From an Adaptable Travel staff perspective – By Lisa Jaggs

As a new event this year, we were delighted to see the London Wayne Hemingway Fashion Event 2009 went down brilliantly with Fashion & Design students from all over the UK, with all groups choosing to stay at the fantastic 4* Hilton Metropole hotel in central London - a firm favourite with our groups.

The weather in London was excellent with the groups arriving in London on a gloriously sunny Sunday afternoon. Some students chose to take advantage of the superb weather and the Hiltons’ great location by spending the afternoon enjoying the nearby shopping haven that is Oxford Street. Students gained further inspiration at Camden Market, the birth place of Red or Dead and where Wayne Hemingway made his name, thus setting the scene for the seminar the following day.

The next day students were both excited and apprehensive at meeting the man himself. From a personal point of view, having a background in Textiles myself I was extremely interested in hearing what the founder of the fashion label Red or Dead had to say.

The seminar itself was nothing short of fantastic, with the students, staff and myself engrossed in everything Wayne Hemingway had to say. The content not only covered fashion and design but was also inspiring and motivating not to mention amusing. Sitting at the back of the theatre I watched as students became enthralled in what Wayne was telling them and many could not wait to engage in discussion with Wayne, which he openly encouraged. After the seminar I watched as the students and staff left the theatre bustling with excitement, busily discussing their new found insight and inspiration. I left that morning feeling genuinely privileged to have met Wayne and to have had the opportunity to hear him speak, with student feedback reflecting this feeling.

Group Leader Marlene Lewis from NCN added “The students loved Wayne Hemingway, his honesty and his directness; the staff also thought he was excellent”.

Groups further enhanced their time in London by choosing to visit the renowned London Design Museum where some excellent fashion related exhibitions were on show. This proved a stupendous hit and offered an inspirational ending to a great weekend.

All in all this was an extremely enjoyable Fashion & Design event for students, staff and myself, and groups are already enquiring about next years’ event.

Enquire through this website now…