FORGET Gucci, Issey Miyake or Prada. Forget Paris, Milan and New York. This season, think college students, unsung talent and up-and-coming artistes as Alternative Fashion Week (AFW) prepares to hit the catwalk.

Running from Monday, April 20 to Friday, April 24 at Spitalfields Market, with 15 shows a day, AFW is yet another brainchild of the magnificently ubiquitous Alternative Arts, and is renowned for giving hot new designers a leg (or legging) up.

This year featuring more than 70 designers or design schools from all over the world, AFW also pays homage to its roots by including 12 designers based in east London.

Sahhara, 24, originally from Nigeria but now based in Bakers Arms, Leyton, is more than just a swimwear designer – she’s also an Alternative Miss World contestant, drag queen and part-time model.

“I’m very much involved with anything alternative,” she says.

“I’m going to be showcasing some of my creative work. I love anything to do with glamour and glitter – it’s very loud and bold.”

Taking inspiration from “beautiful things and glamorous experiences”, her creations, she explains, are not for the beach or the pool but for movies or music videos – and are made from materials found in charity shops.

“I’m very much for recycling,” she says.

“You can recycle and change an outfit and make it look extremely beautiful. I didn’t spend a lot of money to make my costumes but they still look very good.”

Joining Sahhara are Aussie design duo and AFW first-timers Kira Goodey and Tane Andrews, otherwise known as Of Cabbages & Kings.

“We spent the last six months travelling around, and our designs are based on cathedrals and churches – we’ve got draping to represent marble,” says Kira, 22, who lives and works with Tane in Stepney Green.

And besides perhaps slightly more obvious influences like Alexander McQueen and Gareth Pugh, Kira cites Lewis Carroll as having a major impact on her work.

“The name Of Cabbages & Kings is actually from Through The Looking Glass – it’s from the Walrus and the Carpenter,” she says.

With no charge to designers and open to all, AFW is a no-holds-barred, free-for-all with all the glamour and chaos of New York and Milan and a conscience to boot, supporting recycling and ethical sourcing.

Admission to shows is free, from 1.15pm daily, accompanied by live contemporary jazz. A collection will be taken for the Spitalfields Crypt charity