Heriot-Watt University fashion graduates present collections at new V&A Dundee industry showcase
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Seven fashion graduates from Heriot-Watt University’s Design School debuted their final collections at the inaugural Scotland Fashion Now event, hosted at the V&A Dundee from September 3 to 6. The newly established annual showcase, which featured a catwalk presentation alongside industry-led workshops, aims to spotlight emerging design talent within the Scottish fashion sector.
The graduate exhibition also integrated students from the Edinburgh College of Art, The Glasgow School of Art, and Gray’s School of Art, representing a consolidated effort to elevate the visibility of the region's academic institutions on a commercial platform.
The selected Heriot-Watt cohort presented work that addressed a broad spectrum of contemporary design methodologies, encompassing sustainable practice, technical garment development, and cultural heritage. Specific collections reflected current market trajectories and sociological themes, such as Oliver Milne’s exploration of inclusive, gender-fluid menswear and Thomas Crane’s integration of Western American silhouettes with traditional Scottish textiles.
The breadth of the showcased work, which also spanned demi-couture techniques and contemporary tailoring, illustrates a curriculum structured around both conceptual storytelling and rigorous commercial application.
The alignment of academic showcases with high-profile cultural venues like the V&A Dundee underscores a strategic push to bridge the transition from higher education to professional practice. According to Dr. Danying Yang, Programme Director for Fashion and Fashion Technology at Heriot-Watt, the event provides an essential platform for emerging designers to interface directly with industry professionals.
By facilitating these connections in a highly visible setting, the initiative bolsters the overall proposition of Scottish fashion education, ensuring that regional institutions remain competitive hubs for talent discovery and industry integration.