Liverpool closed the curtain on its fourth successful Fashion Week on Saturday, welcoming designers from all over the world to the annual event.
The night was held in the city’s iconic waterfront landmark, the Royal Liver Building, and saw designers from as far as the US coming together with local designers to take part in the biggest fashion event in the UK outside London.
Ngolela Kabongo, an international fashion designer from Boston, Massachusetts, took her collection to the catwalk towards the end of the evening and despite a power cut midway through her show, she tweeted: “I had a lot of fun and didn’t want it to end. I definitely want to come back next year.”
Amanda Moss, editor of Liverpool Lifestyle magazine and organiser of the event, told JMU Journalism: “It’s been a fantastic night, apart from the power cut but that was because it was too hot and it tripped the electricity. I’ve been tired tonight but it’s been really good, a really good reception.”
She described Liverpool Fashion Week as edgy, off the wall and elegant, stating: “If you are thinking big hair, lip gloss and four layers of false lashes, symbolic of the WAG/reality TV culture then think again.”
The first show saw Hair by Sleek take to the catwalk with local models dressed in all black sporting colourful wigs and hair extensions.
The night was named ‘Scouse Proud’ but the stereotypical ‘Scouse Look’ was banned from the catwalk, this included banning of the sunbeds – which seemed to be a favourable move from people involved in the night.
Christine Dodd, a model taking part in Liverpool Fashion Week, told JMU Journalism that banning sunbeds was a good idea, saying: “Some girls use them for confidence but me personally I wouldn’t go on them now.”
The 19-year-old admitted to using sunbeds previously but had stopped after her older sister was diagnosed with skin cancer.
The night also attracted London-based fashion brand Kiss Kouture, which attracted a lot of attention with its bright, eye-catching party wear.
Chan Alexander, designer for Kiss Kouture, described the night as “buzzing” and told JMU Journalism: “I really like Liverpool, the people, the aura and the style.”
The show came to a close with applause from the audience as the designers and models took to the catwalk for a final time.
Additional reporting by Harriet Midgley, Jennifer Letford & Amy Jacquemart, JMU Journalism TV
