Designer Spotlight SS14| Basharatyan V

Economics grad turned designer Veronica Basharatyan has earned her fashion credentials in prestigious universities across Europe, including Central Saint Martins and Instituto Marangoni. Lucky for the fashion world, she chose luxury ready to wear fashion over economics. Named by Harper’s as one of Russia’s Best Young Designers earlier this year, Veronica’s latest strikingly glamourous collection entitled ‘Broken Angel’ features juxtaposing silhouettes and bold palettes; attributes which have secured her a position tailoring bespoke pieces for Russia’s elite from a Moscow showroom, with a UK expansion on the cards.

Basharatyan V will show on Day Two of Fashion Scout London at Freemason's Hall

By Olivia Hunter, Fashion Scout writer, @OliviaHunter

NEWS| Phoebe English's AW13 collection shot by Hunger Magazine

Former Merit Award Winner Phoebe English's AW13 collection has been featured by Hunger Magazine. Shot by Max Montgomery, the editorial is accompanied with an interview with Phoebe who talks through her 'Made in England' ethos, her career highlights and future plans. 

In addition, Phoebe English has been mentioned in a recent Business of Fashion article on boutique Hostem whilst her AW film has been featured on Wallpaper Magazine's website. 

NEWS| Phoebe English AW13 film exclusive to Dazed Digital

Former Fashion Scout Merit Award winner Phoebe English takes us to new worlds with a short film featuring the designer’s AW13 collection.  Focusing on shape, shadows bring a spellbound atmosphere to the collection where movement interacts with light.

Collaborating with director Marie Kristiansen and music by Golden Hum, Phoebe English showcases parts of her collection throughout the film featuring her signature monochromatic style. Flashes of dark visuals contrast with a serene mood, where the viewer is invited to see the multidimensional aspects of the collection.

Featured on Dazed Digital as an exclusive, the film highlights the importance of textures in Phoebe English’s work and pulls forward the garments themselves, whilst the model remains passive, face half covered.

“Whilst obviously displayed to us, the model is simultaneously removed or hidden by the masking of her eyes” says English explaining the film-making process she says “x-ray and spectre like transparencies, slide show layering and the voyeuristic plinth exhibit of the model protagonist.”

The designer showcased her collection at Fashion Scout in February earlier this year using this film to expand ideas on aesthetics seen on the catwalk.

Vanessa Omoregie (@wewearblack)

NEWS| Ksenia Schnaider's AW13 Bodywarmer collection

Ukrainian designer Ksenia Schnaider has combined her latest look book, inspirations and presentations, including the Fashion Scout exhibition, and placed them within an online publication. The designer, whose AW13 collection entitled Bodywarmer is inspired by the classic body warmer of the Soviet Union, founded her label in 2011 and showcased her work as a part of our Kiev Fashion Days in February. "For Ksenia Schnaider collections we're inspired by the clothes themselves," she said in an interview on her latest collection. "We only work with codes, utility and the history of clothes."

Schaider's digital showcase of work can be viewed here. 

By Josh Walker (@josh_walker_)

COLLECTION| CYAN Autumn / Winter ’13 Look Book

Part of Fashion Scout’s Kiev Showroom that took place in March this year, designer Victoria Panyukova of CYAN presented an Autumn / Winter ’13 collection that takes reference in wooden toy building kit. Playful proportions of layers and panels sit on a palette of earth tones that read as rich yet calm. The Ukrainian based designer debuts a new look book of the collection that features photography from Furka Ishchuk-Paltseva.

“It is a story of childish curiosity and desire for discovering the world, inclination to build “castles in the air” Victoria talks on the narrative behind this winter collection. Geometric structures and forms mimic building blocks and explores a connection between the pieces that can be interchanged. Wool, chiffon and cotton with a use of vibrant prints create the mood for this collection that sticks to the label's aesthetic using high quality fabrics and  finding technological solutions for style.

Founded in 2012 the brand has a design ethos that combines functionality with traditional European styles. Victoria Panyukova takes a feminine approach to structured and minimalist design not focusing on trends but on creating her own woman.

Text by Vanessa Omoregie

PARIS| Fashion Scout Paris Drinks Reception Tonight

With Fashion Scout Paris Showroom in full swing alongside Paris Fashion Week, tonight we will be hosting our Drinks Reception. Taking place today (Friday 1st March) from 6pm - 9pm for buyers and members of media, we will be celebrating Paris Fashion Week with our collection of talented international designers. 

