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Friday 8 June 2012

NEWS| Anne Sofie Maden interviewed by VOGUE Italia



Autumn/ Winter ‘One-to-Watch’, AnneSofie Madsen is another of our designers to be profiled by Vogue Italia. Speaking with Vogue.it’s Allesandra Pellegrino, Madsen talks Inuit inspiration, her plans for expansion, and an unrelated “want” that’s always on her mind.

Our Dutch ‘One-to-Watch’ also drops light-hearted daily-life details that will undoubtedly leave you feeling you know this VFS designer better. Check out the full interview, and what Vogue Italia has to say about the former McQueen designer here. Leave us with your answers to last few questions on Twitter, @FashionScout.

NEWS| Images and Questions from Phoebe English's Live Studio Session with SHOWstudio






As we blogged on Wednesday, VFS designer and Merit Award winner Phoebe English took part in a live studio stream as part of her collaboration with for SHOWstudio. Here are the VFS blog team's favourite images of the event and, in our opinion, the best questions asked during the live Q&A.

Q. What propelled you into Fashion? And what was it like when you won the Vauxhall Fashion Scout's Merit Award?
Phoebe: I guess fashion was something i was really interested in. I was always unhappy with my clothes as a child, I always had little things I wanted to change, my collar or whatever. I was always interested in fashion, as both my parents were artists so there were always lots of beautiful things around the house, kimonos and fezzes. But I was interested in lots of things. It was never like this is my first euphoric moment with fashion - I just kind of ended up doing it. And then the first time I was just like wow - felt like I'd actually got somewhere I guess came later. I never did it because I wanted to end up with my own label. It was as just something I was going to do and see what happened. I did the BA at Central Saint Martins and then I stayed and did the MA. It all just blurred into one, just went on and on one thing til another. And suddenly I was at the end of the MA and I got such a nice response. It all just went very well. It was amazing to get the award. It was really nice to be supported that was really great - that someone felt I was worth investing in. It's nice to have your own show - quite daunting but nice.

Q. What was it about Saint Martins that changed you so much?
It was the teaching. There was just this clarity. It's like gaining a deeper surrounding of aesthetics really. I think there is a tendency in the British education system, where art and design and creative things are often seen as simpler or easier. But they are actually incredibly complex and difficult. So it was a very stimulating environment to be surrounded by people who were very good at what they did. So you are propelled by the teaching but also by your peer group. You're all like 'I  get this now, I understand what's good and what's not good and what works and doesn't for me.' It's a clarity. As a course it's the most couture thing you could ever do - everyone work is judged and critiqued in a different way to everyone else. it's like putting a microscope to yourself.

Q. Do you think you would ever do menswear? If so, why? Or indeed, why not?
Rose: The pink latex kilt from the last collection got a lot of attention from men!
Phoebe: I don't know that much about it - I think i'd feel like a bit of a fraud. But never say never! I think a lot of what i do is about being a woman and designing for a women. Like knowing that a particular length of sleeve will make your feel protected, or that exposing a certain bit of your back will make you feel sexy. It's about tapping into a certain psychology and I'm not sure I could do that for men. But I do love it when stylists borrow our clothes and put them on men.
Rose: Maybe it could just be unisex clothing.
Phoebe: Actually maybe it would be quite fun to do menswear - let's do a little pop up menswear collection!

Q. Which of your contemporaries do you find most interesting? And generally, what are you excited by in fashion?
Phoebe: Actually do you know what. When you are studying you are so scathing about work - you can be like that's shit, that's bad, that designer has gone bad now. Now I'm doing my own thing I have such such respect for anyone and everybody doing this because it's so hard.
Rose: Sometimes its annoying to be put into a  bracket of young London designer. but that's what it is - we are young and we are creating in London. We are alongside the kind of people who we are stocked next to in Dover Street, like Craig Lawrence and Simone Rocha. And I think its important that we see how the work sits next to theirs as that's how it will be viewed.
Phoebe: But there is room for everyone. There are infinite tastes. Even things that are hideous sells. So there is room for everyone.

Q. Who would you both love to dress?
Phoebe: Yolandi Visser. I think it would be amazing to dress someone who would never be associated with my style. Someone's who is not too predictable. I think she's amazing.
Rose: We were really lucky recently we did a wonderful look for Alison Goldfrapp - we turned a skirt into a cape for her because that was how she saw it. She looked amazing - it's nice when someone can bring their own thing to what you do.


