Fashion Scout SS16 Roundup

Image: Maja Jankowska

Spring Summer 2016 at Fashion Scout will be a season to remember, with a beautiful venue, fabulous FROW and most importantly- a whole host of incredible designers.

James Kelly SS16 - Image: Maja Jankowska

Angel Chen SS16 - Image: Maja Jankaowska

Ana Ljubinkovic -  Image: Oda Elde

Roberts|Wood SS16 - Image: Maja Jankowska

All of our designers this season have wowed Fashion Scout’s guests. With both established talents like Apu Jan, and fresh, young designers from the Graduate Showcase. Highlights include James Kelly’s haunting collection which was simply beautiful, and Marko Mitanovski’s gothic escapism. This year’s Merit Award Winner, Katie Roberts Wood (Roberts|Wood) showcased her other worldly collection inspired by science and nature. 

Jay Mehler & Lee Starkey SS16 at Pam Hogg - Image: Maja Jankowska

Image: Maja Jankowska

Fashion Scout has seen a fantastic FROW this season with celebrities, influencers and international press all flocking to the Freemason’s Hall to see SS16’s designs. Pam Hogg’s celebrity following was in full force, with Lee Starkey and Jay Mahler taking to the front row alongside Ray Winstone's daughter, actor Jaime Winstone. MIMPIKITA and Judy Wu’s FROW were similarly peppered with celebrity guests including Bianca Miller and girlband Stooshe.

Designer: Camilla Araburts - Images: Stefania Porcu

Designer: Niro Wang - Images: Stefania Porcu

A forecast of the next season’s trends Fashion Scout’s designers displayed bold graphic knits, intricate applique and fine, textured knits as key trends for SS16. 

Image: Anne Laymond

Image: Anne Laymond

Image: Anne Laymond

A summary of this season's catwalk would be incomplete without mention of the incredible hair and makeup looks presented. At Fashion Scout The Body Shop and label.m for Tony&Guy created a breathtaking array of looks. It seems braids of all kinds will be a dominant trend for next season, as seen at Angel Chen, Niro Wang and several other shows.

Fashion Scout SS16 took place on 18th-22nd September 2015 at The Freemason's Hall, Covent Garden. To relive the experience have a read of our show reviews throughout the blog, follow us on Twitter or take a look at our Instagram.

We look forward to seeing you again in February for AW16.

Words: Elizabeth Renfrey @erenfrey
Editor: Fiona Nicholls @fifinicholls
Images: Credited by photograph

The FAD Fashion Future Finalists Catwalk and Awards

Hosted by Fashion Scout, the FAD charity catwalk celebrates the design talents of of sixth form and college students across London. These 19 finalists were picked from a pool of over 100 for the Fashion Futures Awards, which is a competition sponsored by George at Asda showcasing designs created in only five days during the FAD summer school.

Shahiyan Mason from Archbishop Tenison Sixth Form presented a crisp, monochrome sport's luxe outfit.

Lolita Stegmar from BSix Sixth Form College showcased a modern, white powersuit with exaggerated cut out shoulders.

Mylena Silveira Vidal Matos's metallic dress, was artistically draped at the waist to accentuate the female form.

Damilola Ajani from La Retraite presented a geometric co ord in stoney metallic shades.

Zedeesha James from Lewisham Southwark College used stencilling to create a feminine design on a contrasting structured cape.

Sophie Watson's metallic streetwear used black netting for a punky 90s edge.

Maisie Rennie-Carter presented a hand dyed summer dress with ragged edges for a casual feminine aesthetic.

Gurkiran Chana's garment used 3D floral applique on a flowing semi sheer coral dress for a classic, feminine feel. 

Phuoc Ngo from Sacred Heart RC Secondary School presented an ombre blue cotton dress with a plaited back from a beachy aesthetic. 

Arjeta Husuma presented an asymmetric tiered cream dress with stencilled butterfly prints. 

Bernadette Obode's relaxed, masculine tailoring used velvet cuffs to add a luxurious feel. 

Weronika Biernat from Maria Fieldelis Sixth Form presented a neon yellow dress with a transparent perspex jacket and contrasting royal blue faux fur trim. 

Sarah Adetutu's coral dress had a semi sheer overlay with floral applique for a formal summer impression. 

Georgia Walsh from Raine's Foundation School showcased an other worldly look, decorated with 3D tubing and oversized shoulders. 

Luce Anumba presented a regal outfit with a fanned cape with golden oriental accents. 