Fashion Scout, the international showcase has brought 20 of the best creative international talent to Paris Fashion Week for one week only.

The Drinks Reception is strictly RSVP only. There's still time to RSVP, please contact  press@fsi-events.com to enquire. 

For more information on the Showroom designers, please click here. 

FRONT ROW| At Fashion Scout FEB'13

Fashion Scout played host to a series of VIP's and famous faces over the past few days at London Fashion Week. With the cast from Channel 4 series 'Made In Chelsea' coming to film for their next series, and fashion-darling Laura Whitmore attending former Merit Award Winner Heohwan Simulation's show- the FROW at Fashion Scout was never dull. 

Pam Hogg brought in the usual crowd- Jaime Winstone, who has previously modelled for the designer, along with prestigious photographer Rankin. The stylist Rebekah Roy was seen several times, along with TV's favourite Lydia Bright who now has her own style column in a National magazine. 

COLLECTION| Tahir FEB'13

Tahir Sultan brought together his usual merging of Eastern and Western sensibilities with a collection that drew inspiration from 1940s style and the Thaar Desert. A mix of masculine tailoring and contemporary embellishments provided a modern take on 1940s hunting-wear. Harem pants and trench coats were re-imagined in houndstooth wool, whilst silk tea dresses were form fitting, giving a sensual feel. Prints and embroidery inspired from both Syria and India. The neutral palette, sprinkled with blues and golds evoked a timeless sensibility. The combination of understated glamour and empowering silhouettes created an air of relaxed sophistication.

Tahir talked to Fashion Scout about who he designs for. "I design for the modern day woman, for women who are daring and avant-garde, whose personalities shine when they walk into a room. I give women a platform to express themselves. I am vigilant in my cuts, my designs have to fit and flatter a woman and ultimately empower them."

Words by Darcie Thompson-Fields

Photos by Tram Nguyen

BACKSTAGE| Tahir FEB'13

Ahead of tonight’s closing show, Tahir Sultan, Fashion Scout caught up witht the TONI&GUY and The Body Shop teams backstage to hear about the concepts they have created to complement the designs in Tahir’s AW13 Collection.

Working with the brief of ‘traveling the continent of India in the 1940’s, and Tahir’s personal love of strong glamorous feminine women; The Body Shop’s Claire has opted for strong eyes using The Body Shop Kohl Liner to represent the Indian theme, and dark red lips to illustrate the presence of the 1940’s. Claire told us that the overall concept was ‘distinctly representative of strong feminine women’.

With regards to hair, TONI&GUY’s stylist Bill told us that the only way to describe the style created is a ‘female version of the iconic James Dean’ – think slick back and sides and an extravagant quiff on top. Nails by FTWS have been painted nude to complement the colour palette of the collection.

By Brooke McCord, @BrookeMcCord
Images by Siobhan Kerrigan @SiobhanKerrigan

COLLECTION| FAD - Fashion Awareness Direct FEB'13

Future Optimism was the theme given to the 15 young designers of the FAD catwalk show who had the opportunity to compete for vital funding as well as top industry placements. The collections seen on the runway represent the aspiring designers’ take on optimistic design solutions for the next decade.

With influential industry professionals in attendance the designers were given the platform here at Fashion Scout to showcase their creativity to an excited audience. The Fashion Awareness Direct gives young creatives a step into the fashion industry. The show proved to be a goldmine of incredible potential with collections from Matthew O’Brien, Lucinda Roberts, Stephanos Konstantinou, Robert Mills, Stephanie Kitchen, Joseph Horton, Chelsey Crossland, Louis Alderson-Bythell, Aysha Simpson, Nneka Okorie, Kimberly Phillips, Laura Chittenden, Anna Kim, Estella Nerinskaite and Morwenna Darwell.

Second runner up, menswear designer Nneka Okorie proved a sophisticated technique of tailoring with a new take on the masculine silhouette and beautifully printed landscapes. Whilst Stephanos Konstantinou , who came first runner up,  used negative space to reinvent patterns and turn tailoring literally upside down.

Winner Stephanie Kitchen shone as the star and ones to watch who looked at the brief from a sophisticated yet whimsical perspective with colours and textures in a perfect balance.

The winners of the FAD and its participants have gone on to do wonderful things in the fashion industry and make their name on the scene both on and off the high street.

Vanessa Omoregie, @wewearblack
Images by Bex Day (@Rebecca_Day)