Phillip Schueller; Phillip Schueller; Rachel Hall, RCA

The Royal College of Art’s annual Fashion and Textiles Work in Progress is guaranteed to brighten up a gloomy start to the year and offers a glimpse into the work of the all the current MA students. ARTS THREAD rounds up some highlights from Womenswear Fashion.

Phillip Schueller’s captivatingly colourful exhibit revealed a masterful touch. Multi-layered silk chiffon, crepe and dip-dyed crystal organza were exquisitely crafted into a beautiful dress and jacket. His chosen fabrics are often a nightmare nemesis for student designers, but Schueller’s piece looked effortlessly constructed and glamorous.

First year student Rachel Hall also embraced zingy colour in her lovely knitwear. Although her inspiration was gleaned from fisherman’s sweaters, her imagination has transformed tradition into 21st century fashion, adding delicate sheer chiffon panels, bright colour-blocking and rib textures.

Sarah Seaton Burridge; Sarah Seaton Burridge; Pieran Gong, RCA

Laser cut neck pieces, ‘ink-stained’ sheers and delicate smudge-printed textures were all features of Sarah Seaton Burridge’s covetable pieces. Also notable was first year student Pieran Gong’s dress. Laser cut strip detailing was crafted into a delicately printed and woven feature creating a futuristic feel.

Daniel Pollit; Chen Yuen Suen; Samantha Bushell, RCA

Complex cutting, pattern and texture were explored by many first year students. Daniel Pollit’s sexy black slashed dress was a favourite with many and Chen Yuen Suen’s dress with its detailed multi-layered, textural effects also caught our eye. Samantha Bushell’s knitwear was impressively dramatic in black and white with slashes of bright red.

Hannah Buswell; Hannah Buswell; Lauren Johnson, RCA

Hannah Buswell tackled colour in her women’s knitwear with joyful abandon, embellishing a panel with sparkling, kaleidoscopic crystals, while first year student Lauren Johnson revealed a more hard-edged futuristic approach with her bold, bright pieces.

April Schmitz; Amelie Marciasini; 1st year student work, RCA

April Schmitz’s precise, inventive cutting shows an individual approach, while Amelie Marciasini’s soft, brushed textural knits also caught our attention.

Laura Amstein; Victoria Spruce; John Van Stouwe, RCA

Accessories highlights included Laura Amstein’s decoratively textured concertina leather bag, Victoria Spruce’s sexy multi-strap shoes and cut-away boots, and finally John Van Stouwe’s shoe with its impossibly elegant, skinny wooden heel.

View the Work in Progress Fashion Menswear on ARTS THREAD. The 2011 graduating fashion students showcase their work through a series of catwalk shows held at the college at the beginning of June. See the RCA website shortly for details of the public show.

RCA Fashion MA course