Fashion Scout
Cassey Gan Collection - Photo credit Paul Fuller
Fashion Scout is the UK's largest independent showcase for emerging and established design talent during London fashion week. Top buyers and industry personalities frequent the Fashion Scout venue at Freemason's Hall each season. The platform that Fashion Scout provides is pivotal to the industry, credited with launching the careers of a multitude of established designers, many of whom graduate to the on-schedule shows. Welcome to our edit of the AW18 Fashion Scout collections.
AMY THOMPSON
Amy Thompson's AW18 collection entitled 'Chasin Dreams' looks at life from a different perspective. Child-like perceptions rendered adult occupations in playful, dreamlike creations. The palette of feminine pinks and fuschias add to the whimsical quality. Thompson's second collection centres around real stories from authentic muses. A collection most vivid with a distinct signature style. Chasin' dreams and realising them. We can't wait to see more.
For more information about Amy click here.
STARSICA
The leitmotif of designer Ike Suengik Lee's latest collection is the reinterpretation of Greek tragedy as a style soliloquy. AW18 pieces, skilfully constructed with an essence of the theatrical. Costume-like garments representational of the Mad King yet ultimately wearable. A palette of pastels and brights are decorated in symbolistic patterns. It is an exploration in texture from synthetic fur coats to structured gathered organza. Models paraded down the catwalk not just wearing the clothes but playfully portraying a cast of characters and emotions. The standout piece, a golden feathered top with the brand logo a beacon of this designer's shining talent. For more information about Starsica see here.
CASSEY GAN
Inspired by the 'Swimming Pool' works of Maria Svarbova, Cassey Gan draws a comparison between the artist's photographs and the fictionalised projections of our digital lives versus the reality. What at first appears bright and joyous, can at a second glance reveal a melancholic, isolated narrative. The collection a fabric augur, speaking of undisclosed truths, the psychological consequences of this digital life. The symmetrical patterns in the textiles represent water ripples and pool tile formations. Repetitive and atmospheric. Detachable elements support the notion of what lies beneath. The combination of a base of blue with painterly fabrics, contoured layers and contrasting patterns on voluminous tops, trousers and dresses give the collection a timeless quality with a very modern message. To Find out more about Cassey click here.
PAM HOGG
In a time when equality is at the forefront of our minds, for Dr Pam Hogg there has never been any question on the subject. The latest show celebrated gender, freedom of expression and life's colourful characters. As always Pam (designing cutting-edge creations since the 80's), wowed us with her collection and we share the sentiment of her words, "I accept everyone for who they are, and who they say they are. It's the individual's right to make that choice and no one else's". The clothes and the statement embody all that makes London's fashion so eclectic, authentic and incomparable. See Pam's website here.
THE ONES TO WATCH
Now in its fourth year, the Ones to watch award is given to a small selection of designers for their outstanding collections. A panel of industry experts chooses from a long list of emerging designers. Three of this year's winners were Maddie Williams, I-am-Chen and Susan Fang. The show was breathtaking and original as detailed below.
SUSAN FANG
Three years since graduating Susan Fang is making waves in the media and across models with a collection that is striking and innovative. Her Saint Marten's MA show garnered much praise and press coverage and AW18 is set to do the same. Entitled 'Airwave' it explores the illusion of wave between colour and form as garments move upon the wearer. Her 'Air Weave' technology takes the fabric across dimensions from two to three. The palette vibrant and the pieces textural and fluid. Attention fixed. Pieces Coveted. Need we say more?
To see more of Susan's work click here.
MADDIE WILLIAMS
A graduate of Edinburgh College of Art, Maddie Williams has already won accolades from Dame Westwood with the Ethical Internship Prize and holds the Catwalk Textiles Award. We can see why. Her breathtaking designs push the boundaries of eco-fashion in their sculptural form and unusual textures. Blurring the lines between costume and fashion the collection celebrates the female form through goddesses referenced from Ancient Greek to the French Revolution. Indeed a fitting theme in a season rife with social commentary about equality and the celebration of women. Vogue, Vogue Italia, Hunger and Schon Magazines have featured Maddie's incredible designs. There is no doubt that she deserves to be celebrated along with the women who inspired her incredibly unique collection. To see more of Maddie's work click here.
I-AM-CHEN
From Donga University in Shanghai to Parson's School of Design in New York, ZHI Chen has honed her exceptional skills to create a knitwear label that goes from strength to strength. Now in its third season, the label's AW18 collection is colourful and vibrant celebrating the spirit of childhood. Her process incorporates innovative techniques that challenge perceptions of knitwear. Her exploration of yarns and advanced machines has culminated in a stunning collection that pushes boundaries, is accessible and cannot fail to put a smile on one's face. See more about ZHI here.
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