Fashion Show 2012

So as you all already know i was one of the organisers for the graduate fashion. this was a great experience where i had to learn lots of knew skills, in the organising events. it was a bit manic at times and very stressful. but well worth it in the end. so here are some of the backstage highlights of the show. And if you never managed to attend please click here to like our Grays models page and view all the photos from the 3 shows which were held over the 17th and 18th of June. 

The show was kindly sponsored by Profile hair salon in Aberdeen, Inglot Make-up and not to forget the fabulous logo which was designed and illustrated by Libby Walker. Please enjoy these photos and let us know your thoughts and comments.

Ashley J 

Degree Show

Gray's School of Art Degree show ran from Friday the 15th of June to saturday the 23rd. The show was very successful. here is my exhibition space shown below. Demonstrating the equestrian theme, with beautiful photography by Louise Carnegie. While the exhibition was running i got some lovely comments and Won the RGU Purchase prize winning £500 as one of my pieces are now in the RGU archives. (The tweed dress shown below on the wall)

Ashley J

Scottish Fashion Awards

So this past Monday I attended the Scottish Fashion Awards in Glasgow to support fellow student's Toni Roddie and Jill MacLennan, Whom were both nominated for Scottish Graduate of the Year Award. 

We seen many faces such as Hilary Alexander, Christopher Kane and Hayley Scanlan. 

I would love to say i was mingling with all the celebs but i wasn't more like being shuttled up to the gods to watch the show. Which was presented but the lovely Alexa Chung, who managed to to keep the light heated atmosphere even if some thing did go wrong. 

When i came to the graduate of the year award, i was sitting on the edge of my seat heart beating so hard waiting to jump up and start screaming when won of our girls won....but it never happened unfortunately. But it was a fantastic night and good experience so now i can say i have attend the scottish oscars as they called it...

Mare Machines

“Humans are enslaved like horses and horses are made into machines”

19^th century riding habits juxtaposed with the contemporary sport of endurance riding creates the basis of my inspiration, while being loosely based around this quote from “Black Beauty”. By incorporating land maps mixed with  costumes and fashion from the Victorian era, my collection has a timeless, hourglass silhouette together with flowing drapes and flattering tailoring. Using a range of lavish fabrics from woven tweeds to quality leathers, has given the garments a sense of classic luxury. Semi-plain cloths and daring colour highlights off-set the woven patterns and create an exciting mix of textures and pattern and an essentially feminine statement. 

So the time has come I am now a fully qualified fashion designer. All that hard work and tears has now left me with a BA(Hons) Fashion Design with first class honours. 

Here are some images from my final photo shoot...


Photographer: Louise Carnegie
Make up: Hannah Sutherland
Hair: Debbie McLeod
Models: Samantha Hair, Fiona Lamont, Iva Sakarova

Libby Walker

So just recently i have discovered an amazing illustrator based in Glasgow - Libby Walker. 

Her stuff is very intricate with a fantastic flair and includes everything i LOVE. She uses land maps and draws on top or laser cuts her designs in to it she has also done laser cutting onto wood. Her designs are very linear and often contained in a circle.  as she Juxtaposes the circle by often using  archatecture as her inspiration and SCOTTISH  architecture at that!

And Guess What she has donated one of her wonderful illustrations to Fashion @ Gray's School Of Art for our Fashion Show Catalogue. Oh aren't we lucky fashionistas! So heres a sneak peak of things to come in the near future. So keep updated as Tickets for the show will be on sale very soon.... 

Please show you support and follow her on her successes 

http://libbywalker.tumblr.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Libby-Walker/184873418224379

Ashley x

Its That Time Again!

Its that Time again, for all us fashionista to start panicking and maniacally running around trying to organise our graduate fashion Show. But great ideas are in the works. And its that time when you start to see all the great ideas coming together. 

The graduate collections are looking great and will soon be done. 

But First We have a Model Casting which will be Held On May the 2nd at 2pm @ Grays School Of Art. So girls bring your poker face and a Killer walk (remember your heels). Click here to find out more!

This is all in preparation for our Graduate Show which will be held Mid June Tickets will be on sale soon @ £10 each. So keep your eyes peeled to find out when the will be released for sale. 

