An exotic fashion item with a difference is coming home to Birmingham – in the shape of Lady Gaga’s dress.
The lavish outfit, created by Birmingham City University graduate Rebecca Short, is to take pride of place at a fashion display at Friday’s glitzy Midlands Business Awards at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole.
The return of the dress to the West Midlands follows global recognition for Rebecca’s creation, with the pop diva donning the garment for a press conference last summer in Singapore.
Rebecca, 22, was bowled over when she saw the controversial singer wearing her design, created for Graduate Fashion Week in London, at a press event seen by TV viewers across the globe.
Rebecca’s neoprene dress was spotted on the catwalk at the student showcase, and the Sheffield-born graduate later landed a job with designer fashion label Suzannah.
Birmingham City University spokesman James Tallentire said graduates from the city campus would be attending Friday’s gala dinner, one of the Midlands’ biggest business events.
“The story of Rebecca’s dress shows that if you get the right design and the right person sees it you can get global exposure.
“Rebecca is working now, she could be the new Stella McCartney. The Gaga dress is coming home on Friday, when it will go on display for the first time at the Midlands Business Awards.”
Rebecca was on a month-long trip in central America last July when she first learned her dress had been chosen by Lady Gaga, and images of it had gone global.
She said: “It’s great that it’s back in the city where I went to university. It is great to see all my hard work being recognised in this way.
“I will be getting the dress back after Friday and it will be shown again in London in April for Alternative Fashion Week.”
Mr Tallentire added: “As a university we have more people graduating in the creative talents than any other university outside London.”
