London Fashion Week: the students behind the style

Read more: intern protest at London Fashion Week

It's that time of year again – as London Fashion Week descends on Somerset House, fashion editors, bloggers and photographers fill up the cobble-stoned courtyard. But what you may not realise is how many of the people there are students.

For some of them, this London Fashion Week will be their first chance to show their own work alongside the big names on the runway. Others will help models into their outfits backstage, or assist nervous designers in the last few hours before their show. Then there are the student bloggers, writing up reviews in the Starbucks across the road or jostling with the pack of street-style photographers to get the best snap for their blog.

London Fashion Week is part of the curriculum for many fashion students. Andrew Groves, course director for BA fashion design at the University of Westminster, says: "All our second-year students undertake an eight-week internship with a runway designer in the lead-up to London Fashion Week; some also work with London-based designers who show in Paris."

The students of London Fashion Week mostly go unacknowledged – and often unpaid. From the rising star designers to those working behind the scenes to give London Fashion Week its swagger, these students have a unique view of the stories behind the sequins.

Here they share what it's like to prepare for a fashion show and give an insider's view of what goes on behind the scenes at London Fashion Week.

The designers

Barbra Kolasinski, master's student in fashion design and technology at the London College of Fashion

I never expected to be in this position. I come from a small village in Scotland, near Glasgow. I struggled at art school and didn't have much self belief. But after I graduated I knew I hadn't finished and had more creativity to give, so that's why I did the master's.

I felt so privileged when I heard I was picked for the London Fashion Week show. Not many people get to be included, and you had no idea who would be chosen – there were so many talented people in the room.

Preparing for London Fashion Week was stressful. There were a lot of finishing touches to do in order to make my collection catwalk-ready.

We all want to be where the famous designers are who show at London Fashion Week. I think it's good for students to see us doing it so they can see that it's possible for them too.

Johanna Wahlman, third-year fashion design student, the University for the Creative Arts, Fashion Awareness Direct (FAD) competition finalist

As part of our portfolio work, you have to be involved in at least two competitions. I chose the FAD one – I liked that they were really creative. I found out I was a finalist just before Christmas and it felt amazing to hear the news. It's a great opportunity to be involved with the industry.

I've worked at Graduate Fashion Week before as a dresser, helping the models change into their outfits – it was very hectic.

It feels amazing that I'm actually going to show my work this time and not just be the dresser.

The interns

Freya Edmondson, second-year fashion design student at Kingston University

I've dressed models backstage at London Fashion Week quite a few times and it's pretty much all students. A lot of designers get students to help out too.

I'm now assisting designers called Vin and Omi – they're just about to do their first ready-to-wear collection. They are quite exceptional in how they treat people who help them. They give me quite a lot of responsibility. I think of it like an apprenticeship – they're teaching me a lot of sewing skills and I'm getting more confident with my managerial skills and learning from the PR side too.

But I think sometimes people are taken advantage of. I know we put ourselves up for it, but a lot of interns aren't appreciated as much as they should be.

I'd say to students they should definitely get involved with London Fashion Week because whether you like it or not it's really good experience. But don't let people treat you like shit. I've often overheard terrible things, and some people just don't stand up for themselves.

I'm lucky that I have been paid for a couple of things, like photo shoots. But as far as I know that's very rare.

Rachel Dunn, second-year fashion design student at the University of Westminster

As part of my course, I have to take part in several weeks of interning. When I was applying for placements it was announced that Louise Alsop had been selected to showcase her work at London Fashion Week as part of Fashion East. I loved her graduate collection and got in touch asking to intern for her – and she said yes.

We are a very small team – just three interns and Louise, so we all get involved in all the jobs, from cutting out fabric, to sewing garments, to screen printing and running errands.

I didn't know what to expect, but it has been less stressful than I thought. And working in the industry has really helped me think about my design work in a more consumer-based way. Instead of desigining absolutely anything I want, I'm now thinking about whether a design would sell better in a certain fabric or colour.

When the show comes round I'll be really excited. We will all be helping Louise backstage, so we won't actually see the show.

The bloggers

Brooke Mccord, MA student in fashion and lifestyle journalism at the London College of Fashion

This will be my third season at London Fashion Week. I am part of Fashion Scout's blogging team. Fashion Scout cover international and up and coming designers, so we get a schedule and you'll then either be backstage interviewing a designer or watching the show. You run back and forth between the events and then write up the show or interview.

The days are long – normally about 12 hours. Last year it was quite a struggle because it was just before my dissertation was due, but I just had to be organised and get that done before I went.

I knew it was going to be fast-paced but it was much faster than I imagined.

I sometimes get told to run up to the front row to ask people their opinion on the show and it's quite daunting. You think "Are they going to answer me? Are they going to be insulted that I've even spoken to them?"

The first time is very daunting but the minute someone replies or gives you some quotes you can use, then you realise that they're used to it and they know you're trying to start your career in fashion and they're not out to get you. There are some who are more scary though.

I don't think people realise how many students are there at London Fashion Week.

At Fashion Scout there are so many interns and runners behind the scenes. Without them it wouldn't be able to run anywhere near as smoothly as it does. The interns are the people who are readily available at the time to help out.

I think people can tell you're a student though because we're normally the ones running around with a notebook and in flat shoes. Everyone else looks a lot more glamorous.

Victoria Terry, blogger at She and Hem and final-year student in children's nursing at the University of the West of England

This will be my first time at London Fashion Week. We were contacted by a designer's PR who liked our blog and wanted us to come along to their show and work on a street style shoot with them.

I'm at a really important part of my studies at the moment and I've really neglected uni trying to sort things for London Fashion Week.

Lots of students who are doing fashion-related degrees work at London Fashion Week for free, and often lose money because of travel just to get the experience.

Children's nursing and fashion don't really mix, but I find that working on the blog helps me to relax after a challenging day. I've recently been on placement in intensive care in Swindon, which is over an hour's drive away from me, so I've found it really difficult to blog as much as I would like.

Luckily London Fashion Week has fallen in a study week so I'm able to go. There are lots of students involved in London Fashion Week, but I wonder if there are any other nurses attending?

Rachel Simpson, blogger at Pretty Petticoats and second-year fashion retail management student at Birmingham City University

I've never attended any of the shows, but I go down to Somerset House during London Fashion Week to get inspiration from what everyone is wearing. Outside the fashion shows is the hullabaloo frenzy – photographers go crazy and everyone's trying to get pictures for their blog or website. It was great to shoot some street style images for the blog.

Even if you don't have a ticket to a show, it's worth going to see what people are wearing, to take a few snaps and even stand outside a show. I saw people like Anna Wintour, Alexa Chung, Sienna Miller and Olivia Palermo – where else would I see people like this, all together?

As a fashion student, being in the loop with fashion week is important. Especially for my modules at uni in trend forecasting and styling, it's really good to see what's up and coming in London.

Are you a student who's involved in London Fashion Week in some way? Tweet us your view of London Fashion Week to @gdnstudents, or share with us via Facebook.

This article was amended 17 February 2014 to amend an error: Johanna Wahlman was previously cited as a winner in the FAD competition, she is actually a finalist.

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