ECA fashion show: an essential date for your diary

Edinburgh College of Art host their annual fashion show on 6-8 May at which fashion design graduates and performance costume graduates will be showing-off their final collections.

Projects from the younger years and collaborations with textiles students will also be presented. Final-year fashion collections, designed for Autumn/Winter 2009-10, exhibit exquisite tailoring, inventive design and stunning professionalism.

According to organisers, the ECA fashion course encourages "coherent collections" with "independent spirit". With inspirations for the collections ranging from British youth culture to the Victorian circus, expect a runway full of innovative ideas, contemporary flair, and of course, an eye towards current trends. Graduates will go on to show their collections at London’s Graduate Fashion Week.

Performance costume graduates take inspiration from plays and texts of their choice. The result: An incredible parade of fantasy characters, with costumes that demonstrate dexterity and imagination. From beautiful regal designs to hilarious character costumes, this section of the show is always a jaw-dropper.

Second and third-year projects will accompany these graduate collections. Projects include a selection of Mohair coats, inspired by the recently exhibited Jean Muir, and the "Re-generate" project: couture dresses made from ethical, recycled and sustainable materials. This year more then ever, ECA are engaging with the ethical issues surrounding the fashion industry, encouraging their students to "present a force for change".

The fashion show will kick-off the ECA’s degree-show season. Following this, art and design shows become public on 12 June, and architecture on 19 June.

The show runs from 6-8 May, 6:30 and 8:30, in ECA’s main building. Tickets are £15 and can be bought from Hub Tickets: 0131 473 2000.