The Oxford Collections are all set to mesmerise the crowds at the magnificent Sheldonian Theatre on 31st October (7pm & 9pm). Apart from the shows, there is a lot on in the way of special events and workshops.

Great British Life: Oxford Fashion StudioOxford Fashion Studio (Image: Archant)

From high street to haute couture, UK fashion is international in outlook, translating trendsetting British creativity into a dynamic global industry. So it’s no surprise that London Fashion Week sits smugly as one of the most important events in the calendar for the creative industries, receiving equal, if not more coverage than major news and sports events. However, the action isn’t all just limited to London.

In May 2009 Oxford educated architecture enthusiast Carl Anglim set up Oxford Fashion Week which proved to be a huge success, with attendance from some of the biggest names in British fashion – Dolly Jones (Vogue.com), David Gandy and Claire Wilcox (V&A). Carl’s vision has been to marry fashion with architecture to ‘create a moving art show.’ Oxford’s mysterious and dreamlike setting lends itself perfectly to bring Carl’s vision to life. With each passing year, the shows gained popularity and in 2013, a staggering 2,500 people attended Oxford Fashion Week at The Ashmolean Museum.

Oxford Fashion Week has now been rebranded to Oxford Fashion Studio (OFS) which specialises in producing shows, photo shoots and events along with sourcing creative talent. Over six years OFS have featured designers from 22 countries. The company aims to welcome and celebrate some of the best established and emerging talent in some of the key fashion capitals of the world. The 2015 season spans September through to November and features runway shows in New York, London, Paris, Oxford, Houston and Los Angeles.

The London Collections were showcased in Devonshire Square on 19th September during London Fashion Week, off schedule, to promote the industry’s most promising new designers showcasing the launch of new collections which included ready to wear, evening, haute couture and conception design.

The historic Western Courtyard, with its high level roof and imaginative lighting design made for a stunning set. Over 100 spectators, including designers, press and the public enjoyed 4 shows with 30 designers exhibiting 195 different looks.

The best word to sum up the mood that emerged from all the action on the runway is diversity. The designers, the clothes and the models represented the current state of affairs – the melting pot that is London; where Zaskia Sungkar Jakarta’s headscarves and elegant suits and long skirts, reminiscent of the style of Jackie Kennedy, walked alongside William Wilde’s sequined gowns with plunging necklines and thigh high slits. African traditional wear specialist and London College of Fashion graduate, Japo Okworobu’s sheer, dynamic collection ‘impractical practicality’ was a stark contrast to the glamorous and ladylike Royal Couture from Spain. Also worth mentioning is Atulier by Samar Nasraldin, a Saudi designer based in Jeddah, whose designs symbolize an abstract, mystic journey, with particular emphasis on precision and layering.

The Oxford Collections are all set to mesmerise the crowds at the magnificent Sheldonian Theatre on 31st October (7pm & 9pm). Apart from the shows, there is a lot on in the way of special events and workshops.

As part of Oxford Fashion Week join the fashion pack for a panel discussion on Fashion and Feminism featuring guest speaker Plum Sykes, former contributing fashion editor of American Vogue on 29th October.

For the first time Oxford Fashion Week is featuring an exclusive fashion illustration workshop at The Jam Factory led by Helen Cauvy, fashion illustrator and a resident artist at Magdalen Road Studios.

Tickets are available here – http://www.oxfordfashionstudio.com/tickets/

Here’s wishing all our readers a very festive and fashionable week ahead!