COLLECTION| David Koma FEB'13

Former Merit Award winner and Central Saint Martins graduate David Koma showcased his AW13 collection at Somerset House on Saturday with rave reviews who commented on the Fashion Scout alumni’s futuristic tone and impeccable craftsmanship.

Structural silhouettes had the models towering in strong sculpted leather looks reminiscent of sixties shapes.  Space age was a subtle theme of the show, added with spherical metallic motifs for a more fluid style than we’re used to seeing from David Koma. The designer swapped his signature angular lines for smooth waved hemlines and soft necklines. He tells Vogue Magazine “Growing up I was heavily inspired by Andre Courreges and Pierre Cardin – as well of course vinyl records” a style that is evident in this Autumn / Winter ’13 collection. Rich in texture David Koma experiments with patent applique on girlish peplum dresses and skirts. A sporty element was strategically composed with the use of racer backs and fluorescent detailing and exposed zips.

Since winning Fashion Scout’s prestigious Merit Award, David Koma is a designer that has shot to success with fans including Beyoncé. He has since gone on to win more awards including the BFC’s NEWGEN sponsored by Topshop award.

Vanessa Omoregie, @wewearblack

Images from Vogue.com

VAUXHALL FASHION SCOUT ALUMNI| David Koma S/S13

Two years ago, designer and Central Saint Martins graduate David Koma won the coveted Merit Award at Vauxhall Fashion Scout and ever since he has had great success to critical acclaim with some of the world's most famous celebrities, Beyonce to name one, becoming fans of his designs. David Koma revealed his Spring Summer '13 collection this morning at Somerset House and provided beautiful spring designs inspired by the amazing summer of sport that London has just been home to.

Influenced mainly by Tennis and Wimbledon in particular, to inspire his designs David spent time at the event, getting to know the sport and the players. Taking this sportswear influence, he put the David Koma twist on it and consequently created something intelligent and refined but still true to it's original inspirations. The collection featured a palette of tennis white, Wimbledon greens and yellow and inclusions of black and electric blue that gave the collection a more futuristic edge. Describing the collection as “Hard, fast and beautiful” in an interview with VFS partners Fashion Monitor earlier this year, this was exactly what it was with bold panelling juxtaposed with voluminous pleats that provided movement as if playing in the wind at Wimbledon. Enlarged net-like prints played with scale and almost created a 3D look, bringing contemporary edge to a traditional inspiration.

The collection had a stunning array of fabrics, from opaque black heavy jerseys to sheer silks. Translucent vests and shirts layered over tight, panelled dresses and cut in innovative ways enhanced the looks taking them from sportswear to contemporary high fashion. The fabric manipulation was sublime with pleats and folds giving the sports influence within amazing silhouettes. The innocent tennis whites were made slightly more rebellious with geometric cut-outs, and black dresses were embellished with patent elements that gave the whole collection evening looks that were sophisticated and chic. Once again, the designer gave us designs that are wearable and commercial however still pushing boundaries.

Text by Katie Agar (@katie_agar)
Images from Style.com

NEWS| Lady Gaga wears VFS alumni David Koma

Image Source, Image Source

Landing in Brisbane earlier this week to kick-off the Australian leg of her ‘Born This Way’ tour, Lady Gaga continued to show support for contemporary design talent; stepping off the plane in a silk-mix peplum dress from VFS alumni, David Koma’s Autumn/ Winter collection. 

Gaga- having also been seen in VFS-designer, Raffaele Ascione's MA pieces- has proven prolific in her support of the “future of fashion”, embracing the work of designers from all walks- both emerging, and newly established.

Lady Gaga isn't the only multi-million selling star to be seen in Koma's work- click here to find out who else has taken to the stage in the Georgian-designer's Spring/Summer wears.

NEWS| Beyonce wears VFS alumni David Koma for comeback gig

 Beyonce images from Black Style Central

David Koma, SS12 collection by Christopher James

When Beyonce Knowles returned to the stage this weekend for her first live gig since she gave birth, she whipped her new figure into five different costumes. The one outfit which was on everyone's lips is the David Koma bodysuit. The black mesh leotard with geometric patterns is from the designer's SS12 collection. Koma, a VFS alumni alongside Hermione de Paula and Peter Pilotto, teamed the bodysuit with a peplum pleated blue mid skirt for his SS12 showcase last September, whereas Beyonce bared all with just a leather belt to accessorise.  

Cass Gowing, Editor

Follow her on Twitter @CassGowing

NEWS| Exclusive Insight - Vauxhall Fashion Scout S/S13 Selection Panel

The Vauxhall Fashion Scout Selection Panel for London Fashion Week S/S13 has come and gone, but the excitement is still with us a week on...

Beach Blanket Babylon in Shoreditch housed over 40 designers, 14 industry experts and hundreds of beautiful garments last Tuesday, which saw the seasonal Vauxhall Fashion Scout Selection Panel hand-pick the designers that will be joining us at the Freemason's Hall for September's London Fashion Week and the Fashion Scout Showroom in Paris.

