EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW| Ones To Watch designer YEASHIN

YEASHIN is the creative brainchild of South Korean born and bred designer Yeashin Kim. A graduate of BA Womenswear from the London College of Fashion, she takes influences from her upbringing and combines them with the style of England in the 60's. Having won a number of accolades which include one of Vogue UK's Best Fashion Graduates of 2011 and WGSN's Most Creative Student Collection in their 2011 Global Fashion Awards, she's already made her mark on the industry. Here, we talk to the newly announced Fashion Scout One to Watch winner on her stand-out designs, inspirations and creative process ahead of her A/W13 showcase at Fashion Scout.

1) Your designs are so lively and colourful! What was it that inspired your AW13 collection?

My A/W13 collection's main concept is South Korea traditional furniture with David Hockney painting.

2) How much of your upbringing in Korea feeds into your work?

As well as being inspired by South Korea traditional furniture. this season I was also inspired by Korea traditional shoes and hats as well.

3) Why did you decide to base your brand in London? Does the city inspire you?

I think London fashion area is open to creative design. also this city have got so much inspiration for art. The very first time I visited London, the most interesting thing I found was just this city's mood.

4) When it comes to the new season, how do you begin your creative process

The most of important thing all my work process, is concept. So when I start a new collection, I search for a very long time to find a really interesting concept for my new idea and design.

5) What does being made Fashion Scout's One To Watch winner mean to you?

Fashion Scout has given me a good chance and experience by showcasing by collection in a show in London after graduating. I hope to learn lots of things about professional fashion show process through this experience. 

Interview by Joshua Walker, edited by Cass Gowing
Photographs from YEASHIN's S/S13 collection

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW| Ones To Watch designer Patrick Li

Having completed his MA at the Royal College of Art last year, and working under the guidance of Hussein Chalayan, and Viktor & Rolf since then, Patrick Li's transition from graduate to designer behind an established-label is well underway. We were quick to spotlight Li's talents with our annual Graduate Showcase, and now the young designer is recipient of our acclaimed 'One-to-Watch' title, receiving support in the Fashion Scout funded showcase alongside fellow 'Ones-to-Watch' Yeashin and Yulia Kondranina. We spoke with Li ahead of his OTW show to talk his "precision aesthetic", and what to expect from the forthcoming showcase.

Your previous season's work was a synthesis of contrasts- the linear contributing to a fundamentally feminine silhouette, and your selection of colour- is working with these contrasts something we can expect to see this forthcoming season?

Yes, I am working with geometric shapes and linear silhouettes this forthcoming season. There are quite a lot of contrasting materials and graphic elements, these are the essence of the brand and something I would like to explore more. 

Talk us through your points of reference for Autumn/ Winter; is there a particular girl or body in mind, or is your design process connected to more abstract roots, as in a particular art or even object?

I started this collection by looking through the visual references from a V&A exhibition 'Shadow Catchers'. I enjoyed that exhibition a lot, especially the work of Gary-Fabian Miller. The singular lighting objects are so impeccable, yet sensual simultaneously. I used the lighting coming through darkness as the initial colours and mood for the collection. I have also looked at architectures and interiors designed by Zaha Hadid's. I find that the organic and bold structure and lines of the buildings very intriguing. I then started to develop the collection from there. I don't have a particular girl in mind when designing this collection, perhaps the references I gathered are abstract but eventually I got to translate the ideas into wearable garments. 

In our previous interview you said that sampling fabrics and details in keeping with your graphic aesthetic was your biggest challenge. Have you met any other challenges leading up to your One to Watch showcase?

Time is always an issue, there wasn't much time between SS13 and AW13. There are lots of time consuming things to do apart from making the collection. ie, answering emails, running errands... I need some angel interns! 

What do you feel you can take from your Fashion Scout experience, and where the One to Watch platform will take 'Patrick Li' the brand?

Fashion Scout is an important platform for new designers like myself, I had my first taste of the real industry and the business with Fashion Scout, I received a first order for my debut SS13 thanks to the support and exposure from the Fashion Scout. Ones to Watch will definitely give more exposure to 'Patrick Li', press is crucial.  

Interview by Sara McAlpine, edited by Cass Gowing

Photos of Patrick's S/S13 collection

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW| Ones to Watch Designer Yulia Kondranina

Ones to Watch winner Yulia Kondranina graduated from Central Saint Martins prestigious MA course and has since gone on capturing interest and featured online in Dazed Digital. Her handcrafted intricate pieces hold concepts that are dark yet romantic with a focus on interwoven textures. Yulia will showcase her unique hand-crafted technique at Fashion Scout’s Ones To Watch on Saturday February 16^th.

How much does your unique technique lend itself to the concept behind your work?

The collection concepts build very much on the technique, but there is also a story present.

What inspirations are you drawing from with your next collection? 

One inspiration for the mood comes from the romantic, dark drama of 1989 of The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover. Absolutely stunning costume masterpieces with incredible lavish decorations, colours game all created by Jean Paul Gaultier.

Will this be a natural creative progression for you? 

I think so. Its an evolution from the graduate collection.

How have your ideas and design processes changed since graduating from Central Saint Martins? 

In the new collection I was trying to find more balance towards commercial approach, as eventually you have a profitable design.

Showcasing at Fashion Scout, what does this mean to you? 

This is the chance to express yourself and show your work to the big audience.

Interview by Vanessa Omoregie, edited by Cass Gowing. Photographs from Yulia's MA collection. 

ANNOUNCEMENT| International Reception in partnership with Fashion Monitor

Fashion Scout are pleased to announce that our globally recognised International Reception in association with Fashion Monitor will be returning this season.  

