Solent students lead backstage make-up at Graduate Fashion Week

Southampton Solent University's BA (Hons) Make-Up and Hair Design students took charge of every backstage make-up look at Graduate Fashion Week (GFW), the world's largest showcase of BA creative fashion graduate talent.

While Solent fashion students presented their collections on the catwalk, a separate team worked behind the scenes delivering looks for a full week of shows, judging and networking. Students from Level 4 through to Master's level worked alongside the L'Oréal Professional team, gaining hands-on exposure to a fast-paced industry environment. 

Donna Bevan, Course Leader for Make-Up and Hair Design, says:

"This is our sixth year working at Fashion Week, and every year has been a blast. We've got students from level four right through to level seven working alongside the L'Oréal Professional team, doing all the make-up for the backstage looks before they head down the catwalk. They get to work on professional models at a really fast pace and really see what the industry is like first-hand."

For the first time, Level 4 students joined the more senior cohorts, offering early-stage learners insight into live industry settings. Lecturer Charlotte Logue believes that the opportunity brings students as close as possible to real-world fashion environments. She says:

"It's about as close as it gets to industry before you're actually in it. We're working with real brands, real partners, real designers. It's an incredible opportunity to learn the technique, learn the pressure, and ultimately see if fashion is for you."

From an industry perspective, the collaboration demonstrates the value of aligning education with professional practice. L'Oréal Professional's backstage team noted the importance of synergy between hair and make-up in achieving cohesive creative results.

Students also developed practical and leadership skills. Level 5 student Lucy Parks led a team, coordinating looks and allocating tasks, while Level 4 student Emily Williams contributed to look design. Exposure to diverse models helped students refine techniques across different skin tones and client requirements.

The experience reflects Solent's Career Ready Revolution, embedding industry engagement and employability into course design. By working alongside professional teams, students strengthen technical skills while building essential industry networks.