The 2013-2014 Vogue Fashion Foundation Diploma Graduates!

Last week saw the Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design hit a historic moment in its evolution – the graduation of its first year-long Vogue Fashion Foundation Diploma students. But before the celebratory graduation ceremony itself, students displayed their talents and practical abilities with a private view of graduate work at the college in Soho, London. A stellar cast of guests included the Editor of British Vogue, Alexandra Shulman, along with Condé Nast International’s Chairman Jonathan Newhouse and Managing Director Nicholas Coleridge. “It was fantastic that the students had such an influential and knowledgeable group of people from both Condé Nast and the wider industry come and look at each of their final projects,” says Principal Susie Forbes. “And I have to say, I was incredibly proud of what the students had all achieved.”

The exhibition was the culmination of a year of creative and commercial hard work and excellence from the students, and included fashion photography and styling, brand concepts and campaigns, and entrepreneurial business proposals. The mood was celebratory as students – many of who entered the college with only a hunch of which part of the industry to explore as careers, demonstrated a focused and highly professional range of specialist outputs. “Great showcase of work today @CNCollege,” tweeted guest Tom Meggle, Managing Director of Louis Vuitton UK and Ireland, “(Principal) Susie and CNC team can be proud of this first vintage of talent.”

The graduation ceremony itself proved to be an emotional evening, with family and friends gathering to celebrate the students’ achievements and see them receive special awards and their graduation diplomas. With many of the students already stepping straight into job opportunities and paid internships, the college looks forward to following their careers as the first Condé Nast College Diploma alumnus.