Kingston University’s Fashion students have been forced to start a GoFundMe to cover the exorbitant costs of their final year fashion show.
Students are looking to raise £9000 in order to put on the event, which counts for over 60% of their final grade. The fashion show is an essential element for Fashion students to graduate, with students forced to shoulder the costs themselves with no financial support from the university.
KU’s Fashion cohort showcase their final collections, which they treat as their own version of Fashion Week, only one without PR Lists and champagne, but the overflowing tote bags and fabric scraps in their hair. As well as working on their final projects, students are forced to juggle fundraising for the show to actually take place.
For second year KU student Sarah* (*Pseudonym provided* ), this time of year looks like a timetable designed by an insomniac: “It depends on the deadline but can range from a couple of hours till a couple of days spent without leaving campus.” Studio space at Knights Park is scarce, so she works wherever she can, usually in a room so covered in fabric that she “can’t see the floor.”
She’s been preparing for her final‑year collection since the start of the year; practising techniques, making sketches, and sitting with her ideas. The financial side is its own problem; she’s been told to save £2,000–£3,000 for her final collection, while second‑year projects can easily cost up to £100.
According to Sarah: “It’s very common for students to get over stressed and struggle during hand-ins and there isn’t much support for this (from the university).” She is funding everything herself and knows she’s lucky to live at home, especially compared to friends juggling unpaid placements. The class atmosphere is supportive, but comparison is constant. “People are always doing better in different areas than you are, and it’s hard to get over it,” she said.
Abby*(*Pseudonym provided*), who is currently in her placement year, starts her day with her 9–5 job, studio tasks in between, and time carved out for her own projects. Her collection idea was sparked by her second‑year final project, and she’s been gathering research and testing silhouettes since.
Abby’s been strategic about keeping costs down by emailing companies for deadstock, and she’s funding the rest herself: “I try not let money limit ideas, as I always find a way to find something that works for me.” Before placement, she lived in the studio from 10am to 8pm, followed by all‑nighters in the library. Now she’s trying to undo the habits that left her burnt out. “I focused too much on my course and not on myself,” said Abby.
Abby’s focus is firmly on her own direction. “To me a degree is a degree. It’s what you make of it,” she says. “You need to really put yourself out there, to make your connections.” Via The Guardian’s 2026 best UK universities guide, Kingston’s Fashion BA is ranked top four in the UK for Fashion and Textiles.
Together, they paint a picture of Kingston’s real fashion week: stitched together with ambition.
