Footwear-APR-MAY21-P18 News - Graduation_Footwear_Jan10_p30 21/05/2021 09:57 Page 18


NEWS


Graduate fashion foundation launches innovative portfolio hub & live streaming digital platform


T


oday, Graduate Fashion Foundation is delighted to announce the launch of its debut innovative digital platform,


featuring graduate portfolio profiles, fashion university pages and bespoke live streaming of the annual GFW event on www.graduatefashionweek.com.


The state of the art, dynamic portal caters for


two distinct functions in the fashion world, attracting a global audience and capitalising on the growing interest for Graduate Fashion Week, whilst utilising technology to match highly talented graduates to potential future careers in the fashion industry.


Graduate Fashion Foundation continues to


look to the future and the opportunity to change, collaborate and innovate its support for graduate talent across its UK and international university members. Therefore for the first time in its 30-year history, GFW is fully embracing the digital age, providing a platform where the event is viewable across the globe, as well providing the functionality for the graduate work to be on display and accessible to the industry year round.


During Graduate Fashion Week, taking


place 12th-18th June 2021 at Coal Drops Yard, London, the platform will be the home to all live stream event content, featuring 11 runway shows including the globally renowned GFW International Fashion Show, plus exclusive GFWLIVE! industry panel talks, creative university fashion films, refreshing designer diaries and archive footage from the past 30 years of GFW. Users can also register to view and interact with live streams and live chats from all across all venues, all housed within the portal itself.


This dual functionality means the portal will


have two separate designs incorporating the GFW look and feel. Firstly, during the build-up to and during Graduate Fashion Week, the site will showcase everything that the event has to offer as well as highlighting the schedule, speakers and universities. Registered users will be able to view all exclusive livestreamed content during the event, mixed with brand partners messaging and industry conversation.


Then from May, industry and media guests can


scout talent from over 1500 curated graduate portfolio profiles when the Graduate Portfolio Profile hub is activated. This pool of talent stands out from other platforms due to its curation of the very best fashion graduates, allowing potential employers from across the industry to view work from 82 global universities. Additionally the useful search function filters the offering to 40 specialisms making it easier for industry to find


18 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • APRIL/MAY 2021 This immense volume of content will allow


industry leaders to filter and search efficiently for the styles they are interested in and will enable the graduates to have their projects accessible all year round, effectively opening up a whole new channel of communication between fashion graduates and the industry. After the end of Graduate Fashion Week the portfolios will remain active for three years and accessible to anyone looking to view year round.


GFF is key to supporting talented graduates,


showcasing the best work from each of the Foundation’s member universities, enabling future success in the fashion industry. The charity aims to increase employment opportunities in the UK and abroad by bringing together fashion educators and industry leaders to support graduates to reach their full potential after leaving university.


the next big hire suitable for their needs. The search filters range from sustainability and designing-for-disabilities, to fashion business, marketing and promotion.


The Portfolio Profile allows the graduate to


personalised their page which offers a detailed overview of their work, incorporating their individual imagery, video content, work specialisms and displays links for industry to easily make a connection for recruitment or press requests. GFF provides a platform for universities and graduates from to showcase their portfolios and work to global employers.


The year round the platform will continue to


serve as the official GFW Hub and will be accessible to all industry professionals and global fashion consumers alike to catch up on content, enabling connection, collaboration and bringing together fashion and technology.


Physical events this season taking place at


Graduate Fashion Week will include a myriad of exhibitions, showrooms, industry appointments and the GFW catwalk Hall. Additionally, GFF and Samsung KX, London’s hub of innovation, are pleased to continue a successful partnership to celebrate the talent of tomorrow. As the central hub of GFW, the space will host an exhibition of inspiring graduate designs amplified with virtual displays on Samsung’s latest technology and be home to the Industry Private View, giving the new graduates the valuable visibility they need to begin conversations and establish connections with potential recruiters, buyers, stylists and media.


Please note all digital and physical activity will be


strictly run to adhere with the Government’s Covid- 19 regulations and social distancing restrictions at that time. GFF looks forward to sharing the official GFW hybrid event schedule alongside registration and industry ticket links this spring.


Hilary Alexander OBE, President of Graduate


Fashion Foundation said, “Following a challenging year, our 30th anniversary is the perfect opportunity to embrace the digital revolution by designing and delivery a state-of-the-art platform that will further benefit the graduates and universities we support by offering year-round access to industry to scout from the best global fashion talent. The hybrid Graduate Fashion Week ensures our guests can access the event both in person and from home.”


Jane Galpin, from The Assembly, the platforms


developers said, “This year has been difficult for everyone in the fashion industry and we did not want the graduates to have to suffer further with their first steps into the working world that Graduate Fashion Week has always gifted them. The team at GFW have been pioneering to embrace the latest technologies available, to create a perfect hybrid event that will not only solve problems this year, but will build a lasting legacy with the portal that will provide additional support to graduates and the wider industry for many years ahead.”


Find out more about the charity and


our year-round projects at our new www.graduatefashionfoundation.com site.


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