Fashion student wins prestigious industry award to design exclusive collection for Debenhams

A fashion student from Manchester Met’s Manchester Fashion Institute has won a top prize at Graduate Fashion Week and will go on to design an exclusive print collection for Debenhams.

Eleanor McMahon from BA (Hons) Fashion, has won the first Designers at Debenhams Catwalk to Commercial prize for her womenswear collection featuring bright, playful and clashing print designs inspired by floral forms and patterns.

McMahon will undertake a 12 month contract with Debenhams based around print design and will see her designs brought to life by developing an exclusive collection for the retailer which is scheduled to go on sale in 2025.

During Graduate Fashion Week (June 10 to 13), a judging panel from Debenhams attended all University catwalk shows, shortlisted graduate collections and then selected one designer as the winner.

McMahon impressed Debenhams judges with her final collection which explores the notion of nature reclaiming urban spaces and is inspired by the bright colours and shapes of flowers and organic forms seen during visits to RHS Bridgewater in Salford, and Amsterdam during the summertime which were incorporated into the final print design for the garments.

Speaking about winning the award, McMahon said: “I feel privileged and lucky to have been given the opportunity to take part in Graduate Fashion Week and to have won this award. I’m excited to get started working with Debenhams and to see what comes next from this incredible opportunity. It’s wonderful to see how all the hard work from the last year has paid off.”

Kat Scott, Programme Leader in Fashion at Manchester Fashion Institute, said: “Everyone at Manchester Fashion Institute is immensely proud of Eleanor for her remarkable achievement in winning this prize. Eleanor exemplifies the excellence of the BA Fashion programme, blending traditional hand techniques with illustration and screen-printing, alongside a personal, exploratory concept. We are delighted that Debenhams has recognised her dedication, skill, creativity, and the commercial promise of her collection.”

Thirty selected students from Manchester Fashion Institute showcased their collections in a physical catwalk show alongside a digital show brought to life using cutting edge fashion design software CLO3D – the first digital show to be presented at Graduate Fashion Week.

BA (Hons) Fashion student Amelia Perkins was announced as the winner of Manchester Fashion Institute’s catwalk show alongside fellow fashion student Freya Pearson who was highly commended.

A total of 17 students from BA (Hons) Fashion, BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Technology, BA (Hons) Fashion Art Direction and BA (Hons) Fashion Promotion were also shortlisted for prizes at the Graduate Fashion Week Awards which are held annually by Graduate Fashion Foundation during Graduate Fashion Week.

Graduate Fashion Week showcases the work of more than 3,000 graduating students each year across 26 fashion disciplines. The event attracts thousands of guests, features 17 catwalk shows and exhibition stands, alongside a schedule of talks, masterclasses, and workshops from leading names in the fashion and retail industry.

Top industry professionals, press and recruiters from the UK and abroad use the event as an opportunity to discover talent, as well as offering graduate employment and placement opportunities.

Manchester Met is celebrating its 200 year anniversary in 2024 and this month is looking at how creative excellence has been championed across two centuries – and continues to shape the industry today.