A fashion-loving student who is about to achieve her ambition to work at exclusive style magazine Paris Vogue has teamed up with Debenhams in Swansea’s busy Quadrant Shopping Centre for a special students-only fashion night.
Go-getting 20-year-old Lowri Evans, President of Swansea University Fashion Society, asked Debenhams to host a fundraising fashion show ahead of the end of year students’ Summer Ball.
Store manager James Loxdale was hugely impressed by the professionalism of the presentation put forward by Lowri and her co-students and agreed to help out and Debenhams will open exclusively for students from 6-8pm on Friday 30th May.
As well as a colourful parade of chic spring lines on the catwalk, there will be complimentary drinks, free goodie bags for the first 50 entrants, a raffle and additional discounts on selected departments.
Proceeds from the fashion show and swish night out will go to the international children’s charity UNICEF.
It makes for a big week of fashion with the Quadrant also hosting the search for Swansea’s Most Stylish Shopper on Thursday, from 10am onwards, with a prize worth over £300 for the winner.
Lowri, at the end of her second year of a BA degree in French, said: “The idea is to give students plenty of inspiration for their summer ball outfits and at the same time we aim to raise lots of money for charity.
“Anyone with a student card is welcome to come along and it’s all for an amazing £2 entry fee.”
James Loxdale said: “Lowri made such an excellent case – and we were very impressed with her proposal for the event which is for a great cause.
“Student numbers in Swansea are due to rise dramatically and we wanted to show off to them the great offer we have available here in Debenhams, for the Summer Ball and beyond.
“That’s why we’re getting involved. Swansea is a young city. It’s vibrant and lively and we want to appeal to the growing number of students in the city.”
Originally from Welshpool, Lowri has long had her sights set on a career in the high end fashion business and is currently awaiting final confirmation of a summer internship place with world leading fashion magazine Paris Vogue.
“It’s looking very positive. I can’t wait. I’ll be doing general office tasks and admin but it will be such good experience,” said Lowri who attended Welshpool High School and Shrewsbury Sixth Form College.
She already has a dazzling list of previous internships on her CV, at trendsetting publications, Vogue, Elle, Net Porter and Company magazine.
She said: “I’ve always wanted to work in fashion and I know it’s so important to get some work experience under my belt while I’m still studying so I started applying for internships in the holidays while I was still at school.
“My first was when I was 16 with a small film production company, then I did some work with the National Theatre and that was when I really knew I wanted to get into the world of fashion. I’d love to get a role in the PR and marketing sector of the business.”
A placement at Paris Vogue will help significantly advance her career ambitions and she added: “As part of my French degree course I have to spend a year working abroad next year and to spend part or all of it in Paris – the fashion capital of the world – would be fantastic.”
Tickets for the Debenhams student fashion night on Friday May 30th from 6-8pm are available from the student union website https://www.swansea-union.co.uk and Swansea University Facebook page www.facebook.com/swanseauniversity
The event is open to students from both Swansea University and University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Swansea.
Ian Kirkpatrick, Manager of the Quadrant Shopping Centre, said: “You only have to walk through the Centre to see how many young people are here and they bring a real buzz to the place and to the city.
“It makes perfect sense for stores like Debenhams to stage events like this and it’s also a lot of fun and brings a sense of occasion to a visit to the Centre.”
