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An outdoor fashion show in Brindleyplace later this month will celebrate the ingenuity and passion of Birmingham’s most creative students – and serve as a reminder that the city’s creative heart is still very much alive and beating strong.

The ‘1000 Threads’ showpiece in Oozells Square on Tuesday 18 June has been organised by Birmingham City University with the support of a number of key movers and shakers in the city.

“This is the kind of event that Birmingham has been crying out for,” said BCU Vice-Chancellor Professor David Mba. “For too long, the city’s creative scene has been hamstrung by the travails of the City Council and by fears surrounding funding and investment.

“We see ‘1000 Threads’ as a positive reaction against this climate of negativity. The talent of our arts and design students points the way to an exciting future, while the potential for greater industry collaboration across the city indicates that the present is pretty bright, too.”

Hosted by BBC presenter and podcaster Natalie Graham, the fashion show forms a key part of BCU’s Inspired Festival and will feature 12 student collections and a total of 33 outfits.

It will be preceded by a VIP reception at the internationally acclaimed Ikon Gallery and will be followed by a student exhibition of jewellery and fashion in the award-winning X, one of the most technologically advanced office buildings in the UK.

“As part of our commitment to offer our graduates professional showcasing opportunities, alongside our ambitions to connect to the City of Birmingham and its communities we have partnered with Brindleyplace, X building, Oozells Square and the Ikon to showcase fashion and jewellery in the very heart of the city.

The BCU Fashion and Jewellery showcase will celebrate the creativity of our students who represent a broad range of cultural backgrounds. The fashion and jewellery collections will be hailing a rich and diverse mix of heritage that mirrors Birmingham’s community.  Renowned for award-winning programmes, The College of Jewellery, Fashion and Textiles offers practice-based courses in excellent facilities to master​ craft skills alongside cutting edge technologies, emphasising, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and collaboration.

I am hoping that this show will be a catalyst to support this incredible city, to unite in its determination to proudly present its creative forces.”

Lee Lapthorne Head of the College of Jewellery, Fashion and Textiles, BCU

Matt Long, Senior Asset Manager for Praxis, owners of Brindleyplace, said Oozells Square, with its iconic buildings, will provide “the perfect backdrop” for the event.

“Brindleyplace starts and ends with community – and we are proud to stage the inaugural BCU Fashion Show,” he added. “We are looking forward to welcoming students, their families, BCU staff, stakeholders and local businesses, and to building enduring relationships with each other and the wider Birmingham business, leisure and charitable communities.”

The evening will feature entertainment from The Bond Street Singers, a collaboration between, Jim ‘Shaft’ Ryan, Miss Moneypenny’s founding DJ and producer, and Shereece Storrod, artistic director of Black Voices, Europe’s finest female a cappella quintet.

There will also be a performance from Elmhurst Ballet School, members of which will be wearing costumes designed by fashion students at BCU.

The after-show drinks reception at X is being sponsored by Qavali, an Indo-Persian restaurant near Oozells Square, and will include a set by DJ Altasoph.

Andrew Riley, founder and editor of STYLE Birmingham, is a key member of the organising team.

“Our aims are to connect the community, celebrate young creativity, and provide inspiration to the city and beyond,” he said. “It’s an incredible opportunity to showcase talent and innovation, and it’s a hugely positive concept that will bring the community together in a meaningful way.”

Nick White, Director at CBRE which owns X, added: “We are delighted to collaborate with Birmingham City University and support this event.

“We’re excited about the creative installation at X, 10 Brindleyplace. This event aligns perfectly with our commitment to sustainability, technology and wellness, which are at the heart of the development, Birmingham’s largest award-winning office refurbishment scheme.”

‘1000 Threads’ is also part of Birmingham’s ‘100 Days of Creativity’, an extensive programme of artistic events and activities taking place across the city until 26 August.

“I am thrilled 1000 Threads is part of the 100 Days of Creativity,” said Alex Nicholson-Evans, Birmingham’s first City Curator. “Fashion is such an important part of expressing creativity.

“It’s fantastic that this event is celebrating emerging creatives, too, and in such an iconic Birmingham location. I can’t wait to see the show.”

Sahar Rezazadeh, from Qavali, added: “We’re delighted to support BCU and the brilliant fashion talent in our city. Thank you to BCU and all their students for the excellent work you do to place the city on the map in the creative and commercial space.”

The graduate fashion show in Oozells Square runs from 6.30-7.30pm and is open to the public.

The student exhibition in X runs from 17-21 June and is open to the public, 2-3pm daily.

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