We’re very excited, there’s only four days to go until Friday 20th February – the start of London Fashion Week! The Autumn/Winter ‘09 season kicked off on Friday 13th in New York, and very soon it’s our turn to show them what we’ve got.
The fashionistas will cross the pond to our very own city for what is commonly described as the ‘edgiest’ of the fashion weeks due to its focus on new designers rather than the established greats.
With that in mind, here’s our pick – in no particular order – of designers showing in London to keep your eye on this season:
Knitwear is huge right now and we love the direction Mark Fast has taken his needles in. More experimental than sculptured, his designs are – and here’s two words we never thought we’d put together – provocative knitwear.
Showing on schedule this season, this 27-year-old Canadian has already designed knitwear for Bora Aksu and is definitely one to watch.
Although only her first catwalk show, Alexandra Groover will be showing not one but two collections this season. She has a black label, which is interestingly a collection inspired by the architecture of shells and a more casual grey label. This American native is clearly not work shy and determined to make her mark with her edgy gothic-esque designs.
(Pictured: Mark Fast and Emilio de la Morena, both S/S 09)
This St Martins graduate has consistently produced stunning and innovative collections, his focus on silhouettes and attention to shape means he always produces covetable collections. Spanish born de la Morena has nurtured his talents through the years by working for designers Rafael Lopez and Jonathan Saunders.
Noir –
Danish label Noir use sharp tailoring and androgynous styling to produce high fashion pieces. The fact that they work within the realms of ethical fashion is a bonus. They’re showing on schedule this year and are a brilliant example of the direction in which fashion should be moving.
Making her catwalk collection debut this season, Julia Smith not only creates very wearable designs but her clothes are completely ethically made. She is a designer with morals and integrity; her aim is to make ‘fashion with a conscience that does not compromise on design.’ An excellent mantra to have.
If you need more of a reason to love this label with it’s wearable yet quirky pieces, the fact the designers are Dutch identical twin sisters should do it. Truus and Riet are the brains behind Spijkers en Spijkers, the label they set up in 1996 and that has been gaining acclaim ever since. Showing this year as part of the fashion scout and are definitely worth a look.
(Pictured: William Tempest S/S 09 and Truus and Riet Spijker)
The London College of Fashion alumni and brilliantly named William Tempest learnt his trade under the guidance of Giles Deacon and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, where he honed his tailoring skills. He launched his own label in January 2008 and is set to be one of this year’s biggest names.
Victim –
So many words spring to mind when you hear the name of this label and they don’t immediately connote the most positive of images, however, a look at the collections of designer Mei Lui dispels all bad thoughts. Brilliantly eccentric, reminisant of the great pieces by Galliano and Gaultier, and in many ways a perfect example of the avant garde talent London Fashion Week is renowned for.
Now that this little preview has whet your appetite, keep checking back here from Friday as we’ll be posting updates, reviews, street style snaps and our general musings from the shows. It’ll be just like actually being there. We promise.
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- London Fashion Week S/S 2011 Catwalk Review: Mark Fast
- London Fashion Week A/W 2011 Catwalk Review: Mark Fast
- London Fashion Week comes round again!
- William Tempest A/W 09
- London Fashion Week: Day Four