The 2015 Fashion Futures Winner, presented with a design placement with George at Asda, went to the extremely talented Hana Minova from Prendergast Hilly Fields College. Her design, a clean cut white crossover top, paired with hessian trousers gave her modern tailoring an organic feel.

The FAD Charity also presents three awards to those showing excellent craftsmanship in their designs. The Technical Excellence Award went to Anakin Telle Nakata from City & Islington College, her clean cut neoprene collection wowed the judges so much that she too was offered a design placement with the team of George from Asda. The Innovative Surface Design Award went to Nurdan Sinal, her white, modern dress was artistically spray painted with primary colours. Finally, the Directional Outerwear Award went to David Benny for his innovative leather outwear with beautiful tribal embroidery.

Words : Elizabeth Renfrey
Photography: Oda Eide
Editor: Fiona Nicholls

Belgrade Fashion Week: Review

Belgrave Fashion Week is an organisation that strives to present collections with the unique balance of both commercial and artistic fashion. Collaborating with Belgrave Fashion Week, Fashion Scout presents Ana Ljubinkovic, Ivana Pilkja, George Styler, Budislava Kekovic and Vlada Savic, five of Belgrave’s hottest names.

Image: Oda Eide

Ana Ljubinkovic’s SS16 collection is an explosion of contradictory ideas. The garments combine the vintage cross stitch patterns with futuristic metal textures and structures to represent ‘the clash between naive innocence and experience’. The theatrical look was completed with kitsch woodland creatures, nested in the model’s crimped hair and faces covered in gold glitter. 

Design: Ana Ljubinkovic, Image: Oda Eide

With ‘Sports-Luxe’ featuring so heavily this London Fashion Week, it’s no surprise that the trend has gone international. Vlada Savic’s collection featured a primary colour palette of blues, yellows and reds across a clean cut set of dresses, culottes and smock tops.

Design: Vlada Savic, Image: Oda Eide

Inspired by simplistic form and the complexity of the underwater world, Budislava’s SS16 collection featured clean, cubistic cuts and a monochrome palette. Draped, sheer leggings contrasted the rigid structure of the garments and the solid plastic masks.

Design: Budislava, Image: Maja Jankowska

Stylist to many VIPs and fashion forward folk, George Styler exhibited his fun knitwear turned sportswear collection. Using floral designs and knitted fabrics to create bodysuits and bomber jackets, Styler found the perfect clash of technique and style. 

Design: George Styler, Image: Oda Eide

Returning to the theatrics, Ivana Pilja presented her dramatic, avant-garde collection which used monochromatic, kaleidoscope patterns and bizarre silhouettes.  Influenced by Japanese fashion and origami, the collection also felt animal inspired as the fabric was manipulated to resemble feathers and armadillo style pleats.

Design: Ivana Pilja, Image: Oda Eide

Incorporating international talent at Fashion Scout, Belgrade Fashion Week brought their innovative and unique style to the London catwalk. As the designers took their final bow, we, at Fashion Scout were delighted to introduce Belgrade Fashion Week to London.

Words: Alexandra Craft (@alexandrasaidso)

Images: Oda Beide and Maya Jankowska
Editor: Fiona Nicholls

Marko Mitanovski: Escaping the Confines

Image: Maja Jankowska

Marko Mitanovski is known for his iconic dramatic dark designs, having previously dressed the likes of Lady Gaga, Paloma Faith, and Little Mix, there was a lot of excitement surrounding his afternoon show. 

His consistent use of black, allows Marko to further explore the possibilities of form and texture within his designs. His creations were full of differing guises and shapes. Inspired by organic natural forms such as volcanos, his outfits appeared to bubble and almost engulf the models themselves. As well as being encased by the overflowing structure of the dress, the models were also physically laced into the garments, giving the impression that the garment wore the model, rather than the other way round.

Image: Oda Eide

Marko told Fashion Scout that he could not have created his collection without the help of his chosen sculptors: partnering with sculptors Sonja Gajic, Ivan Stevanovic, Miroslav Lakobrij, Milan Stosic and headwear designer De Mode. The contributions of these sculptors bewildered and captivated the onlookers with their frightening, almost alien appearance, which often obscured the model's face. 

Referencing 'The Scream' by expressionist artist Edvard Munch, many of the black mini dresses featured moulded faces which seemed to want to escape the confines of the black leather and latex folds: the faces burst through the chests of the wearer. This theme of fear and escape followed through into every aspect of the garments, with Mitanovski showing corset inspired leg-wear bewildering onlookers.

