Lady Burlington selects students' designs for exhibition

Laura Cavendish, Countess of Burlington, visited the University of Derby yesterday (March 15) to handpick fashion students’ garments for the upcoming ‘House Style: Five centuries of fashion at Chatsworth’ exhibition.

Lady Burlington, daughter-in-law of the Duke of Devonshire, sits on the British Fashion Council’s NEWGEN selection panel, one of the most internationally recognised talent identification schemes. She viewed toiles designed by eight students and, to their surprise and delight, selected all of them to be exhibited in the Orangery at the Chatsworth exhibition, which will also feature designs from Christian Dior, Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen.

Speaking during her visit, Lady Burlington said: “They’re all really amazing, and it’s so brave to have something totally of the future in the show at Chatsworth - our visitors are going to be very interested in these. It’s not easy to make something so conceptually interesting and yet so simple, and the designs I’ve seen are beautifully constructed.”

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, Professor Kathryn Mitchell, added: “It’s a great privilege for our students to be involved in such an important event, showing their creations alongside world famous designers. It’s also a fantastic opportunity for them to show their designs to such a discerning audience as those who are going to be coming to Derbyshire to visit the exhibition.”

The exhibition will explore the history of fashion and bring to life the captivating individuals from the Cavendish family.

The Gucci-sponsored fashion exhibition is open from March 25 – October 22, 2017.

For more information about the exhibition, go to: www.chatsworth.org/events/.