River Island snaps up design graduates

High street store River Island has commissioned two design graduates to create winter collections.

As part of its continued commitment to nurturing future British design talent, River Island has snapped up not one, but two recent Graduate Fashion Week designers to each create a collection for the high street store.

First up is Nabil El Nayal, a Graduate Fashion Week Womenswear Gala Award winner and Manchester Metropolitan University and Royal College of Art graduate, who has been commissioned by the store to create a range of party dresses for Christmas. The line is gothic, ghostly romantic and inspired by the smash hit teen vampire flick Twilight, according to the designer. Highlights include a ruched, sequinned number adorned with metal chains, a long sleeve dress with pleated cream detailing and metal spikes, and a fierce design with sheer ethereal sleeves - all in gothic black, of course.

The high street store has also hired the services of men's knitwear design graduate Hannah Taylor to create a line of unisex Technicolour knits for winter. The former student of Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication and Pringle of Scotland Visionary Knitwear Award nominee has produced a collection of retro-inspired pieces featuring festively patterned long-length cardigans and slouchy oversized jumpers, as well as pom-pom adorned hats, all in a fun bold colour palette.

El Nayal's line hits River Island stores late November, while Taylor's collection lands at the beginning of December.

River Island has sponsored Graduate Fashion Week for the past five years and has employed more than 25 graduates in that time as a direct result of their involvement with Graduate Fashion Week.

Picture: Top row, designs by Nabil El Nayal for River Island; bottom row, designs by Hannah Taylor, also for the high street store.

riverisland.com

gfw.org.uk

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