Inside Scotland’s Charity Fashion Scene

By Cara Neish

What began as small university fashion shows tucked away in lecture halls is now one of Scotland’s most dynamic cultural movements. Student-led runways from St Andrews to Aberdeen are attracting thousands of attendees, raising significant funds for charity, and launching young creatives into the fashion world. Here’s how these shows are built, why they matter, and the impact they’re making far beyond the catwalk.

In a packed lecture theatre in the quiet corners of St Andrews, the new team behind the town's annually anticipated fashion shows are gathered late into the evening, deciding between themes, designers and logistics. By the time spring returns, what are now rough plans and initial ideas will turn into one of the country’s most anticipated student events – but right now, they’re knee-deep in spreadsheets, sketches and caffeine. As sponsorships are secured, models are being cast and committees are forming. The shows themselves may be the talk of the town come spring, but the real story – the one of collaboration, anticipation, and dedication – is happening now.

A Legacy Written Across Scotland

What began in the 1990s in the quiet corners of St Andrews has since rippled outwards and found its footing across major universities in Scotland. From DONT WALK in St Andrews to the Edinburgh Charity Fashion Show (ECFS), Glasgow Charity Fashion Show (GCFS),s and Aberdeen University Charity Fashion Show (AUCFS), each has developed its own purpose and identity in a way that feels distinctly Scottish. Hosted in a variety of locations like the National Museum of Scotland by ECFS, or in quaint nearby coastal towns like Anstruther by DONT WALK, the student fashion scene stretches from the coastal corners to the city centres of Scotland.

DONT WALK alone welcomed 3,000 attendees at their headline show and has since become the “UK’s largest privately run student charity fashion show,” says Emma Brown, their communications director. In less than three decades, what began as a quiet fashion experiment has now become a universal language to communicate with students to create optimism in the face of social uncertainty.

A Training Ground for Scotland’s Creatives

Right now, the calendar is filled weekly with editorial planning, photoshoots, theme finalisation and venue scouting. As Kirsten Poppitt, ECFS’s PR executive says: “Things are really heating up just now, towards the start of the semester we are finding our footing, but towards the end is where we start to keep the ball rolling.”

It’s no easy feat to plan some of Scotland’s most successful fundraising galas – shows that are put on for hundreds of attendees are run by a committee a fraction of the size. Yet despite demanding academic schedules, students pour their limited time into bringing these shows to life. For students, the shows are an invaluable pathway into creative careers: alumni from St Andrews have gone on to work at modelling agencies, while ECFS alumni have worked for Condé Nast.

Evenings spent drafting press releases and midweek hours carved out for photoshoots between lectures offer a chance to test ideas and take risks. It’s the kind of fast-paced reality that is hard to replicate elsewhere as a student. As Ava Hariri-Kia, model and former Head of Fashion for DONT WALK, told Vogue in 2020, “you learn in a split second how to be in the real world.” Each committee is not only organising a runway, but shaping Scotland’s next generation of creative leaders.

Fashion With Purpose

Behind the curtain and beyond the glitz and glamour of the runway, each show is firmly rooted in, and driven by, their own charitable causes. This is precisely what makes these shows so unique – unlike other university societies, these shows are made by the community, for the community.

DONT WALK, for example, was founded shortly after and in response to the 9/11 attacks and to date has raised £350,000 for their charitable partners. Madelyn Diehl, the executive Director of DONT WALK, notes that the show is “founded on the principle of not walking past societal problems, using bold artistic expression to create conversation in the face of discrimination,” encouraging audience members to reflect and take their own social action.

Elsewhere, AUCFS is supporting Men In Mind, a men’s mental health initiative, as well as Grampian Women’s Aid, who provide aid to women experiencing domestic abuse in Aberdeen. Previously, GCFS has supported CHAS, who provide care for Scottish children with life limiting conditions and support for their families. Each charity, handpicked to reflect Scotland’s diverse social landscape, benefits not only from the generous funds raised, but from the social engagement the shows generate. Beyond the financial contributions, the shows encourage students to engage with pressing social issues that shape the communities they study in. They stand as proof that, in Scotland, fashion and philanthropy walk hand in hand.

Showtime: Behind the Curtains

Come spring-time models will grace the runway to an audience of thousands as a quiet electric buzz hums just out of sight. Every element – from securing sponsorships to managing budgets – is meticulously coordinated to ensure a professional performance. Backstage, outfits will be fine-tuned, cues will be called, and final touches made in the seconds before models go onstage.

And despite the endless late nights, weekly meetings, and long hours, these fashion shows will remain, above all, “unpredictable because it’s such a fast-paced environment,” creative director of ECFS, Ella Novie notes. Though it’s just out of sight from the attendees, the team behind the production works constantly. Dressers rush between racks of clothes and staff relay messages through narrow hallways, ensuring that every model is accounted for. But, no matter what happens on the night, the show stands as a testament to their creators, models, and volunteers’ dedication, as they ensure the pinnacle of Scottish social life year after year.

A New Chapter in Scottish Culture

Although the runways may not light up until spring, Scotland’s student fashion season is already well underway. In every mood board, fitting, and meeting, decades of legacy is carried forward by a fresh wave of students. As they continue to intertwine themselves into the fabric of Scotland’s cultural identity, these shows have become a rite of passage for students to showcase their talent in a way that feels uniquely Scottish.