Heritage meets innovation as Kingston School of Art students showcase personal stories in prestigious runway show

Tea ceremonies, the welcoming sanctuary of Caribbean front rooms and Black hiking groups are among the inspirations behind collections from Kingston School of Art’s fashion students who will be showcasing their designs at an exclusive event in East London on 10 June. 

Kingston University’s prestigious catwalk show has launched the careers of many lauded fashion designers and this year’s show will see 22 designers each share six looks encompassing menswear and womenswear. The striking, sophisticated and innovative collections demonstrate the bold personal statements the students are addressing in their upcoming graduate show – tackling pressing contemporary issues around gender, family, heritage and sustainability. 

22-year-old designer Ashanti Clark from South London has created an intensely personal collection that bridges generational styles across her Caribbean family heritage. Her grandmother's house provided the catalyst for a collection exploring the ornate decorative traditions of Caribbean home interiors, characterised by abundant lace, mahogany furniture, and vibrant patterns, alongside the deconstructed leather aesthetics of her mother's 1990s wardrobe. The collection's foundation pieces are literal transformations of her grandparents' original migration luggage from the 1970s, creating luggage dresses that honour the journey from Jamaica to Britain while exploring themes of home, memory, and belonging. 

The designer's approach reflects both sustainability and cultural preservation, while the collection's powerful narrative of transformation mirrors the immigrant experience itself. "West Indian households tend to keep things for a very long time and preserve them, it just feels right to be able to use something that was my grandma's and create something beautiful and new instead of just throwing it away," she said. "I wanted to create the feeling of being younger and feeling small compared to everything around me – but within an incredibly safe environment that felt like home, this led to the creation of the large silhouettes of some of my pieces which engulf the wearer.”

Drawing inspiration from ancient Japanese tea master Okakura Kazuo, Bay Paley is presenting a collection that serves as an invitation to slow down, reflect and reconnect. The collection explores the nuanced world of tea through fashion. From literal interpretations like a tea bag-inspired square skirt with pleated edges to more abstract concepts such as a hospital gown-inspired piece that references the medicinal properties of tea. The designer has woven together diverse narratives around service, healing, and the simple act of making something nurturing for yourself and others.

The 23-year-old from West London spent three months in Japan during an internship with Issey Miyake where they attended traditional tea ceremonies and developed a deep appreciation for matcha culture. "Tea for me has always brought me together with my friends and my family, it's a shared moment of calm amid the chaos of life," she said. “My standout piece is a yellow matcha whisk dress with movement-responsive fringing, it was the first piece I created for the collection and holds a special place in my heart. I hope my collection celebrates human connection and the importance of taking pause in our fast-paced world.”

Rural and urban environments combine in Olivia Williams’ groundbreaking collection that explores the intersection of Black hiking groups in the UK and the cultural heritage of the Windrush generation. The collection examines how both the countryside and the Caribbean front room serve as spaces of community and safety, with hiking groups creating inclusive environments for people of colour to connect with nature. Drawing directly from Olivia’s family history, the work transforms traditional furnishing fabrics, old tents and garden umbrellas into contemporary hiking wear that celebrates both sustainability and cultural identity. 

The garments feature vibrant floral prints inspired by Jamaican flora and reference clothing worn by Caribbean immigrants upon arrival, while incorporating technical elements like zippered tent fabric inserts for practical outdoor functionality. "I was looking at how hiking groups have created a safe space for Black and Brown people to go into nature and be in a community," explained 23-year-old from Croydon, who discovered a passion for hiking while studying abroad. The collection also references her grandmother's wardrobe and the importance of the front room as cultural sanctuary. "The outside world was seen as a hostile environment, and it meant that the front room and the home became a safe space to express your culture – I wanted to celebrate that and give a second life to those materials.” 

Commenting on the show, which is sponsored by fashion brands Dewhirst and ME+EM, Fashion BA (Hons) course leader David Frizzell said it demonstrated the quality of graduates studying the course, which is known for producing studio-ready designers with purpose and authenticity. 

“Our students are reacting in more personal ways than ever before – they're talking about contemporary issues with meaningful statement collections that aren't wasteful or frivolous,” he said. “We're equipping students with rigorous skill building that gives them freedom, opportunity and choice. As a designer you have to be ready to explore different paths –whether that's working for luxury fashion houses on colour and surface pattern, commercial design for high street retailers or setting up their own boutique fashion brand."

• Find out more about studying Fashion BA (Hons) at Kingston University.