With gifted alumni, nearly £2 million investment and a wealth of new facilities, the University of Gloucestershire is returning to its roots as a dynamic fashion leader.

Fashion Design course leader, Margaret McDonough, has a wealth of experience up her sleeve following a career that combines commercial designing for high street fashion brands and fashion education.

And on Friday, June 12, her students will be celebrating the end of their first year with a fashion show at the university's Francis Close Hall campus in Cheltenham, in partnership with Art Couture Painswick and Gloucestershire College.

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For Margaret, building relationships is key to student success, including working with Gloucester-based shirt maker Emma Willis, whose clients include US President Barack Obama and actor Benedict Cumberbatch.

"Since the launch of the new course in 2014, Emma has been very keen to support its development," she said, "particularly in garment construction and giving students the skills they need to be employment-ready. We've worked together to develop a shirt production module."

Cheltenham-based global brand Superdry has committed to an initial three year programme of collaboration with the course which will see the brand's design and creative teams provide expert industry advice, guidance and practical experience to students.

Margaret said: "Our first year has been packed with fantastic learning experiences and exciting collaborations.

"We have undertaken our first live industry brief with students designing and making concept garments for Superdry.

"Students loved the opportunity to meet and present their work to the Superdry design team, which included a number of designers who have guest lectured on the module. Three students have been offered work placements with the brand over the summer."

New students in September will be involved in projects linked to key events such as Clothes Show Live, Cheltenham Fashion Week and the Stroud International Textile Festival.

Friday's fashion show is part of the university's Festival Fortnight, which features a range of community events, most of which are free.

"It will celebrate the return of the course and we hope promote local interest in fashion, couture, sustainability and making," said Margaret.

Angus Pryor, head of the School of Art and Design added: "We want to produce the next generation of fashion designers that will leave their mark on the community, and once again establish Cheltenham and the University of Gloucestershire as the place to be educated in fashion design."

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