The Graduate Fashion Week (GFW) 2026 at London's Truman Brewery marked a massive milestone, celebrating the Graduate Fashion Foundation’s 35th anniversary. Day One kicked off with a burst of experimental energy, and nowhere was this more apparent than the highly anticipated 12:00 PM Collective Catwalk, which saw the University of Derby stand out as a major force.

Derby’s cohort brought an impressive balance of conceptual depth and technical execution, proving once again that their fashion department is a hotbed for raw, boundary-pushing British talent.

The University of Derby’s showing at GFW 2026 was a triumphant display of individuality. Rather than conforming to a single "university style," the showcase allowed the distinct voices of designers like Tabitha, Emily, and Lexi to shine brilliantly on their own terms. The future of British fashion is in incredibly creative hands.

Here is our review of the University of Derby's standout moments from the GFW 2026 runway, highlighting three of the university's most exciting names.

Tabitha Windle-Hartshorn: As a winner of the prestigious Collective Catwalk Award, Tabitha Windle-Hartshorn’s collection was a masterclass in narrative fashion. Inspired by her lived experience with ADHD and autism, her designs brilliantly explored the sensory overwhelm and cognitive friction of neurodivergence.

• The Aesthetic: Merging the drama of costume, drag, and ballroom culture, her pieces offered a highly theatrical exploration of form.
• The Execution: Exaggerated silhouettes, bold prints, and deeply tactile textures acted as physical manifestations of internal mental states. Dynamic runway performance elements created a true "pinch-me" moment, establishing Windle-Hartshorn as an exciting, boundary-pushing designer to watch.

Emily Jacob: Sharing the Collective runway with an effortless sense of confidence, Emily Jacob brought a sharp, contemporary edge to the Derby showcase.

Jacob's collection was a brilliant study in construction, capturing the attention of industry scouts lining the front row. Her designs stood out for their meticulous pattern-cutting and an intuitive understanding of how fabric moves around the human form. Striking a perfect chord between ready-to-wear viability and avant-garde experimentation, her garments demonstrated a highly polished, professional finish that felt incredibly mature for a graduating designe

Injecting a dose of fierce, alternative energy into the lineup, Lexi Sol Bear delivered a collection that was impossible to ignore.

Sol Bear’s work felt beautifully raw and unapologetic. Blending tactile fabrics with structured, sometimes chaotic shapes, the collection felt like a rebellion against traditional fashion norms. It was a perfect representation of the forward-thinking, rebellious spirit that Graduate Fashion Week exists to champion—effortlessly bridging the gap between street style and high art.