Norwich students win at Graduate Fashion Week 2026
This year’s Graduate Fashion Week has seen awards success for Norwich University of the Arts students.
Two of the University’s BA (Hons) Textile Design students celebrated award wins: Lola Powell, who won the Constructed Textiles Award, and Sonia Abul, who won the Surface Textiles Award.
Student work photography: Denisa Ilie
Meanwhile, the Norwich University of the Arts catwalk showcased the work of final year BA (Hons) Fashion students, with Stella Shykolenko announced as the winner of the show.
Norwich students were recognised across twelve categories in total, an incredible celebration of their technical strength across a range of fashion disciplines.
Students from BA (Hons) Textile Design, BA (Hons) Fashion, BA (Hons) Fashion Communication and Promotion, and BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing and Business were all represented in the awards.
Kate Farley, Course Leader for BA (Hons) Textile Design commented:
“In our first year of entering BA Textile Design into the Graduate Fashion Foundation awards, it has been brilliant to achieve four finalists and go on to bring home two wins, with the work of Lola and Sonia.
“It has been an incredible event for us, with the students receiving excellent industry support and feedback following the judging. These award successes are an endorsement for our textiles community at Norwich and the excellence which we strive for, in supporting our students to reach their creative, technical and professional ambitions.”
The Graduate Fashion Week awards work closely with panels of industry experts to identify the best graduating talent.
The full list of Norwich University of the Arts shortlisted students and award winners are:
- Constructed Textiles Award: Lola Powell, BA (Hons) Textile Design – Winner
- Surface Textiles Award: Sonia Abul, BA (Hons) Textile Design – Winner
- Knit Portfolio Award: Sinead Burrage, BA (Hons) Textile Design – Shortlisted
- Zandra Rhodes Fashion Printed Textiles Award, Supported by F&F: Jess Parker, BA (Hons) Textile Design – Shortlisted
- Terry Mansfield Fashion Publication Award: Bethany Hutchinson, BA (Hons) Fashion Communication and Promotion, Ema Bucknam, BA (Hons) Fashion Communication and Promotion – Shortlisted
- Fashion Moving Image Award: Anna Wood, BA (Hons) Fashion Communication and Promotion – Shortlisted
- Fashion Marketing Award: Abigail Williams, BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing and Business, Anna Wood, BA (Hons) Fashion Communication and Promotion – Shortlisted
- Fashion Photography Award, Supported by FREE RANGE: Eve Carnell, BA (Hons) Fashion Communication and Promotion – Shortlisted
- Fashion Styling and Creative Direction Award: Ethan Millard-Nash, BA (Hons) Fashion Communication and Promotion – Shortlisted
- Norwich University of the Arts Catwalk Winner: Stella Shykolenko
- Pattern Cutting Award: Stella Shykolenko, BA (Hons) Fashion – Shortlisted
- Inclusive Fashion Award: Stella Shykolenko, BA (Hons) Fashion – Shortlisted
- The Zalando x GFF Circularity Masterclass Competition: Lucas Fisher, BA (Hons) Fashion
