INTERVIEW: Fashion Class of 2020

We chat to founders of Fashion Class of 2020, Alexandra and Billy, to tell us about the services they offer to final year fashion students.

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Can you explain what Fashion Class of 2020 is all about?

Alexandra: Fashion Class of 2020 is all about one thing: bringing fashion students together and building a network of strong and talented artists. Initially, the page was set up post GFW’s announcement and since, we have gained so much support. It has become a place where fashion students all across the UK can exhibit their work and skills. We have also started to create content on the website including tutorials created by fellow students and interviews from brands and fashion alumni which is something we’re really looking for!

Who are the founders of Fashion Class of 2020? How and why did it begin?

Alexandra: Fashion Class of 2020 was created after the cancellation of Graduate Fashion Week 2020 by myself, Alexandra Hodgson. As a third year fashion student, I couldn’t sit around and watch our opportunities diminish before our eyes.

I started the page with the intention of joining fashion students together and giving them a place to connect and be a team. After a short while, I had so many students offering their help and support, it was incredible.

I teamed up with Billy Barrett, with the intention of setting up our own student-led fashion show or event to help other students.

We are both students at UCA Epsom with myself specialising in Womenswear and Billy in Menswear. I have a background in social media so I manage the website and Instagram page while Billy works on preparing to create the basis for a show, should this be something we are able to do in the near future.

How can our readers get involved?

Alexandra: Anyone studying in their third year of any fashion degree can get involved, whether that be design, marketing or any other course! All you have to do is drop us a DM on Instagram with your name, Instagram handle, University, 3 photos of your final collection and a brief summary of your concept. It's really simple and we are posting EVERYONE’S work, there will be no one unseen.

In addition to this, we have a few different things happening on the page that you can get involved with! You can get in touch if you’d like to collaborate and produce a tutorial for your fellow students on something you feel is your strength (e.g digital portfolio building or CADs). You can also enter our weekly competition for the chance to win a day-long feature on our page, a different student is chosen each week (more info on our Instagram)

What can you tell us about your current plans for a digital show?

Alexandra: Currently, we are in touch with GFW and are working behind the scenes to make sure that everyone gets the opportunities that we deserve and have worked so hard for. Make sure to keep your eyes on GFW’s Instagram page for more information soon!

Billy: We are still in the process of setting this up. It will be either a video or live-streamed showcase, aiming to give a platform for this years’ graduates, similarly to how GFW usually does.

Do you have any other ideas in case a show is not possible?

Billy: Yes I’m currently working on a number of possibilities and methods of showcasing the work.

Can you provide any advice for students completing their FMP at home?

Billy: You need to be inventive if you want to get noticed. Don’t wait for it to happen you must think of new (digital) ways you can get noticed. This might sound blunt but I believe the only way to escape bad situations is to work harder and work smarter.

Alexandra: I think everyone is going to tackle this situation differently and it’s such a unique and challenging time, that there really is no ‘right’ way to deal with it.

The most important thing is to keep your mental health at the forefront of your mind. It sounds like something that everyone is saying right now, but it’s so important. You need to remember that you don’t have to be doing something everyday, if you need a day on the sofa, only playing animal crossing and eating crisps then GO FOR IT!

Remember that your tutors are still your tutors and if you need them, just email them. They are probably just as stressed out in this current climate as you are and sometimes it’s nice to just talk to a familiar person that you know will give you the right answers.

As always, our DMs are open to all of you, we might not be able to help you with everything but we may be able to point you in the direction of another student that might be able to help you! Be there for others and they will be there for you, community is important at a time like this and that is exactly why I set up Fashion Class of 2020.

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Thank you so much to Alexandra and Billy for sharing their story with us. We are really looking forward to what is coming up in the next few weeks for Fashion Class of 2020! Be sure to follow @fashionclassof2020 on Instagram or get in touch with the founders directly: @alexandraalicefashion and @billybarett_9.

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Please follow our Instagram page @sgfs20 if you haven't already to stay updated with our latest news and projects, and check out our new YouTube series, Designer Talks.

If you have any queries or suggestions, or would like us to showcase your talent, our Instagram DMs are always open, or email us at bandbevents19@gmail.com

We hope you have enjoyed this post and check out our self-care advice post for being in isolation.

For now, stay safe, and see you soon! x