Following an outstanding season in London, Vauxhall Fashion Scout get ready to take on Paris. With the launch of a new showroom, VFS will present a selection of 22 of the best UK and international designers during Paris Fashion Week. Always promising to bring you the brightest new design talents first, Vauxhall Fashion Scout will feature eight young designers who have not yet shown their SS13 collections in London, alongside the most coveted collections from LFW SS13.
Ahead of the launch tomorrow, we introduce the new designers...
Anna October is a young, Ukrainian designer who launched her label at the tender age of 19. Creating pieces of timeless elegance, she uses a mix of fabrics and colours. Made with the sophisticated and expressive woman in mind, she's inspired by contemporary culture and traditional craft.
Born and bred in Denmark, Anne Sofie Madsen has a unique aesthetic and creates avant-garde yet wearable garments that make clever use of materials and textures. Combine that with her having worked under John Galliano and Alexander McQueen and it becomes no wonder why she's one of our previous Ones to Watch.
Another former One to Watch winner, Alice Lee is comprised of Alice Smith and Lee Farmer. The design duo, who met after Smith's graduation from CSM with an MA in Knitwear, pride themselves on their intricate, textured and often embellished knit-work.
Claudia Ligari is an Italian born designer and moved to London after studying at the Instituto Marangoni in Milan. The designer's work explores femininity with a minimal touch, featuring garments that create interesting silhouettes in the production of something timeless.
Since his graduation from Central Saint Martin's, David Longshaw has been shortlisted for multiple international awards. A previous VFS One to Watch and creator of the renowned fabric mouse Maude, Longshaw's intricate print work fuses his love of illustration into his statement designs.
Detailed and intricate, Eugene Lin's sharp cut, eye-for-detail aesthetic is one that certainly stands out. Having graduated in Fashion Design Womenswear and earnt a distinction in pattern-cutting on a post-graduate course, Lin's creative craftmanship is unique, luxurious and thrives on quality.
It's an emphasis on form and unconventional structures that Kirsty Ward's designs are known for embodying. Fusing luxurious fabrics with stunning jewellery, the Central Saint Martin's MA Womenswear graduate has already been hailed the rising star by Elle and Vogue's Designer to Watch, both in 2011.
Shao Yen, yet another of our previous Ones to Watch, pushes the boundaries of fashion in his designs for the confident and creative woman. The London based designer launched his label in 2010, and since has played with fabric and form to find a striking balance between the traditional and the unconventional.
Beautiful designs of elegance and femininty are at the heart of Yasmin Kianfar's label. Since her graduation from Central Saint Martin's she's received both press attention and a celebrity following. Merging traditional tailoring with a modern edge, the palette of greys, blacks and nudes complement the designer's clean lined, streamline shaped pieces perfectly.
The Vauxhall Fashion Scout Paris Showroom opens tomorrow! Running from 27th September – 2nd October. For more info and to RSVP please contact press@fsi-events.com
Text by Josh Walker (@josh_walker_)
Images - in order of designers mentioned - from VFS and designers websites