End of Year Fashion Show Celebrates Talent and Community

Oaklands College recently hosted its highly-anticipated End of Year Fashion Show, which drew over 300 attendees. Distinguished guests included Annie Brewster JP (The High Sheriff of Hertfordshire) and local figures such as Councillor Parveen Rani and Councillor Louise O’Riordan.

The event was held outside the mansion house on Oaklands’ picturesque St Albans campus, showcasing the culmination of hard work and creativity by our talented fashion design students.

This year, students were given fashion show job roles that would be found in the industry, giving them real, practical experience, with college hair and beauty students also getting involved, making sure the models were catwalk-ready.

Students took centre stage with their meticulously crafted collections, inspired by themes of sustainability, ethical fashion, and social impact. From tailored suits and elegant kimonos to festival wear and innovative circular skirts, each piece reflected the students’ dedication to both artistic expression and industry relevance.

Natalie Sturman, Lecturer in Art and Design at the college said: “From creative director to models, the fashion students put on a professional show, I can see them achieving great success in their future careers.”

The High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, Annie Brewster, said: “I am blown away at what the students have done, a lot of us here in attendance want to order clothes from the students already!”

The event also showcased our strong ties with the local community. Amy and Natalie from ‘I’m Fine Wellbeing’ displayed student designs in their shop window, highlighting the collaboration between education and business. Tommy and Lottie, a local economy fashion company, with whom the college will be collaborating next year, were also in attendance.

The students found it hugely rewarding to get a taste of working professionally in the industry. The Creative Director of the show, fashion design student Zipporah, said “This was a challenge that I was happy to take on. It was an amazing experience as I love planning and organising, which will help me in my future career in fashion. The highlight for me was the extra time we were given to focus on the planning of the show. My favourite part of the actual show was the audience reaction and the praise we received at the end of the show.”

Fashion design students Papillon and Sabrina were equally enthusiastic. “The show ran really smoothly and was a great experience,” said Papillon. “My models were professional and helped highlight that we can do menswear at Oaklands.”

Sabrina commented: “The show was an unforgettable experience, and it will stick with me for life. It was good to see two years of our hard work pay off.”

The End of Year Fashion Show not only celebrated the creativity and diligence of Oaklands College students, but also strengthened connections with industry partners and the wider community. Looking forward, the success of this event sets a high standard for future endeavours in art and design education at Oaklands.