De Montfort University (DMU) continues to stand out for its innovative teaching, strong industry connections, and a clear emphasis on sustainability—particularly within its fashion and textiles programmes. This year, that reputation was celebrated at the Leicester Made trade event, where the creativity and talent of DMU students took centre stage.
As part of a special collaboration with Kornit Digital, a global leader in sustainable, on-demand textile printing, five final-year DMU fashion students showcased their designs on the Leicester Made catwalk that took place in May. Fast-forward to 20th June and it was time to celebrate the DMU BA (Hons) Fashion Textile Design 2025 graduates at their on-campus show and exhibition. Divya and Jo from FTA Leicester (pictured above) were in attendance and were impressed by the students’ work and their enthusiasm. “It was fantastic to see all their hard work and talk to the graduates about their designs and what they plan to do next,” they said.
(Isabelle’s design on the Leicester Made catwalk)
Among the featured graduates was Isabelle Barton (above), who shared her excitement about Leicester Made earlier in the year:
“Leicester Made was so brilliant and it was so much fun. My lecturer actually approached me about it, I didn’t really know much about the event before – but I am so glad they told me about it. There were so many industry people there that had different ways of working – from digital to physical. There were lots of different brands. It made me feel so good seeing my work shown on the catwalk that wasn’t a part of DMU specifically. It was just a great experience all over.”
(Alana’s design on the Leicester Made catwalk)
Fellow participant Alana (above) echoed the sentiment, highlighting both the exposure and the future potential the event provided:
“I attended Leicester Made, it was really interesting seeing my garments on the catwalk. It was a really good event to network as well. In the future I would definitely be interested in doing womenswear, tailoring, that sort of thing, and it would be great to see more garments at Leicester Made.”
For some students, the event reinforced their commitment to local sourcing and building businesses rooted in Leicester’s rich manufacturing history. Georgie (above) had previously completed an entrepreneurial placement, shared:
“I did an entrepreneurial placement last year which was all about building a business. I wanted to build my business within Leicester, utilising Leicester manufacturers and suppliers as my small contribution to the regrowth of the industry. I think Leicester Made is amazing for that exact reason. In the New Year as I’m graduating I’ll be doing more and would love to attend more Leicester Made events.”
On behalf of the FTA Leicester Divya added: “It was truly an honour to attend the Fashion Graduate Show—it was inspiring to see the students’ work showcased on the runway.
“We had the opportunity to have quick conversations with many of the graduates, and it was wonderful to hear how proud they are of their achievements. Their passion, creativity, and vision for both the fashion industry and Leicester are truly impressive.
“Several of the graduates mentioned having participated in our previous Leicester Made event, with some of their products also featured in the show. They expressed heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity and shared how much it meant to them. It was wonderful to hear how enthusiastic they are to be involved in any future initiatives we organise.
“We’re excited to continue supporting and working alongside such promising talent, and we look forward to collaborating again in upcoming events.”
The Leicester Made event is a growing platform that champions the importance of connecting emerging talent with local industry, while embracing ethical and modern business models. As the fashion and textile industry continues to evolve it is essential that all sectors collaborate together to ensure positive and sustainable growth right here in Leicester.
Congratulations to the DMU Class of 2025.