Images: Nick Knight and SHOWstudio

Thursday 7 June 2012

NEWS| Raffaele Ascione talks 'Drop Everything' Festival




Vauxhall Fashion Scout’s Raffaele Ascione recently attended Ireland’s ‘Drop Everything’ Festival as a guest-speaker, sharing insight into the industry, and imparting some of his personal fashion wisdom.

London-based Raffaele hasn’t always been based in the city, and started his fashion education in Limerick; so attending the festival was a case of getting back to his design-roots, and speaking to creatives whose position he once shared. We caught up with Raffaele after the Arts and Culture fest to find out how it went, and to hear about his weekend highlights.

“It went really well… it was really nice to be back where I started, as my fashion education started out [here] in Limerick…. And the festival vibes were amazing, as there were so many artists invited from London, New York, Iceland and Ireland.”

… and Raffaele revealed he’s no one-trick [design] pony when we asked for his weekend-best-bits, showing he can try his hand at any construction technique:

“The highlight was my workshop with one of the original old ladies, who was part of the Aran-Knit generation. I was knitting with her… it felt really overwhelming.”

To find out more about ‘Drop Everything’ fest, and to keep tabs on when it next takes place, visit the website here. Be sure to also follow Raffaele on Twitter @ascione_studio for Spring/Summer ’13 updates.

NEWS| T.Lipop's AW12 Lookbook




Vauxhall Fashion Scout designer T.Lipop has released his lookbook images for his AW12 collection. Edgy, tailored yet somewhat Neanderthal, Tom showcased the  frostbitten collection at the The Fashion East Menswear Installation moments before hitting the Freemason's catwalk in February.


Designer Tom Lipop is one of ten designers who have been granted the opportunity to showcasing their Spring / Summer creations through Fashion East as part of BFC's brand new London Collections: Men which takes place this month.

T.Lipop's SS designs will be displayed through the installation on June 17th and you can still register for an industry pass here, Meanwhile, make sure you follow T.Lipop on Twitter as he has been excitedly tweeting about the progress he's making with his designs and the upcoming event!

By Cass Gowing, Editor
Follow her on Twitter @CassGowing
Images from T.Lipop and Twitter

Wednesday 6 June 2012

NEWS| VFS on Instagram!




With over 30 million active accounts, Instagram is THE social platform to share images on, therefore, it's imperative that you follow Vauxhall Fashion Scout on there! In exchange, we solemnly promise to post exclusive snaps of our shows, events and designers. Go onto our page 'vauxhallfashionscout' to view these exciting photos from our Selection Panel and RCA graduate showcase. 

If you take any Instagram shots of VFS designers or shows, make sure you tweet them to us @FashionScout too.

By Editor Cass Gowing, 
Follow her on Twitter @CassGowing and Instagram 'cassiusisover'

NEWS| Phoebe English live in the studio for SHOWstudio




Today saw the launch of SHOWstudio's live collaboration between Phoebe English and fusion belly dancer Leah Debrincat. Throughout today and tomorrow (6th and 7th June 2012) you can watch Vauxhall Fashion Scout designer and Merit Award Winner Phoebe English live at work in the studio! 
  
SHOWstudio, who have organised the collaboration as part of their 'Selling Sex' season, describes that collaboration: "'Frenetic Flesh' sees acclaimed young designer Phoebe English collaborate with fusion belly dancer Leah Debrincat. Exploring the interplay between clothing, body and movement, English will design one-off garments to compliment Debrincat's unique choreography. The making of the looks and accompanying fittings will be streamed live, culminating in a dynamic final performance at the end of each day."

The live stream, which takes place at SHOWstudio's HQ, also includes a live Q&A session, enabling questions regarding this venture and about Phoebe's collections to be asked whilst Phoebe, Creative Director Rose Easton and Leah Debrincat are on camera. Tune in here over the next two days between 9am-5pm to see Phoebe working on the Frenetic Flesh collaboration with Leah Debrincat. 

By Cass Gowing, Editor - Follow her on Twitter @CassGowing
All images taken from SHOWstudio including live screen grab.