On Friday evening, Bryanston pupils hosted the inaugural Bry Haus, Business of Fashion event, showcasing fashion, design, creative media and entrepreneurship in a celebration of emerging talent.
The event showcased original collections by current pupils, alongside photography, art, pop-up retail and opportunities to connect with Old Bryanstonians from the fashion and creative industries.
Conceived and led by pupil Creative Directors, Henry T and Cosima B, Bry Haus built on the success of the school’s annual A3 Festival fashion show, taking the concept a step further by exploring the business behind the creative industries. From designing collections and modelling to event management, photography, videography, marketing and retail, pupils were involved in every aspect of bringing the event to life.
At the heart of the evening was a spectacular catwalk show featuring pupil-designed collections, with Emmanuelle D named the overall winner for her collection Escapism and Otto H awarded runner-up for KLEIDER MADE.
Emmanuelle’s five-outfit collection explored themes of restriction and constriction, drawing inspiration from straitjackets and incorporating upcycled materials including recycled T-shirts, fabrics and seatbelts. With ambitions to study fashion or costume design after A levels, Emmanuelle demonstrated both creative flair and a thoughtful approach to sustainable design.
Runner-up Otto H presented KLEIDER MADE, an experimental collection influenced by Japanese street style, vintage clothing and the reinvention of existing garments. Drawing on his experience working with British footwear brand Grenson, Otto has combined design, photography and business skills to develop his own distinctive brand, with pieces also available on through his pop-up stall.
The evening also welcomed two successful Old Bryanstonians from the fashion and luxury industries, Coco Fennell (G ’06), whose colourful designs have been worn by celebrities including Rihanna and Kylie Minogue, and Amber Pepper (G ’97), CEO of the Natural Diamond Council, who has held senior leadership roles at some of the world’s leading luxury brands. Their involvement offered pupils valuable insights into the creative and commercial worlds of fashion, including the importance of gaining practical experience and understanding the industry from the ground up.
The school’s Art Department also played a role in the event, with pupils using Bry Haus as an opportunity to develop work that contributes directly to their academic portfolios. Among them were 3D Art pupils, whose creations will form part of their coursework. Having the fashion show as a goal provided a focus for their projects, bringing their ideas to life in a real-world setting.
Photography was another important element of the evening, with Luke C presenting work exploring the spontaneous relationship between fashion, individuality and street life. His photographs will also contribute to his photography portfolio, demonstrating how opportunities such as Bry Haus can enrich pupils’ academic studies while helping them develop practical experience.
The pupil marketing team also came together to capture content, both videography and photography, with the intention of promoting their friends’ fashion businesses.
The event reflected a growing interest in fashion entrepreneurship at Bryanston, where pupils are increasingly combining creative talent with commercial ambition. The school’s dedicated textiles facilities, together with its new Business of Fashion extracurricular activity, provide opportunities for aspiring designers to experiment and explore how their ideas might develop into commercial ventures.
Caroline de Mowbray, Bryanston’s Director of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Employability, said, “Bry Haus was a true celebration of the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit that characterise life at Bryanston and perfectly exemplifies a pupil led initiative. It provided a fitting vibrant and colourful end to the first half of term and, perhaps most importantly, a glimpse of the exciting futures that lie ahead for the school’s next generation of designers, and creative entrepreneurs.”
The portrait photos in the gallery below are taken by our very own Luke C (Year 13, A2)
