Dear GCFS blog readers,
It’s a bittersweet time for us at GCFS: our Synergy campaign has come to an end, but our hearts are very full from Saturday night. Raising over £30,000, with at least 10k of that being made up of individual fundraisers, it’s been a wonderful year and we are extremely grateful for all of your support. To keep the memories alive, here’s a timeline of show day!
12:45 - Commitee Call Time
We arrived nice and early to resume the show prep we started on Friday. From final sponsorship content to venue decor, all hands were on deck to turn the Old Fruitmarket into a proper Glasgow party! With pin-curls in their hair and GCFS fleeces to keep them warm, the charity team created this stunning Young Lives vs. Cancer balloon arch!
13:30 - 15:00 - Tech and Dress Rehearsal
Our model manager Kiara ran the models through their walks one last time, whilst our producer Matthew ensured the music and screens were all set. Only a few more hours until the venue would be full of fashionistas!
18:00 - 20:00 - VIP Pre-Party
The doors of OFM opened up to our VIP guests, arriving in their best black-tie looks. They enjoyed not one but two Synergy themed bars, titled the Tangle and Rhythm bars.
Whereas the Tangle bar was the place to try and buy our delicious sponsor drinks, the red Rhythm bar offered a space to enjoy the menu! From Liquid Oats shots to non-alcoholic Kay Tea ice teas, there was something for everyone. To keep the rhythm going (pun intended), we had some great live tunes from the sax duo Bruce and Marcus. Plus, can we appreciate the adorable doilies made by the production team? (The smartest VIPs will have popped one into their goody bags)…
We also had our merch stands up and running, where our guests could purchase raffle tickets, as well as other GCFS and Young Lives vs. Cancer merchandise. From our GCFS x Antagonizine zines to much needed flip flops for the end of the night, our guests’ Young Lives vs. Cancer totes quickly filled up with more goodies!
21:00 - Act 1
Our guests made their way downstairs (or to the mezzanine for VIP platinum holders), ready for the show to start! The intro video played as everyone beamed with excitement, and gorgeous models and looks soon appeared on the runway. This half showcased designers such as Charlotte Curie, Poppy Leung and Lola Roney: my favourite looks would have to be Mackenzie Jennings’ fungi-inspired pieces rocked by Liza and Rowan, perfectly capturing the symbiosis of Synergy.
21:30 - Raffle Intermission
Time for the raffle prize winners to be announced by our fabulous host Molly Coddle! We had some incredible prizes up for grabs, from tickets for Fly Festival to a 36 pack of Tunnock’s. Our featured designer and lead fashion coordinator Milli De O’Hara was lucky enough to win not only a crate of Whiteclaw, but also 2 £20 vouchers to the newly opened Foccaccia in the West End.
22:15 - Act 2
After many laughs with Molly, the second act kicked off, including with looks from Ellis Yuille, Dan Marshall and Sofia Owens. In contrast to the more serious feel of the first act, this half embraced the playful nature of Synergy and what it means for us to be connected as students, creatives and Glaswegians. Gaga’s ‘Applause’ came on as the models let down their hair, held hands and danced together. Rather than sticking to the conventions of the fashion industry, GCFS challenges the boundaries of the runway, making the show all the more memorable and fun to watch.
This was followed by a heart-warming speech by our co-presidents Joy and Kirsten, who have worked tirelessly throughout the year to make Synergy happen. And then, us committee members had the chance to do our best walk: admittedly, it was terrifying, but I thank my ballet flats for preventing me from falling over!
23:00 till late - After Party
After a busy and bustling day, we were all ready for a well deserved drink and boogie at the Corinthian who hosted our after-party! Our events team didn’t disappoint with this gorgeous venue and sets from Rahul mp3, Bellarosa and Orla Halligan, a wonderful way to end the night.
And that’s a wrap! A big thank you to the Old Fruitmarket and the Corinthian for having us, as well as all of our committee, models, reps and general members for making this night possible. It’s been an absolute pleasure to be press/communications coordinator alongside such an amazing group of people and I can’t wait to see how the society continues to grow in the coming years. Keep your eyes peeled for applications for our 2026/27 team on our socials, as well as the website gallery page for more show content!
Lots of love,
Fleur
Photography credits: Adwita Agrahari, Emma Nisbet, Leo Sani, Charlie Perkins