FASHION RETAIL NEWS UK
Debenhams has announced Eleanor McMahon from Manchester Fashion Institute as the winner of the first “Designers at Debenhams Catwalk to Commercial” Award at Graduate Fashion Week (GFW) 2024.
This initiative marks the re-launch of the highly successful Designers at Debenhams program, which enables designer fashion to be more accessible to a broader audience.
Since its inception in 1993, Designers at Debenhams have played a pivotal role in the careers of esteemed designers such as Julian MacDonald, Matthew Williamson, Henry Holland and more. The re-launch will honour the brand’s rich heritage while embracing contemporary collaborations and present-day muses.
Dan Finley, CEO at Debenhams remarks “Bringing back Designers at Debenhams is a significant milestone for us. Debenhams was a pioneer in this space, writing the blueprint for many talent collaborations. Eleanor’s final collection aligns perfectly with the ethos of our business, and she will be a part of our Designers at Debenhams Journey. We’re looking forward to welcoming her to learn from our in-house experts and bring her inspirational collection to life for SS25.”
The “Designers at Debenhams Catwalk to Commercial” Award will provide Eleanor McMahon a 12-month in-house contract at the retailer, offering a unique chance to gain invaluable industry experience from a commercial perspective. McMahon will design and create a full collection scheduled to go on sale in 2025 as a part of the Designers at Debenhams relaunch.
To select the winner, Debenhams judges joined the daily catwalk judging panel attending, watching and reviewing all university students’ collections showcased across the 4-day event and announced at the finale on 13th June 2024. McMahon’s collection explores the notion of nature reclaiming space highlighting the impact of urbanisation on the environment.
Rachel King, Buying & Design Director at Debenhams said: “We are so excited to welcome Eleanor into the Debenhams family. Although all students presented impressive collections, Eleanor’s designs stood out to us immediately as the stand-out winner of the Designers at Debenhams Catwalk to Commercial Award. We can’t wait to see what she imagines for her debut collection with us.”
The GFW designer’s collection will meld the brand’s commercial accessibility with creative flair of design showcasing Debenhams dedication to nurture the next generation of fashion designers.
“Embarking on the next stage of my career with Debenhams is incredibly exciting, and I’m eager to dive into the commercial side of the fashion industry” commented Eleanor McMahon. “Showing my final collection at Graduate Fashion Week was an unforgettable experience, and I look forward to designing for such a renowned British powerhouse as Debenhams.”