The opening night of Liverpool Fashion Week brought out couture followers on Tuesday, with more than a hundred guests present.
This marks the 10th year of the event, as a new list of talented, independent designers showcased their work to the city.
Amanda Moss, 40, from Liverpool, is the founder and lead organiser of the event. Known for her inclusivity and promotion of various unknown artists, the entrepreneur set up Liverpool Fashion Week in 2009 to give a platform for local fashion designers.
This year, Ms Moss said she focused on empowering models of all ethnicities, abilities, and ages.
YouTube: Sarah Almond
Speaking at the launch at the Mercedes-Benz showroom in Pall Mall, Amanda told JMU Journalism: “What’s so important to me is that I want people to know fashion is really for everyone.
“You can be stylish whatever your age, or situation. There’s no limit to how good you can look.”
Her runway show featured seven different brands, with the likes of Fino Shoes, Outfit, Sparkles Studio Liverpool, Fashion Maiden, Karina Molby, and Gogairy who opened the night.
October 31 – Design a Shirt
November 2 – Big Condo Fashion Sew in Style
November 16 – A Heart for Refugees
November 16 – The Curve Fashion Festival
November 18 – Queer Clothes Swap
Ms Moss said her clients all offer something unique and special, in particular bespoke brand, Gogairy.
Gogairy came to fruition thanks to artist and designer, Richard Gair. Tottering on the brink of death, Mr Gair found light in painting and decided something needed to change to get him out of his 20-year depression.
He told JMU Journalism: “I’m a creative soul. I need to be creating. It wasn’t until a friend of mine asked me to do a Metallica painting on the back of his jackets, and realised I could make a few quid from this.
“So I said I needed to change and here I am, opening for Liverpool Fashion Week.”
He said how fashion has evolved drastically since he started, with more designers choosing to cast models with learning disabilities.
Saying it is “incredible” and that this should become “the norm”, Mr Gair added: “Models we see more of are size zero and airbrushed, and in reality, they’re the ones in the minority now.”
Twitter: Sarah Almond
Designer, Richard Gair after his interview with @JMUJournalism wearing his hand-painted faux leather jacket at #liverpoolfw pic.twitter.com/RTjJxqx3lU
— Sarah Almond (@SarahAlmondJou1) October 9, 2019