GRADUATE FASHION WEEK IS CHILD’S PLAY

LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES STUDENTS LEONI NEWCOME, KATHARINE GOETZEE AND ELLY ARIF ENTERTAINED GRADUATE FASHION WEEK VISITORS WITH THEIR UNUSUAL GARMENTS FEATURING CLOWNS AND PETER PAN DETAILING. AMY FALLON MET WITH THE THREE GRADUATES TO DISCUSS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THEIR END-OF-UNI COLLECTION.

Coulrophobia, the abnormal or exaggerated fear of clowns, could be on the rise, with one circus in Newent, Gloucestershire offering counseling for those who suffer from the illness.

But Liverpool John Moores student Leoni Newcome decided the best way to tackle her phobia was by emblazoning bright images of the objects of her fear on her Graduate Fashion Week pieces.

A bright mustard over-the-knee dress, complete with hood, featuring a full-length clown’s body, teamed with black nautical stripe leggings, is one standout item from her collection.

“My best friend Derrin has an agonizing fear of them, and had to be hypnotized to help overcome this,” explains Newcome, 21.

“This was very inspiring and fascinating for me.”

However, while her designs may cheer some of us up, it may not be the right treatment for coulorphobics.

“The feedback as been quite positive, people usually say it makes then laugh or smile – but it also scares the life out of them,” admits Leoni.

“I love any kind of reaction.”

Fellow graduate Katharine Goetzee also used fun and quirky ways of addressing androgyny in her collection.

Gender Play brings together pinstripe shirts, big bows and glasses.

“Ultimately, male fashion tends to be simple and unadventurous as it adheres to the logic that men’s dress, especially the suit, represents their economic and political power,” Goetzee, 21, says.

“Women’s fashion tends to be more glamorous and adventurous in comparison, as historically they have not directly held any social or political status.

“However, as the economic workforce has changed and women have developed social and political power, there has been a rise in androgynous dress for women.”

The male desire to remain like Peter Pan, perpetually mischievous and youthful, was the inspiration for Elly Arif’s collection.

“To die will be an awfully big adventure,” the 22-year-old quotes from JM Barrie’s story of eternal boyhood.

“It’s (my range) ultimately about immortality and escapism, the everyday man trapped in normality and routine escaping to ‘Never Land’, the childhood dream.”

“I think this idea of staying young has become quite dominant in society, predominantly the focus is on our changing appearance however, and trying to stay looking young and youthful.”

It’s something the upcoming designer worries about himself, particularly in the rag trade.

“I do worry about getting old sometimes,” Arif confesses.

“I think now that I have finished university and will no longer be in education the realisation of getting a job in the real world is quite scary.

“But at the same time I am quite excited for this next step in my life.”

AGENT2 was able to visit GFW thanks to Liverpool One.

Words Amy Fallon