QUB’s Inaugural Fashion Show: Bringing Back the Celebration of Local Creatives

by Aisling Suri

Photo: @brandy_zhu_ on Instagram

This year’s QUB fashion show, Transience, was presented by QUB Fashion society on Monday, and in case you missed it, here is a full rundown- from the show-stopping evening, to the all the work put in behind the scenes. 

‘Transience’ is defined as the quality of being transient, or temporary. Often used to describe the state of human existence and the fragility of life, it certainly makes for an interesting theme at this year’s show. Within artistic interpretations, transience refers to the ephemeral nature of artistic expression reminding us that nothing is permanent. This year’s designers interpreted this theme in a range of ways, recognising the true nature of fashion, as an art form.

A few of my personal favourite looks from this year’s show encapsulate the eccentricity and playfulness of self-expression through fashion- for example, Alien by Charlie showcased two looks on the runway. A blue under the sea type look opened the show, devouring the runway and leaving audience members with a truly memorable first look. In the second act, a stunning purple number by Alien, modelled by former founding member Nora Holmes, took shape in this beautiful two piece. With a cartoon-like contour, the designer describes the inspiration behind this piece to be based on street art characters that they witnessed around various cities.

Other notable showstoppers include Evan Kelly’s ‘Queen of Hearts’ look, which captured the whimsical vibe of Alice in wonderland, mixed with an essence of theatrical flair. This was a multi-piece garment which consisted of a structured corset, a layered skirt, and platform heels- which were all brought together by complementary accessories to complete the look. Evan Kelly also captured the attention of runway with their ‘Burlesque Butterfly’ look. This look was designed for a sustainability project to raise awareness for endangered species. The gorgeous colours, attention to detail, and true craftsmanship are what made this outfit so memorable on the runway. 

The show contained a plethora of talent, with over 25 designers showcasing a range of styles and artforms within their garments, including knitwear designers, repurposed materials, and playful textiles. 

Stunning outfits weren’t the only things gracing the runway on Monday evening. The show witnessed a few special guests, including an opening performance from QUB Dance Society. They performed at the opening of the show, setting the scene for the evening. The half-time break witnessed a show-stopping performance from local band Annas Number, who broke up the two acts with an amazing performance of indie groove music to keep the crowd entertained. The finale of the show also experienced a collaboration with local charity Show Some Love, who debuted 16 of their new looks exclusively on the runway. Show Some Love, a consistent supporter of the annual show, collaborated with the fashion show last year as well, hosting the evening and providing entertainment throughout the night. The electric energy of the whole day was also captured by local photographers, some of whom were representatives from QUB photographic society, helping to promote the endeavours of Queen’s students. 

The backstage energy was incredibly high on the day of the show, with action everywhere you looked. There were models being ferried around the hair and makeup room, final outfit alterations, and models practicing their runway walks. The talented photographers did an amazing job at capturing the energy backstage and giving us a sneak peek into what it is really like to be behind the scenes of a fashion show. 

The whole evening was a celebration of local talent and how this can be collated through the promotion of fashion. Events such as this prove that Belfast has a thriving creative scene, offering a way for local creatives to showcase their talents across multiple platforms and meet like-minded artists. 

The electrifying atmosphere on the night can be put down to the incredible efforts put in by the team at QUB Fashion Society. Planning an event such as a fashion show can be incredibly tedious, especially alongside full-time studies. Events planning can often begin up to 6 months before the show, where the committee will have had to coordinate with local designers, secure funding for the event, liaise with the venue management, cast and fit models, and last but not least, compile a running order. The committee members did a fantastic job at making sure the whole event was run smoothly and every person involved had a fabulous time! 

In next years show I would love to see more looks from Queen’s student designers, along with a spring/summer lookbook theme to create a more cohesive narrative. This could enhance the storytelling aspect of the garments, showcasing how they work together to bring the show’s vision to life. 

A full list of organisers, designers, models, and more photos from the evening can be found on the fashion societies social media @qubfashionsoc.