PREPARATIONS are hotting up ahead of Oxford Fashion Week after local students joined the team on its first ever world tour.

Now in its sixth year, the glitzy event will return to its first-ever base in the Sheldonian Theatre from Monday, October 26 to Saturday, October 31.

Organisers Oxford Fashion Studio (OFS) have returned from a whirlwind tour of New York, London, Paris, Oxford, Los Angeles and Houston in time to host open castings for this season’s models.

This year marked the first ever international tour for OFS.

Director Carl Anglim said: “The team are excited to be back in Oxford. It feels like home ground. This is our first big return to the Sheldonian since 2009 and there will be a good mix of local and regional designers.

“Now that we have these international shows there will be a more designers who see Oxford as a great place to show their designs.”

It’s not just the models who had the chance to hit the catwalks worldwide. In September, fashion students from City of Oxford College accompanied OFS to London on their world tour.

Mr Anglim added: “We always try to integrate young people into our shows. The students have been wonderful to work with and a great source of ideas.”

Katrina Stewart, 17, organised the running order and dressed models for one of the London shows. She said: “It was a great experience and gave me an insight into what happens at a big fashion show.”

Fellow student Chloe Wiblin, 18, worked front of house at the same show and took charge of OFS’s social media presence.

She said: “My aim after finishing college is to go on to study fashion merchandising at university so this is really good experience.”

Backstage manager Alison Brodie, 19, also a former City of Oxford College student, said: “We have recruited volunteers from City of Oxford College since 2009. The backstage and front of house operation is intense, but the students involved themselves quickly and rose to the challenge.”

A full line-up for this year’s Oxford Fashion Week will be published in the coming weeks and The ‘Face of Oxford Fashion Week’ will chosen after castings end. The first casting session takes place today from 1pm until 5pm at the Varsity Club, High Street.

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