Direct entry student given big break at GCU Fashion Showcase

GCU’s Fashion Showcase has provided a third year student with added motivation and confidence heading into his final year at university.

The annual event, sponsored by ACS Clothing, celebrated sustainable fashion and gave students the opportunity to show off their creative work, with a catwalk show and digital exhibition.

BA (Hons) Fashion Design with Business student Orin Annand was one of those lucky enough to see their designs modelled under the spotlight on June 1.

“All of the students on my course created a garment for our module, Fashion Design for Industry. We worked with the brand, Mackintosh, to make a jacket that they could use as part of a collection,” explained Orin.

“We were given free rein to go in whatever direction we wanted and come up with our own themes. I chose the theme of oil pollution and created a print and silhouette within my jacket which reflected on oil pollution and the structure of oil rigs.

“I chose that topic because I’d just recently come across the 2022 oil spill in Cairo and the subsequent Just Stop Oil protests. I  thought it was interesting and my work would help highlight an important environmental topic.”

Orin added: “It was such an amazing feeling to finally see it on the runway. As a designer, you spend so much time analyzing the garment, especially during the manufacturing process. So much of that time is spent not actually appreciating what you’ve made. It was the first time I’ve ever seen my own stuff modelled, so it was really great.”

As well as seeing his work featured on the runway, Orin also had the opportunity to help form part of a student panel on the night alongside two other Fashion Design with Business students, Erin McEwan and Bethany McPherson.

The trio were interviewed on stage by broadcaster Sophie Wallace, giving them the opportunity to reflect on their different designs and the process behind their creation.

Orin said: “I’m not sure why I was asked to get involved, but I was obviously delighted! I knew it would be an excellent opportunity to show off my work in front of a lot of people and explain my concept around the challenges oil pollution presents.

“I obviously knew I’d be doing it and I’d prepared myself, but when I arrived, I started getting instructions about how it would all work and it was like ‘oh, this is actually happening!’. I knew everything about my garment and the concept of it, but it was more daunting doing it with 400 people watching on. The host, Sophie Wallace, was so calming and personable, which really helped put me at ease.”

Away from the glitz and glamour of the runway, Orin has relished the opportunity to study at university after only joining GCU as a direct entry student last September.

He said: “That pipeline from college to university is slightly nerve-racking. I was a bit apprehensive going into third year and having that first experience of university so late on, but I’ve had a lot of support from GCU and it’s really built my confidence. When I started, I decided I was just going to go all in on the overall university experience – which has really paid off.”

Fresh off his appearance at the GCU Fashion Showcase, Orin is already looking forward to his fourth year and future career.

“I definitely feel like I’m going into fourth year with a lot more knowledge and skills, but also with a better understanding of how to manage my time and prepare myself for deadlines. I feel much more settled and the GCU Fashion Showcase has really made me confident in my abilities.”

Orin added: “Fashion is such a wide industry with so many different opportunities. I don’t want to close my vision too much in terms of where I could go or what I could do. I’ve been lucky with my route coming through college because it helped me gain a lot of transferable skills.

“I’m excited to see where I end up – maybe London, maybe further afield, but I do also love Scotland! We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Find out more about GCU’s BA (Hons) Fashion Design with Business programme here

By Ross Clark
Got an SHLS or GSBS story? Email me at Ross.Clark@gcu.ac.uk or message me on Twitter