Amongst the selected designers, the Merit Award Winner & One's To Watch Designers were selected- the awards that highlight the leading emerging talent at Vauxhall Fashion Scout. These highly esteemed awards have gone to truly talented designers in the past, helping them launch their careers into the industry. Previous Merit Award Winners have included:

Georgia Hardinge

Hermione De Paula

David Koma

William Tempest

Applying for catwalk, exhibition and Paris Showroom places, Vauxhall Fashion Scout had nearly 200 applicants for S/S13.

With just the afternoon to select the designers they believe will be the leading new talent for Vauxhall Fashion Scout, our panel of prestigious fashion industry individuals came from all areas within the fashion world- buying, marketing, designing, anything a designer could possibly need when trying to break into the industry.

Our Vauxhall Fashion Scout Panel this season were:

Martyn Roberts- Vauxhall Fashion Scout

Charlotte Gunstone - Vauxhall Fashion Scout

Ruth Runberg - Browns 

Erin Mullaney - Avenue 32

Stefan Siegel - Not Just A Label

Jessica Bumpus - Vogue.com

Tui Lin - POP Magazine

Judith Tolley - CFE 

David Koma - Designer & VFS Alumni

Eudon Choi - Designer & VFS Alumni

Rebekah Roy - Stylist

Laura Margott - Vauxhall Motors

Katie Oyler  - Vauxhall Motors

Karen Harper - Toni&Guy

Now heading into our 14th season, the "home of new talent", Vauxhall Fashion Scout is the leading platform for exciting new fashion designers to showcase their talent to London Fashion Week and the world. 

Make sure you stay tuned to the Vauxhall Fashion Scout blog for all the information for September's London Fashion Week and our new line up of designers, and keep up with up-to-date news with the Vauxhall Fashion Scout Twitter, here. 

NEWS| Vauxhall Fashion Scout Selection Panel for S/S13

Vauxhall Fashion Scout Director Martyn Roberts with David Koma

David Koma, Erin Mullaney (Avenue 32) & Judith Tolley (CFE)

Ruth Runberg (Browns), David Koma & Eudon Choi

Selection Panel Space at Beach Blanket Babylon

Collections

Stylist Rebekah Roy with VFS Events Manager, Charlotte Gunstone

The Full Selection Panel

Collections

Yesterday saw the S/S13 Vauxhall Fashion Scout Selection Panel take place at our venue partner, Beach Blanket Babylon in Shoreditch. 

With nearly 200 designer applicants, the "home of new talent" has proven itself as an established and celebrated platform for supporting emerging design talent in the industry, and S/S13 looks to be one of the best ever for Vauxhall Fashion Scout. 

Key industry experts came together to hand select the future designers for Vauxhall Fashion Scout S/S13 at both London & Paris Fashion Week, including the coveted Merit Award and prestigious One's To Watch showcase, that is held as a highlight every season.

Designers are considered for Catwalk, Presentation and Exhibition places and with that  gain access to Vauxhall Fashion Scout's renown Mentoring programme.  

The esteemed Selection Panel for S/S13 included some of the industries most respected and talented individuals, each bringing their own unique perspective and opinion of the shortlisted collections. On the Vauxhall Fashion Scout Selection Panel this season were:

Martyn Roberts- Vauxhall Fashion Scout

Charlotte Gunstone - Vauxhall Fashion Scout

Ruth Runberg - Browns 

Erin Mullaney - Avenue 32

Stefan Siegel - Not Just A Label

Jessica Bumpus - Vogue.com

Tui Lin - POP Magazine

Judith Tolley - CFE 

David Koma - Designer & VFS Alumni

Eudon Choi - Designer & VFS Alumni

Rebekah Roy - Stylist

Laura Margott - Vauxhall Motors

Katie Oyler  - Vauxhall Motors

Karen Harper - Toni&Guy

The Vauxhall Fashion Scout Selection Panel also marked the launch of the Vauxhall Fashion Scout Instagram, capturing exclusive behind the scene's imagery from the event, straight to the VFS Twitter.

Stay tuned to the Vauxhall Fashion Scout blog for news on selected designers for Vauxhall Fashion Scout S/S13. 

A big thank you to Beach Blanket Babylon for giving us the beautiful space for the VFS Selection Panel. 

COLLECTIONS| VFS Press-Day Picks at Modus PR

Two collections struck us as we entered the Modus PR showroom; the first being that of Central Saint Martin's grad, J. JS Lee. Lee's Autumn/Winter looks are sharp in their simplicity, with a modernity derived from the minimal, "cloud-cast-shadow" inspired palette. It's this modernity, with the shadow of embossed, traditional details that's already seen her featured in various international editions of VOGUE, and ELLE.

Unsurprisingly, the second collection we found ourselves drawn to was that of SS10 Merit Award winner, David Koma. The Georgian-born designer has amassed an international following since then, and we're exceptionally proud to express our continued support. Our Autumn/Winter Koma favourites are these Quilici-collaborated, greyhound heels inspired by "the fastest and most elegant dogs in the world". The metal-sculpted heels share the hound motif of the collection's intarsia knits, and belted waists' buckled details, and we expect these accessories to make "most coveted" lists come Autumn/Winter 2012.

Tell us what you think of our showroom picks on Facebook, or Twitter @FashionScout, and @sara_mcalpine.