Winged cape taking inspiration from Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 Film 'The Birds'
Image: Maja Jankowska

The creativity and pattern cutting ability of this designer are so strong that is impossible to not enjoy his collections.  #SS16 Marko Mitanovski provided further insight into his signature aesthetic, we can't wait to see what's next from him...

Fashion Scout for London Fashion Week runs from 18th - 22nd September 2015 at the Freemasons' Hall, WC2B 5AZ.

Remember to follow our Instagram, and Twitter to keep up with the shows as they happen, and use the hashtag #FashionScout

Writer: Paris Richardson 

Images: Maja Jankowska, Oda Beide and Stefania Porcu 

Editor: Fiona Nicholls

MIMPIKITA SS16 Backstage & Show Review

Since establishing their brand in 2008, sisters Nurul, Mira and Syera Zulkifli have grown their brand and established a reputation for valuing traditional while also pushing boundaries. Debuting their first Fashion Scout collection 'A New Femininity', SS16 is a big year for the Zulkifli family.

Image: Anne Laymond

Image: Anne Laymond

Backstage, messy fishtail plaits were sculpted with label.m Volume Mouse, the front of the hair teased into a beehive and set with 'Extreme Hold' hairspray. The playful braids were styled to fit with the designers feminine aesthetic whilst also nodding to the SS16 plaited trend.

Image: Stefania Porcu

Image: Stefania Porcu

Skin was tanned using The Body Shop's Honey Bronze to create a sun-kissed base whilst Colour Crush lipstick, in Coral, accentuated the model's youthful, glow. Finally, skin was spritzed with Vitamin E Moisture Mist to give the skin a fresh, dewy appearance.

Image: Stefania Porcu

Image: Stefania Porcu

With a palette ranging from citrus greens to soft, warm sandy tones, Mimpikita's Collection came in a range of youthful colours, drawing influence from their childhood in Malaysia.

The collection, inspired by feminine silhouettes with an emphasis on traditional Malaysian Batik, was filled with soft flowing silks, crisp lines and asymmetric hemlines. The artistically draped fabrics accentuated the feminine form. Sleek garments were tailored with soft, silk belts whilst others left untied were artfully pleated, swaying as the models moved on the catwalk.

Image: Stefania Porcu

As the collection drew to a close, the proud sisters took to the catwalk to take their well deserved applause. Their debut Fashion Scout presentation a success, MIMPIKITA's SS16 collection is a sign that these sisters are beginning an exciting stage of their fashion career.

Fashion Scout for London Fashion Week runs from 18th-22nd 2015 at the Freemasons' Hall, WC2B 5AZ

Remember to follow our Instagram, and Twitter to keep up with the shows as they happen, and use the hashtag #FashionScout

Words: Elizabeth Renfrey
Images: Stefania Porcu and Anne Laymond
Editor: Fiona Nicholls

Day 4: L'Amitie and C.J. Yao

L’Amitie

Yesterday L’Amitie unveiled her debut show at in the Gallery. Her vision of the modern woman was articulated through a sea of slinky silkwear. The elegant designs consisted of split wide leg trousers, plunging “V” necks, pointed flats and nordic inspired make-up.

One of the hero pieces to be presented was a raw silk suit complete with oversized lapels and cuffs. The accessories consisted of elegant gold geometric arm bracelets and geode pendants and brooches.

The flowing designs appeared to be cut on the bias enabling the material to appear fluid. The use of muted pinks, greys, and black complimented the collection. Embellishments consisted of black and gold sequins. L’Amitie has enables to sexiness while also attending to the need for tailored pieces. 

C.J. Yao

Even before C.J. Yao had presented her first piece on the catwalk there was a lot of curiosity surrounding her very specific start time of 18:37.  The designer explained to Fashion Scout that the use of numbers '3,7,2 and 1’ held particular significance with the Chinese belief surrounding impulsiveness. 

The collection definitely captured that energetic spirit that C.J. aimed to create, she describes the garments as 'put on and go, sports chic' pieces. Even the catwalk was modified with vinyl decal to mimick a sprint track- with bold green race lines and starting blocks. 

This linear theme translated into the clothes too, with vertical and horizontal stripes on the shirts, trousers and skirts. Yao gave Sport luxe a futuristic update complete with bright colours, metallics, frayed denim, and graphics.

Fashion Scout for London Fashion Week runs from 18th-22nd 2015 at the Freemasons' Hall, WC2B 5AZ

Remember to follow our Instagram, and Twitter to keep up with the shows as they happen, and use the hashtag #FashionScout

Writer: Paris Richardson 

Images: Maja Jankowska and Oda Beide 
Editor: Fiona Nicholls