On Sunday 17th February from 10.00am-1.00pm, a combination of the world's esteemed and influential buyers, press and industry professionals will be in attendance for our inaugural drinks reception, which for the fifth season running will be partnered with Fashion Monitor, the industry's leading contact and news database.

Invited guests will be welcomed with drinks from new sponsor Campari alongside returning Fashion Scout sponsors The *TeaShed. 

Once again, we thank the Mayor of London for the ongoing and continued support. 

Please contact press@fsi-events.com for more information/to RSVP. 

NEWS| Fashion Monitor’s Hannah White on The Sorority

The Sorority gets to know Hannah White, Publisher of Fashion Monitor - Fashion Scout's Media Partner - as they delve into her busy Fashion Week schedule through their Fashion Insider piece. Working at the hub of creative contacts in the fields of fashion, beauty and events, Hannah White shares her insight into the industry and getting involved with Fashion Week.

"In 2012 Fashion Monitor became an Official Supplier to LFW. It is a great honour to be able to support designers across both Fashion Scout and the BFC providing editorial support and event listings for all of the catwalk shows, presentations, private viewing and parties." 

Hannah talks about her support for designers and providing event listings for shows, presentations, and parties. In addition she gives insider information about The Style Lounge, which was launched by Fashion Monitor last season, as well as Fashion Monitor’s new awards initiative.  

Read more about Fashion Insider insights from Hannah White on The Sorority

By Vanessa Omoregie, @wewearblack

Images from Sorority

NEWS| Eugene Lin and David Longshaw on Vogue's FW Previews

Fashion Scout's Eugene Lin and David Longshaw have both made an appearance on Vogue's Fashion Week Previews.

Eugene Lin, a Central Saint Martins graduate, talks of his A/W13 collection 'Cupid De Locke' as a sequel to his S/S13 collection 'The Judgement of Paris'. "The collection is a modern interpretation and contrasts between the involuntary violence and fragility of love," the designer says. "It is darker, slicker and sharper".

Former One to Watch winner and fellow CSM graduate David Longshaw introduces his A/W13 collection 'Painting Over Harry' with a narrative and in doing so, mentions the "glamorous days of black and white films," and "the Seventies wedding of Princess Anne".

With the countdown to the Fashion Scout London schedule well under way, we eagerly anticipate seeing what both designers have to offer.

By Josh Walker (@josh_walker_)

Images from Vogue.com

CATWALK| Anne Sofie Madsen A/W13 at Copenhagen Fashion Week

Anne Sofie Madsen showcased her new A/W 13 collection at this season’s Copenhagen Fashion Week, with a signature graphic style the Danish designer featured a striking collection of mixed prints and textures. 

Copenhagen Fashion Week which ran from January 31st to the February 2nd saw home to the former Fashion Scout Ones to Watch designer’s collection. Using geometric shapes and patterns that reinvent the contours of the body, Anne Sofie creates exciting looks that push fabrics and textures to the edge.

The designer who showcased at Fashion Scout’s Paris Showrooms last season had also been selected as part of Vogue Talents during Milan Fashion Week, representing talent on an international scale. She has since been announced as one of the designers to be featured at the British Fashion Council’s International Showcase held throughout London Fashion Week.

The showcase will start on 15^th February and run for seven days at Somerset House.

By Vanessa Omoregie, @wewearblack. Images from Copenhagen Fashion Week

NEWS| David Longshaw for Triumph Lingerie

Former Ones to Watch designer and Fashion Scout exhibitionist-regular David Longshaw is producing a multi-media installation for Triumph during London Fashion Week. 

Triumph, who are returning for the second season as London Fashion Week's ‘Official Catwalk Lingerie Supplier’, are celebrating the success of 127 years of the label through a pop up at ‘Maison Triumph’, on Covent Garden. The pop up - and David Longshaw's installation will be open to the public from the 15th - 19th February. 

We caught up with David to find out how he was scouted for this project:

"Triumph contacted me and said they would like me to be involved in the exhibition as they really liked my work. They explained what they were planning and a few ideas they had of what I might want to do for them, having seen my collections and things I had done for magazines/ exhibitions (the vogue Italia comic strip - Francesca & Arthur, my Maude work etc)- but ultimately they wanted to see what ideas I had for the project. "

Focusing around his iconic character Maude - alongside many other integral characters- the full scale art installation will create a truly unique installation. 

"The perfect way to celebrate this was to have Maude (Editor-in-Chief of MAUDEZINE and fictional fabric mouse) involved somehow" David elaborated, "The installation will be entitled 'Maude the Maker' and it involves a human size fabric Maude, bras, a vintage sewing machine and some of the MAUDEZINE team (in their original size 22cm and smaller) and a whole load of drawings."

Follow David on Twitter for exclusive images of the creation of the installation. 

By Cass Gowing, Editor of Fashion Scout. Follow her on Twitter @CassGowing

Images from David Longshaw. 

NEWS| Anne Sofie Madsen at International Fashion Showcase.

Former Fashion Scout Ones to Watch designer Anne Sofie Madsen has been announced as one of the designers that are showcasing their designs as part of the Scandinavian exhibition for the International Fashion Showcase.

The initiative, which is organised by the British Council and first started last year in parallel with the Olympics, encourages global embassies to illustrate the nations creative design talents. 

Anne Sofie Madsen, will be representing Denmark as part of the Scandinavian showcase: 
"The Fashion Scandinavia exhibition Movement heralds a new moment in fashion – the arrival of Scandinavian designers onto the world scene. Their appeal lies in the attention to detail and the high quality of materials so iconic in Scandinavian design."

As a platform showcasing the best of British and International talent, we are thrilled that one of our Fashion Scout alumni and former Ones to Watch stars has been given this fantastic opportunity. 

The Scandinavian exhibition starts on 15th February 2013 at Somerset House and runs for seven days. For more information please visit here.