Create 2011 | Platffôrm
A ‘pop-up’ end of year show in a former high street shop in Cardiff has been a success for students from the University of Glamorgan’s Division of Fashion and Retail.
The exhibition, called Platffôrm, took place in the former United Colours of Benetton store in the Capitol Shopping Centre on Queen Street.
The event featured multi-media exhibits and displays from students on the university’s BA (Hons) Fashion Design and BA (Hons) Fashion Promotion awards. It was the culmination of 4 years work for many of the graduates from the university’s Cardiff School of Creative and Cultural Industries.
Over 200 people attended the invitation-only opening night, which featured a DJ and installations by arts organisations Mermaid & Monster and Tactile BOSCH. Many more attended the public exhibition between Friday 3rd and Monday 6th June.
BA (Hons) Fashion Design graduate Julia Kasper, 23 from Bridgend, displayed work from her final year collection called Curious Riot.
Julia explains the themes and ideas behind her work: “It’s inspired by a conflict of characters who struggle between creativity and anarchy. The themes are based around the idea of a secret laboratory and a reclusive, isolated girl who retreats to experiment. The collection is heavily based on high quality leathers that are finished in experimental foils and perforated techniques and tactile printed Tyvek and PVC. I’ve concentrated on contrasting sports neoprene with natural leathers for a constant balance of synthetics and skins in core apparel shapes that are concept driven and above all, fun and wearable.”
Julia is keen to mention the quality of work on show throughout the exhibition: “The event really highlighted some amazing talent” said Julia. “ Ania Maria Rozanowska's work won the award for Collection of the Year 2011, and it was really amazing. She makes incredible jewellery and the collection stood out in monochrome and structural shapes. I also love Poppy Trixx's illustrations that feature in the event’s promotional material and T-shirts. I thought Ieuan Davidge’s interpretation of Stylist magazine was really sophisticated and Jenny Tindle's menswear collection was amazing to see up close, with its intricate detailing in pockets, printed linings and interesting collars.”
Fashion Design award leader Tracy Pritchard was equally impressed by the work on show.
“The work exhibited was of an extremely high standard” Tracy. “I would go so far as to say that some of the best undergraduate work in the country was on display at Platffôrm, and some of the students will be able to walk straight out of university into jobs in the industry.”
“People constantly came up to me and said how amazing the event was, and expressed an interest in more exchanges of this type in Cardiff” added Tracy. “None of this could have been possible without the hard work and tireless effort of the staff in fashion.”
Julia Kasper is now pursuing a career in the fashion, beginning with an internship for trend forecasting specialists WGSN. She credits the University of Glamorgan’s fashion division for preparing her for work in the industry: “The course has given me so much, not only in terms of skills in fashion design, pattern cutting and construction and all the rest of it. It has really helped me to develop an understanding of the industry and how to approach my work in general. I owe a lot to this course and all the tutors who have always encouraged me to do well, and I can’t really fault it. I will be very sad when I finally realise that I won’t be sewing in Cromwell House again in September!”
View a Flickr Gallery of the Platffôrm exhibition
