Annual ECA Fashion show to be held at Edinburgh University for the first time

The University of Edinburgh is set to host the annual Edinburgh College of Art Fashion Show for the first time following the recent merger of the two institutions.

The event, which will take place between 23 and 25 May, will be held at the University’s Playfair Library subject to licence.

Nine separate shows are planned over the three days which will showcase outfits, costumes and textiles from Fashion, Performance Costume, and Textile graduates of the college.

Robert Gillan, fashion show director and Associate Head of the School of Design said: “We are looking forward to showcasing the exceptional range of work designed and produced by this year's graduating cohort in the magnificent Playfair Library. The staff and students have been working extremely hard to ensure that our inaugural show at the University will be our best ever.”

Some of the pieces set to be featured in this year’s show were previewed in early April at the University of Edinburgh’s Informatics Forum. ECA combined with Edinburgh University’s School of Arts, Culture and Environment on the 1 August 2011 to form a new division incorporating Art, Design, Architecture and Landscape Architecture, History of Art and Music.

This will be the first fashion show since the two institutions merged and to mark the occasion the University of Edinburgh will play host, whereas the event was previously held in the Sculpture Court of ECA’s Main Building.

Five public performances and three schools’ performances, which will be open to secondary school and college students interested in studying at ECA, will take place incorporating a variety of multimedia formats.

The ECA Fashion show is internationally recognised and is attended annually by industry insiders. The show is also a key event in the lead up to London’s Graduate Fashion Week, held every June, of which ECA is the only Scottish invitee.

Tickets for the public performances are available from Hub Tickets and are priced at £15 per ticket with a 50p booking charge.