By Kitty Noofah
London, 23 June – The next generation of fashion talent took centre stage at the Jimmy Choo Academy (JCA) Press Day, where graduating students from the BA (Hons) Fashion Design, Branding and Entrepreneurship programme unveiled their final collections. Hosted in partnership with the London Fashion Academy, the event celebrated innovation, craftsmanship, storytelling, and entrepreneurial vision, offering a glimpse into the future of the fashion industry.
Kitty Noofah, on behalf of FabUK Magazine, attended the JCA Press Day to explore the diverse and inspiring collections presented by this year’s graduating designers. From heritage-inspired tailoring and cultural storytelling to sustainable fashion and avant-garde craftsmanship, the showcase highlighted the creativity, individuality, and global perspectives of emerging fashion talent.
Kiri Booth – Headed West
KIRI is a slow fashion brand built around community, craft, and conscious production. Working primarily with second-hand and deadstock fabrics, each piece is produced in limited quantities or as a one-of-a-kind creation. Her collection, Headed West, is a nostalgic reflection on the American West, inspired by the trailblazing women of the Gold Rush and the hopeful humility of open plains. Combining historical references with English tailoring techniques and handcrafted detailing, Booth creates garments that are both unique and highly wearable.
Sapira Machia
Representing Madagascar from afar, Sapira Machia reimagines contemporary streetwear through vibrant colours, traditional patterns, and innovative craftsmanship. Using raffia and semi-precious beads as fastenings and ties, the collection fuses African subcultures, Madagascan heritage, and Western silhouettes to create a striking visual identity.
Bernice So – BER 0 ICE
BER 0 ICE reimagines Chinese heritage through a contemporary streetwear lens, creating a dialogue between tradition and modern identity. Through cultural storytelling, refined craftsmanship, and thoughtful design, Bernice So transforms heritage into wearable expression. Alongside ready-to-wear collections, the designer also creates clothing for Ball-Jointed Dolls (BJD), extending the same dedication to craftsmanship and storytelling into miniature fashion.
Barnaby Coupe – LE COUPE
Run of the Mill explores the contrasts between post-war American advertising culture and the restrained familiarity of British identity. Inspired by Vietnam War draft dodgers, English flour mills, and industrial heritage, Barnaby Coupe combines manipulated fabrics with workwear and tailoring influences. Graphics drawn directly from archival flour sack designs reinforce the narrative of British manufacturing and industrial history.
Christina Huang – Chinese Takeaway Kids
One of the most emotionally resonant collections of the showcase, Chinese Takeaway Kids pays tribute to Huang’s upbringing within a Chinese takeaway business. The collection explores the hardships, resilience, family values, and pride associated with the British Chinese community. Drawing from personal experience, Huang blends workwear, school uniforms, and traditional Chinese dress to tell stories that are rarely represented in mainstream fashion.
Valeria Peeva – Petrova
Valeria Peeva’s brand Petrova presents Street Performance, a collection inspired by Venetian carnivals and vibrant Italian street parades. The designs blend theatricality, movement, and artisanal craftsmanship, resulting in garments that celebrate performance, culture, and visual spectacle.
Rajgaurii Pawar – Rajgauri Pawar Couture
Rajgauri Pawar Couture celebrates feminine strength through the use of traditional Indian handloom brocades and silks, reimagined through avant-garde silhouettes and structural experimentation. Her Goddess Collection draws inspiration from goddess carvings and feminine depictions found in Dravidian architecture. Designed as an expression of empowerment, the collection invites women to recognise the goddess within themselves while bridging cultural heritage with contemporary fashion innovation.
Oliver La Planche – Petricca
Inspired by the derelict industrial architecture of Birmingham, Oliver La Planche’s Petricca collection embraces deconstruction, raw edges, exposed hand-stitched canvassing, and hand-dyed textiles. The collection’s aesthetic is further informed by influential post-punk and industrial music acts including The Birthday Party, Einstürzende Neubauten, and Rema-Rema, resulting in garments that feel raw, rebellious, and deeply authentic.
Simrat (Simmi) Kalsi – Afsos
Afsos is a deeply personal exploration of grief following the passing of Simrat Kalsi’s grandmother. Drawing on research into pre-colonial India, the collection incorporates traditional Punjabi silhouettes such as the salwar, while combining Western tailoring techniques and fabrics with traditional pattern-cutting methods. The result is a moving fusion of cultural heritage, memory, and contemporary design.
Georgia Fisher – Bajo el Sol
Inspired by Almería, Andalusian culture, Mediterranean society, and architecture, Bajo el Sol is designed for women seeking timeless minimalism with artistic depth. The collection references the draping techniques of pioneering female designers Madeleine Vionnet and Madame Grès while exploring movement, warmth, and contemporary femininity through sophisticated fabric manipulation.
Gracie Dhalliwal – GRAYCLOTHINGSOC13TY
GRAYCLOTHINGSOC13TY, explores themes of psychological protection and the emotional barriers individuals construct around themselves. Through innovative silhouettes and conceptual design, the collection examines vulnerability, resilience, and identity.
Holly Sparks – Holly Rose Bridal
Holly Rose is a bridal brand inspired by romance, whimsy, and modern femininity. Her collection, Dear Rosie, serves as a love letter to the remarkable women who inspired it and to brides seeking a touch of magic on their wedding day. Through six distinct bridal personas, Holly celebrates individuality, confidence, and self-expression using hand-sewn embellishments, hand-dyed tulle, and fairytale-inspired detailing.
Celebrating Fashion’s Future
The Jimmy Choo Academy Press Day provided an inspiring platform for emerging designers to share their stories, craftsmanship, and creative visions. The collections reflected a broad spectrum of cultural influences, personal narratives, sustainability-focused practices, and innovative design approaches. As these graduates step into the fashion industry, they bring with them not only technical excellence but also powerful perspectives that challenge, celebrate, and redefine contemporary fashion.
For FabUK Magazine, the event was a reminder that the future of fashion lies in authenticity, diversity, craftsmanship, and storytelling—qualities abundantly present throughout this exceptional graduating showcase.
Special Thanks to POP PR @thisispoppr for the invitation