We have generously been donated an illustration created by an amazing illustrator Libby Walker which will be the Branding for the Show. So there will be lots of talent spread across these few nights. Which will then be jetted all the way down to London to New Designers where Fashion at Grays will Exhibit again. So june is going to be a very Busy but exciting Month for us. 

Ashley J

White Junk

So here we go again....ROUND TWO!

The STAG Duo are back with a vengeance with there second Pop- up shop "The White Junk Party" this event will be held at Korova, Bridge Street, Aberdeen between 1-6 pm on the 12th of November. It is £2 a ticket or £3 on the door and can be bought here or at one-up on Belmont Street. it is going to be quirky fashion event showcasing fashion designers, jewellery designers, vintage clothing and the most amazing cupcakes you have ever tasted made by yours truly Hannah Bakes Cakes!! So get your glad rags on and be ready to be style hunted by the in house photographer. This event will be the place to be before a great night out, where you can buy your one off out-fit and get you hair styled by Profile hair for the night ahead of you!

After the last pop up in August was such a success we cant wait for the next one as its going to be bigger and better. 

In August the Girls created the first fashion pop up shop in Aberdeen, showcasing fashion designers Jaime CJ, Laura Sherriffs and STAG's baby sister Fawned Of...which by the way I still want my mustard trousers pleaaaase... . Also on the list of ones to watch are Kiss My Kunst a fantastic t-shirt and accessory designers along with textile brand Feet and Tea mothered by Alison Bell. 

STAG stands for Scottish talent and graduates so the event is also used to promote recent graduates, so Stag see this as an opertunity to exhibit the recent works from Grays School of Art fashion graduates. The collection exhibited below is made by the lovely Carolyn Edmonson, inspired by Scottish fishwives. I wonder who will be next to show at the pop up shop....just keep thinking White!! 

Be there or be Square!!

Ashley J

fash@G Degree Catwalk Show

June the 2nd and 3rd saw the first ever Fashion Design (fash@G) Catwalk show from Grays School of Art, Aberdeen. Hosted at the Academy Shopping centre. It was two very successful nights, which showed the next up and coming Scottish talent. The first night was the VIP show, where Johnstones of Elgin, BP, International tartans and various other sponsors attended along with friends and family. 300 people were seated at each event and it was a full house each night.  

The Venue was Designed by one of the graduate student Ashliegh Brand, based around a quote from American Beauty:
"ITS HARD NOT TO BE MAD WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH FASHION IN THE WORLD." 

Ashliegh exhibited her garments around the venue, which was painted white with muslin covering all the windows and the floor covered in glitter. 

I was working Front of house taking guests to there seats, offering drinks. and when the show began i was a runner making sure all the collections were ready to go out and everything was running smoothly. 

Here are some back stages photos:

AMANDA MONTAGUE

SARA-LOUISE FULTON

EMILY BOGACZ

HEATHER GRANT

MAGDALENA ZAREBA

HAZEL LETHABY

LAWRENCE HO

SIAN PARKER

KIRSTEN MCDERMID

KAYLEIGH ARCHIBALD

At the End of the Show there was and Awards Ceremony

• David Nieper Award, Stage 3 Fashion, presented by Professor Paul Harris, Head Of Grays School Of Art. Won By: ASHLEY DUNCAN (me)
• CCS Award, Stage 4 Fashion, Presented by Christine Arnold-Solomon, CCS lecturer. Won By: JACQUELINE COOPER 
• International Tartans Award, Stage 3 Fashion, Presented by David McGill, Head Designer. Won By: MEGAN MCKINNON
• Fashion Student Ship Award, Presented by Kim Eason Head Of Fashion and Textiles. Won By: ASHLEY DUNCAN (me)
• Johnstons of Elgin Award, Stage 2 Fashion, Presented by James Dracup, M.D Johnstons of Elgin. Won By: DEBBIE MCLEOD 
• Fashion Student Achievement Award, Stage 4 Fashion, Presented by Gavin Gourlay, Manager of Visual Merchandising, PR and Marketing, John Lewis. Won By: SIAN PARKER

Overall both nights were a great success! Cant wait until next year when it's our Turn!! xx

Ashley J