Winchester Fashion Week looms as indie retailers and students look forward to busy five-day event

Winchester is set to celebrate all things fashion this October in a week of showcases, masterclasses, exhibitions, workshops and shopping events.

The five-day Winchester Fashion Week is presented by the city’s Business Improvement District in collaboration with the University of Winchester, where the Grand Finale Catwalk Show will take place on Saturday 21st October.

“We’re delighted that the University of Winchester has chosen once again to support this annual event” said Sarah Davis, Manager at Winchester BID.

“We get the opportunity to work with students studying Fashion Marketing and Event Management and give them a real live event to work on.

“They can also create their own events during the week and gain valuable experience not just in the world of fashion, but in pulling together a show-stopping city-wide event.

“Our ongoing relationship with the university students and course leaders means that we are confident to develop new ideas and new ways of working to make the Grand Finale Catwalk Show, as well as the entire week, a great success.”

The catwalk will also be attended by plenty of independent fashion retailers from the city centre, as well as national brands with a presence in Winchester.

Among them is the independent lifestyle boutique Ellie and Bea, providing ladies fashion, accessories, lingerie and jewellery.

They have a high street outlet on Parchment Street, as well as another in nearby Alresford.

Joining them will be Bath-based menswear retailer Suave Owl, who opened their second and latest location in Winchester a couple of months ago.

There’s also re:dress, a slow fashion indie boutique on Romsey Road, and The Well Worn, who also sell a range of preloved items from their studio on Middle Brook Street.

They’ll share the catwalk with brands including Anthropologie, Aspiga, Crew Clothing, Hobbs, Mint Velvet, Mountain Warehouse, Oliver Bonas, Phase Eight, Primark and White Stuff.

The event runs from Monday 16th to Saturday 21st October, with activities lined up throughout.

Tickets to the Grand Finale Catwalk are available here.

• winchesterfashionweek.co.uk