Newcastle Fashion Week Opens Tomorrow – Full Run Down and Choice Picks
By Zoe Beaty on May 13, 2011 in Style
Short skirts, lots of orange flesh and heels the size of small buildings are just some of the connotations Geordie girls are subject to. For years, London has mocked the North – but finally, the fashion world has caught up with Newcastle. And it’s here to stay.
Tomorrow, Newcastle will begin the glamorous task of celebrating its first Fashion Week and -according to Sandra Tang, who is co-ordinating the show – really begin to hammer down those not-so sophisticated stereotypes.
“We really wanted to champion Newcastle as a whole,” she says. “The city has so much to offer to the industry and in recent years has become an established place for fashion.
“In the past, Newcastle has had a bad reputation for style but now it is so diverse and there is so much talent here. Everyone that we’ve spotted on the lookout for Newcastle’s Most Stylish has been so individual, but they’re all so stylish.
“By having a fashion week for the city, we are helping that image along and showing the world what Newcastle really has to offer.”
Although Sandra sometimes borders on the delusional (quote: “An American magazine polled Newcastle fourth after New York, London and Paris for fashion capitals of the world.” [update: new link, turns out not that delusional) it is clear that she only sees great things for the future of fashion in Newcastle.
“We hope this is just the beginning,” she says. “Newcastle was an obvious choice to hold a fashion week – and I’m sure they will only get bigger and better.”
In reality, it is a light-year away from traditional fashion weeks. It will not prompt beady-eyed journos eager for next season’s key looks to descend on the city, neither will they be filling their Smythson notebooks with new trends. Instead of something like 102 shows, there are just two runways for the taking. Not to mention that those catwalks will be more West End than Westwood.
But when it comes down to the crunch, the only people who truly benefit from the buzz and allure of customary fashion weeks are press and buyers, who are exclusively invited. Yes, there is London Fashion Weekend to which the public may attend, but I challenge anyone who says that it is remotely like the real thing.
And there lies the big difference between established fashion weeks and Newcastle’s first. There is no exclusivity – and so the cliché goes, there really is something for everyone to get involved in. Instead of pouring over Style.com for the latest live shows, we can be on the front row and truly immerse ourselves in the coveted world we love.
Sandra agrees: “We can’t compare ourselves to established fashion weeks in terms of scale, but it is still a chance for everyone to get inspired and involved.
“People flock here to the outstanding universities that are so esteemed by the fashion industry and shoppers come here from all over the country because there is so much to offer.
“This fashion week is about celebrating that – we have shows from emerging talent and Northumbria University graduates that will go on to great things. They are the future of fashion, and they will be seen at Newcastle Fashion Week first.
“And it’s also just for the generic shopper. The people who spend their hard earned cash on the fashion industry and keep it alive.
“There is so much on. Some big names are behind us like Scott Henshall and Wayne Hemingway and even global brand Fashion TV are coming down to the parties.
“Everyone is so excited – it’s going to be an amazing week.”
Zoe’s Choice Picks
There are so many events going on in and around Newcastle next week that it’s hard to keep track. Of course, no Fashion Week would be complete without a catwalk or two but that really is the tip of the iceberg – there are even free designer clothes for everyone.
Ok, so maybe that’s a fib. But you’ll find the next best thing at Daisy Green’s Swish, 5pm on Thursday May 19 at As You Like It in Jesmond. There are a few clothes swaps going on, but if you only make one (depending on just how much of your wardrobe you’d like to replace) then make it Daisy’s. She won’t disappoint.
And you won’t be short of style inspiration for summer – whether you’reþ a high fashion fiend or a vintage kid. Northumbria University will be holding their annual fashion show on Thursday May 19, and you’d be a fool to miss it. With their impeccable reputation for producing great new talent (esteemed designer and Newcastle Fashion Week ambassador Scott Henshall even trained there), it is set to be a scorcher. Don’t worry if you can’t get tickets though, As You Like It will be holding a show for Newcastle’s new talent, too, on Tuesday May 17 – and it’s free.
An Independent Shop Crawl around Newcastle from 9.30am on Wednesday May 18 aims to show shoppers hidden gems in the city. Though it seems highly unlikely any shops have been missed (by me at least) I don’t think it’s worth the risk. Go exploring. Even if you don’t find a new shopping destination, I heard on the grape vine that some boutiques are offering discounts to people on the tours. Bingo.
But it can’t all be fun. If you fancy a bit of unprecedented torture, then step into Europe’s only 3D scanner which will be found residing in Eldon Square on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week.
The “revolutionary” machine/self-hate inducing chamber will examine and measure every part of your body exactly and then tell you what you should be wearing for your shape. A mechanical Trinny and Susannah as it were (I couldn’t think of anything worse). Not fully satisfied that you have put yourself through enough? It will print out the results so you can pour over every inch all the way home. Great stuff. The fashion industry was crying out for an expensive method of styling to replace ‘trying things on’.
There are alternative events too though – with a little more resonance. A lecture at Northumbria University on Tuesday, May 17 at 10am will analyse what Fairtrade in fashion really means – and what it should mean to you. With ethical standards in the clothing industry notoriously low, this is an issue that needs addressing, fast. You might just want to take a look.
And it just wouldn’t be fashion week without a few cracking parties in the mix. Tup Tup Palace on Collingwood street will be holding plenty throughout the week if you can stand the footballers.
Have fun, but be on your best-dressed behaviour – style snappers will be positioned at vantage points around the city to find Newcastle’s most stylish. Good luck!
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@NewcastleNE1 launch Fashion Week tomorrow, interview and some choice picks by @zoe_beaty http://t.co/EAtvUoI
RT @kyeotv: Newcastle Fashion Week Opens Tomorrow – Full Run Down and Choice Picks http://bit.ly/mwBjdl
RT @kyeotv: Newcastle Fashion Week Opens Tomorrow – Full Run Down and Choice Picks http://bit.ly/mwBjdl
get a bit of @kyeotv in your life… Newcastle Fashion Week launch tomorrow, interview and some choice picks: http://bit.ly/mT7Q3L
Was the Indy article written by the Mike Parker who’s now married to Hannah from Sailor Girl?
All bloody hilarious anyway. And did you hear that Gateshead now boasts the hippest street in Britain? Sez ere:
http://m.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/jun/06/london-gateshead-hippest-street-award?cat=travel&type=article
I thought South Shore Road was a dead end that leads to a car park. Shows what I know.