French connection provides creative spark for student’s design
A student has reflected on how her GCU Fashion Showcase experience has left her excited for the final chapter of university.
Lauren Miller, who will start the fourth year of her BA (Hons) Fashion Design with Business degree in September, admitted she felt both proud and emotional seeing her design on the catwalk for the first time.
The jumpsuit, which was inspired by her time on exchange in Paris earlier this year, was one of a variety of creations to be modelled at the GCU Fashion Showcase, which was held on campus on the 10th of June. The 2025 collection featured a range of different outfits and accessories, with Lauren’s creation combining the world-famous brands of Harris Tweed Hebrides and Nike.
As well as the different designs taking centre stage, the event also included a creative exhibition and the chance for students to gain an even deeper insight into their chosen field through the GCU Fashion Advisory Board.
We sat down with Lauren to hear all about her journey to this point:
Tell us about your interest in fashion and how you came to study at GCU?
“I had just finished 5th year at high school and I was planning what I was going to do in the future. I found GCU through someone I followed on social media that studied BA (Hons) International Fashion Branding. I really liked the idea of studying fashion and it's something I’ve been interested in for a very long time, probably from the age of five.
“I was drawn to GCU because I had the opportunity to do business as well as fashion with this degree – I think having knowledge of both is so important for heading into my graduate career.
“I remember coming to an Open Day at GCU and one of the lecturers was so positive about the course. It made me feel like I would just fit in here, so that really sealed it for me. I applied and ended up leaving school at the end of 5th year when I was just 17, but it was honestly the best decision I have ever made.”
Tell me about your experience on the course?
“We were taught the basics from the start on the course – we weren’t thrown in at the deep-end. I really liked that because it gave us all the skills we needed for making garments. We had so much help from our lecturers and the technical staff that we really did feel confident when it came to making our own designs for the fashion show in second year.
“We got to work with MacGregor and MacDuff in second year and I did feel under a bit of pressure because I was keen to impress them. Getting to work with companies like that is so important because it really does prepare you for life outside of your degree. I would say the key thing from the first couple of years was being able to get an insight into the world of fashion and having that chance to work with real freedom, which I think is so important when you first start out.”
This wasn't actually your first experience of the GCU Fashion Showcase, tell me a bit more about your involvement last year?
“My inspiration for the GCU Fashion Showcase last year came from visiting Milan. My garment focused on the design of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping mall. I combined the colours with MacGregor and MacDuff’s colours, so getting the chance for it to feature in the GCU Fashion Showcase was a big deal. I remember just feeling so proud when I first saw it on the catwalk, and it definitely inspired me to push on heading towards this year’s event.
“I just remember the whole experience being really impressive. Obviously being in second year and having your family along was a really big deal because it let them see everything I had been working towards."
It was Milan that inspired you last year, but another European city played a crucial part in your creation this year…
“Yes, absolutely! I spent my first trimester of third year in Paris – I was very lucky to be out there on exchange. When I came back in January, I knew I had to get my head down to get my design created but the good thing was that I had taken so much inspiration from my time in Paris, particularly from an area called Montmartre. I was able to combine this along with the Nike collaboration, which allowed me to draw on the fact that the Olympics were held in the city last year.
“Montmartre was my favourite place and I wanted to reflect all the colours and the streets. It’s an artist’s district and I actually took the pattern from one of the walls and integrated that into my own fabric. The wall was called The Wall of Love, and basically says I love you in 100 languages. I really focused on that and brought it into my outfit. I was obviously working with Nike and Harris Tweed, so I also brought in lots of spots of colours along with the jumpsuit, which I felt was both sporty and arty.
"The whole outfit was really personal because it reflected on my overall experience in Paris and tied everything together into one outfit. There is a lot of thought that goes into all of the designs on show at the GCU Fashion Showcase and I think that’s something that’s really important to reflect on. It is definitely why I really enjoyed doing the portfolio part alongside the actual creation of the design - it really was my chance to let my lecturers know the thought process and inspiration behind it all.”
Tell me about that moment when you saw your design come down the catwalk this year?
“I just felt so proud. It was also quite emotional as well because my friend's outfit also came out with mine at the same time, so it was like a mad moment where we both got to witness all the hard work we had put in together. Even witnessing people at the side of the catwalk take photos of your work was really quite surreal. Having something as a vision in your head to seeing it in front of you and just thinking I designed that really was incredible!”
You still have one year left of your degree and, of course, one more GCU Fashion Showcase – are you already thinking about next year’s design?
“100%. I definitely want to step things up and maybe focus on sustainability, since that’s such a hot topic just now. I’ve thought about focusing in on fashion design throughout my career after University, so it definitely makes sense to start now.
“Fourth year is different because you’re not being guided by a company – it is completely your own brief. That’s a lot of freedom to have but it also gives me a lot of opportunity to work with new fabrics and colours.”
Do you feel more confident now as a designer coming towards the end of your degree?
“I think the university has been great at giving me that confidence. The course has allowed me to develop more and more each year, and I now feel like I have the skills to go and get a design job. This is also a course that you really do get out what you put in – so I will definitely be looking to push on again and build my confidence even further."
You’ve ticked off Paris and Milan already, where do you see yourself working in future?
“I would love to go back to Paris one day. It would be the ultimate dream to have my own boutique or even just working there in any sort of role. For now, I just want to make sure I give my best throughout my final year and just wait to see what the future holds.”
Find out more about the BA (Hons) Fashion Design with Business programme here
By Ross Clark
Got an SHLS or GSBS story? Email me at Ross.Clark@gcu.ac.uk or message me on Twitter