in Southsea and also showcased a fairy tale themed collection created by Mayfield School pupils.

Nicole Gladdis, 19, reflected the coastal location in her 'Femme Fatale' collection, inspired by the Greek Myth of the sirens, who lured men with their beauty to the depths of the sea. "The fashion show is a great opportunity to show my garments and it’s good preparation for when I go on to do shows at university."

Nicole's work picked up the award for Level 3 Best Collection. She commented: "My nan was a dress maker, my mum is a seamstress and my dad is an artist so I guess fashion and creativity are in my blood."

Harriet Standen,18, is a Level 3 student who not only displayed her fashion work on the cat walk but also revealed her vocal talent by singing in the interval. "My collection is inspired by Ballet Russes and 1920’s fashion. I love that style so I enjoyed working on it."

The show featured eight group projects and fifteen individual collections, ranging from 'Swan Lake' to a collection inspired by Nirvana and 90's Grunge culture called 'Love Buzz'.

Mature student Sirajai Ariya, who hails from the Ivory Coast, used materials sourced from Nigeria in her 'Maasai Warrior's Queen’ collection. "For me the show is a good chance to see how far I have progressed in my two years of studying fashion at Highbury."

The show was judged by Jane Saunders, an ex-Highbury fashion lecturer and costume designer, Lesley Taylor, online learning lecturer in visual merchandising for fashion at Southampton Solent University, and Craig Rabson, a fashion consultant at personal presentation specialists WhatWhenWear.

Craig, who has experience within Ralph Lauren and Jack Wills, commented: "I thought it was absolutely amazing. You can tell everyone has worked really hard. There were some great collections, some great pieces and I was really, really impressed."

Penny Clifford, Programme Leader for Fashion and Clothing, said: "The students have a chance to showcase their work and there could be people in the audience who will have career opportunities for them. This show is the climax of the course; it's what they have been working towards all year. What would a fashion course be without a fashion show?"

For more information on fashion courses at Highbury College call 023 9238 3131 or email info@highbury.ac.uk.