Graduate Fashion Week was launched in 1991 as a forum to showcase the very best BA Graduate fashion design talent in the UK.

As always, the event attracts fashion scouts from the UK and overseas, all looking for that unique quirky Britishness that has helped to make some of the worlds most famous design houses the success they are today.

The prestigious River Island Gold Award, presented for the most outstanding collection in the Gala Show, carries an incredible £20,000 prize for the winning student, and is the only Award of its kind within UK Fashion Education.

River Island understand that investing in young talent can reap both commercial and creative dividends. This open door policy has resulted in young designers (often still at University) working alongside the in-house design team to customise and develop ideas which have gone on to be best sellers.

The 2008 event will move to the iconic Earls Court 2 London, home to such well known events as the BRIT Awards, Vodafone Live Music Awards, as well as a host of concerts for stars such as the Kaiser Chiefs, Madonna and Justin Timberlake!

With a new dateline of Sunday June 8 to Thursday June 12, it will feature 48 of the top fashion and textile universities in the UK. It includes a static exhibition and two theatres hosting 23 shows over the four days. The event culminates in the glamorous Gala Fashion Shows and Awards on Wednesday June 11th.

In 2008 we shall also be launching our special Education Day on Thursday June 12. Aimed at 14-18 years old school children from around the country, as well as those at FE Colleges, the day will provide schools with a unique insight into the various course available at some of the very best universities in the UK, as well as providing an opportunity to see one of the four gala shows, or one of the three audience with sessions.

Over the years Graduate Fashion Week has launched the careers of such brilliant British designers as Stella McCartney, Julien Macdonald, Antonio Beradi, Hussein Chalayan and Owen Gaster.

The bankability of the work on show from design, illustration, merchandising, buying PR, journalism, marketing and media, has seen graduates snapped up by many of the world’s most prestigious brands including Donna Karan, Gucci, Levi Strauss, Calvin Klein and Reebok. Previous winners include Christopher Bailey (Winner of the first GFW Collection of the Year Award), Rachel Gurney knitwear designer for Donna Karan and Vikki Wittering who became accessory designer at Calvin Klein.

Graduate Fashion Week is totally unique with no other country in the world investing in fashion graduates on such a scale!