Cutting edge style and ancient York tradition came together at a new event in the city.
A fashion extravaganza was staged at the Merchant Taylors’ Hall, where the medieval guildhall became a runway for the afternoon.
The next generation of designers showcased some stunning outfits in front of a very appreciative audience.
Organiser Yani Len, from Jorvik Media, brought together student designers for the sell-out event, which was opened by York town crier Ben Fry.
Yani thinks York could have witnessed some of the designer stars of the future.
She said: “I would like to like huge thank you to the Company of Merchant Taylors’ York to provide and host the stage for our young talent.
“Hopefully in the future, there will be more young designers using this stage to develop skills and show their talents. And I’m sure in the future, we will see more great work from them.”
Joy Cullwick is a member of the Company of Merchant Taylors. She was delighted by the fashion show.
“It’s a first, and it’s fantastic to see a company that’s 600 years old becoming really bang up to date by involving so many young people, and such innovative and creative fashions displayed in such an amazing way.
“I’m really excited by it. I saw some of the dresses that I’d quite like to wear, and there were some others that I thought never! But they’re such fun, particularly the ones that were inspired by animals.”
Joy hoped the event, staged on Sunday, was the “first of many”. “We need to do this in order to be relevant.
“The guilds have a very long and traditional history in York, but they do need to be brought up to date, and we need to involve the young people and to make them relevant, and that’s exactly what’s happening here.”
Some of the most unique outfits on the catwalk were those be EmAble.
EmAble was founded in York by a mother and son, inspired by the loss of their family member, Emily.
The brand designs stylish yet practical clothing for those undergoing medical treatment, proving that fashion can be both beautiful and empowering.
The designers:
- Noor-Ul-Huda
- Cristina Florea
- EmAble
- Chengxi Jiang
- Hollie Lesley Haughin
- Hayina Cao
- Syd Sews Clothes.
