The University of Winchester is sponsoring Winchester Fashion Week (WFW) 2019, the city's annual celebration of style, which takes place from 29 April to 4 May.
The University is a long-time supporter of the event, which is now in its ninth year and is coordinated by Winchester Business Improvement District (BID).
This year's event sees the University present its inaugural sustainable fashion award, recognising a local organisation working responsibly, ethically and sustainably within fashion. Vice-Chancellor Professor Joy Carter CBE, DL will present the award at the Grand Finale Catwalk Show at Winchester Guildhall on Saturday 4 May.
"Winchester Fashion Week brings local businesses together with fashion and style lovers in exciting collaborations. Our sponsorship is an opportunity to support local business and help create value economically, socially and culturally. I am delighted that the University - itself a major business within the city - is supporting it once again," said Professor Carter.
"As an institution guided by our values and with a deeply held commitment to sustainability, I'm particularly excited to be presenting the University of Winchester sustainable fashion award for the first time, celebrating a company that puts the future of all life at the forefront of their business."
Students from the University's BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing degree course are set to act as fashion ambassadors for Winchester Fashion Week, working in the WFW Hub in Parchment Street and alongside various fashion retailers, helping with window displays and events, including the Grand Final Catwalk Show.
1999_Vintage, one of the top vintage boutiques selling on ASOS Marketplace and Depop, which is run by a University of Winchester Fashion Marketing student, is hosting a pop-up shop in the Brooks Shopping Centre all week.
Dr Samantha Lynch, Programme Leader for the BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing course at the University and fashion consumer behaviour expert, commented: "As a fashion programme we are proud to be part of a vibrant fashion community here in our city. The week-long programme of events for Winchester Fashion Week will provide an opportunity for our fashion students to gain employability skills, shape their educational experience and contribute to the local community."
The University is also hosting a number of events as part of the WFW 2019 programme. Highlights include a seminar on the future of the British high street presented by Dr Samantha Lynch, (Tuesday 30 April) and a special free screening of fashion documentary The First Monday in May (Friday 3 May). The film delves behind the scenes of 2015's China-themed Met Gala, the annual star-studded fundraising event which mixes celebrity and glamour. The film will be followed by a Q&A with special guests led by fashion and marketing experts Dr Savithri Bartlett and Sarah Green of the University of Winchester Business School.
"We are absolutely delighted that the University of Winchester is sponsoring Winchester Fashion Week again this year," said Dr Paul Spencer, Executive Director, Winchester Business Improvement District (BID).
"The celebration of style across the city brings together more than 100 local businesses and organisations to present an exciting six-day programme with over 90 events. Winchester Business Improvement District (BID) very much value the support of the University, which continues to show its commitment to supporting local businesses and events in the city."
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