The BA Fashion show at Central Saint Martins has launched the careers of global designers and creatives including John Galliano, Daniel Lee, Stella McCartney, Tolu Coker and Grace Wales Bonner.
This year's show marked a departure from previous years at Granary Square. Held at Peckham Levels - the former 1980s multi-storey car park - the 2026 show welcomed a larger audience and featured 40 final-year students, each presenting a collection of six looks, totaling around 240 looks.
Inspired by science fiction, 19th-century ribbon samples, technology and memory, the collections were judged by public vote.
Polina Kadilnikova, winner of the L'Oréal Professionnel Young Talent Award 2026
This year's winner of the L'Oréal Professionnel Young Talent Award is Polina Kadilnikova, who graduates from BA Fashion Design: Womenswear. She is also the recipient of The Mandrake Hotel Scholarship.
"I studied Womenswear and I was born in Kharkiv and raised in Kyiv, Ukraine. My collection, Casualties, is about the question of what happens to identity if your home disappears. What happens when places that shaped you no longer exist? This year is the fourth year of Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine, with millions of people losing their homes and hope to ever return. My collection uses a lot of imagery from occupied territories to represent the nostalgia of times of peace. It speaks about those who were forced to flee and leave everything behind."- Polina Kadilnikova, BA Fashion Design: Womenswear
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Casualities by Polina Kadilnikova. Photography by Rebecca Maynes
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Casualities by Polina Kadilnikova. Photography by Rebecca Maynes
Cameron Bisseck and Arora Nielson, Runners Up
Congratulations to first runner up, Cameron Bisseck, BA Fashion Design: Womenswear and second runner up Arora Nielson, BA Fashion Design: Knit.
“I hope that I can be a designer who can create a new vision of black femininity, black womanhood and black culture – I hope I can make a collection that speaks to them, that uplifts them. I want to be a designer who can make an impact, to make people wonder and ask questions that puts into doubt everything you know”. - Cameron Bisseck, BA Fashion Design: Womenswear.
“This collection reflects my personal perspective of growing up in North London. It is an homage to the people I surround myself with and the spiritual outlook we share - how lucky I am to be from London and how we must protect this melting pot.” - Arora Nielson, BA Fashion Design: Knit.
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Work by Cameron Bisseck, photography by Rebecca Maynes.
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Work by Arora Nielson, photography by Rebecca Maynes
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Work by Arora Nielson, photography by Rebecca Maynes
L’Oréal Professionnel Partnership
L'Oréal Professionnel recognises exceptional talent among our graduating BA Fashion Design students through the L'Oréal Professionnel Creative and Young Talent Awards. Each year, up to three graduates are selected to receive a cash prize in recognition of their outstanding final collections. Previous winners include Grace Wales Bonner, Richard Malone, Fredrik Tjærandsen, Goom Heo, Mary Katrantzou and Richard Quinn.
Many thanks to L'Oréal Professionnel for supporting the next generation of fashion talent.
BA Fashion 2026 show credits
Hair: Darren Ambrose, Jackie Ambrose and Tennyson Ambrose, D&J Ambrose London for L'Oréal Professionnel, assisted by a team of L'Oréal Professionnel Portfolio hair artists.
Make-up: LCF Hair & Makeup for Fashion team, led by Meena Bhella.
Production: DSA Productions
Show PR: Agency Eleven
Catwalk Photographer: Rebecca Maynes