EXCLUSIVE | Fashion Scout Selection Panel AW15

The AW15/16 Fashion Scout Selection Panel converged on Tuesday 18th November to decide which designers would showcase with Fashion Scout during London and Paris Fashion Week. A collection of Fashions finest, the panel included Vogue Italia's Sara Maino, renowned fashion commentator Hilary Alexander OBE, Judith Tolley from the Centre for Fashion Enterprise, the British Council, former Merit Award winner Georgia Hardinge and Fashion Scout's own director Martyn Roberts. 

The panel spent the day time looking through all fifty shortlisted designers before deciding on this seasons Merit Award and One’s to Watch recipients. 

The judges where overwhelmed by the level of talent for AW15/16. Commenting on what seems to be a new ‘era’ of designer talent- with a focus on craftsmanship, creativity and colour. Those who are chosen by the judges will have the chance to showcase their collections during Fashion Scout London Fashion Week in catwalk shows, presentations or as part of exhibitions from the 20th - 24th February 2015. 

Look out for our new designer announcements soon, including the prestigious Ones to Watch and Merit Award winners. 

by Daisy Milward

Images from Fashion Scout Events

INTERVIEW| Selection Panel AW14 and Former Merit Award Winner Georgia Hardinge

Ahead of tomorrow's Selection Panel for Fashion Scout AW14, we caught up with past Merit Award Winner and Selection Panel member Georgia Hardinge to get her top tips for this season's applicants. 

Georgia Hardinge's SS14 collection was part of the Ones To Watch initiative whilst her AW11 collection was awarded with the Merit Award accolade in January 2011, provided her with the first stand-alone catwalk show. Since showcasing with Fashion Scout, Georgia's career rocketed; from receiving rave reviews in top titles including Grazia, Marie Claire, Sunday Times Style, British Vogue, Tatler and ID, to gaining celebrity fans of the brand such as Florence Welch, Lady Gaga and Erin O’Conner, to collaborating with Victoria's Secret, Lancome and most recently, River Island. 

1. What are the three qualities you will be looking for when choosing a future Fashion Scout designer?

Originality, authenticity and consistency

2. What criteria do you have for the Ones to Watch and Merit Award potential winner? What OTW/Merit Award winners of previous seasons really impressed you?

The design must show unique wear-ability and attention to detail. I loved Eudon Choi collection he's a great designer and the David Koma's Merit Award collection was a great success.

3. What advice can you give to designers who will be showcasing at London or Paris Fashion Week for the first time?

Get a good team together who are prepared to work hard!

Great advice from an incredible designer who knows being a OTW and Merit Award winning Fashion Scout designer first hand! We can't wait to find out who our designers are for AW14!

Follow Georgia on Twitter @HardingeGeorgia to keep up to date with her at the Fashion Scout panel tomorrow! 

Written and interviewed by Editor Cass Gowing @CassGowing

Images from Christopher Dadey and Push It Magazine

NEWS| Ksenia Schnaider and Georgia Hardinge featured on Vogue Italia 'Emerging and Green Berlin'

Vogue Italia have featured two Fashion Scout designers who showcased at Berlin Fashion Film Festival. Georgia Hardinge's 'River Island for Georgia Hardinge' collection by Alex Turvey won the Berlin Fashion Film Festival 2013 Award for Best Fashion and Best Cinematography.  Meanwhile Fashion Scout Kiev designer Ksenia Schnaider showcased in the Edged Showroom initiative, a platform created to showcase emerging designers. To read the full Vogue Italia article click here, congratulations to both Georgia and Ksenia!  

By Cass Gowing, Fashion Scout Editor @CassGowing

NEWS| Eudon Choi collaborates with River Island

Fashion Scout Alumni Eudon Choi takes on new things in a collaboration with River Island, creating a 16 piece collection to hit stores in September. The Korean designer, who has previously been awarded the Fashion Scout Merit Award, now showcases his collections on schedule at Somerset House. Originally a menswear designer, Choi went on to study womenswear at the Royal College of Art where his unique take on feminine structure can be seen in each collection. Launched in 2009 the Eudon Choi brand has gone from strength to strength being recognised for the designer’s use of rich cultural references as well as striking yet minimal shapes.

The River Island collection takes inspiration from the 1991 Peter Lindbergh photo series “Wild at Heart” where we see Choi’s interpretation in soft leathers and biker styled detailing. The River Island Design Forum initiative has seen collections from Fashion Scout’s T.Lipop and Georgia Hardinge giving talented designers the opportunity to take on a new audience.

Ranging from £30 to £250 the collaborative collection is set to be a hit, already garnering fans eager to see Eudon Choi’s vision of the high street.

Vanessa Omoregie, @wewearblack

NEWS| Georgia Hardinge for River Island Design Forum

Former Fashion Scout Merit Award Winner Georgia Hardinge's partnership with high street retailer River Island as part of their River Island Design Forum has gone live. The Spring / Summer 2013 demonstrates Hardinge's well known architectural designs through a monochrome palette. Already receiving rave reviews since launching yesterday, Georgia's collection is being presented through an installation in the window displays of River Island stores nationwide. 

By Editor Cass Gowing
Follow her on Twitter @CassGowing

NEWS| Georgia Hardinge collaborates with River Island

Former Fashion Scout Merit Award Winner Georgia Hardinge partners with high street retailer River Island on a collaborative collection for Spring / Summer 2013. Since her debut  in 2010, the London-based designer has gone from strength to strength, recognised for her talent for creating interesting textures and patterns. River Island who have previously collaborated with William Tempest, use these creative ventures to give a designers a wider audience.

The debut high street collection will follow Hardinge’s feminine aesthetic and use structural, textured shapes set to feature in both clothing and accessories. After being approached by River Island, Georgia Hardinge expresses being “immediately excited” about the project.

"I absolutely love what River Island are producing at the moment - there is a definite buzz around the brand and they are really bringing something fresh and new to the high street." Georgia says.

The collection will launch with a short film directed by Alex Turvey and starring Ben Grimes at part of Fash/Of this season, another collaboration the designer is excited about saying “it allows the mood of a collection to come to life”.

Read more on Vogue.co.uk

By Vanessa Omoregie (@wewearblack). Images from River Island and Natalie Ilina

NEWS| Georgia Hardinge's designs on BBC 2's Never Mind The Buzzcocks

This week’s Never Mind The Buzzcock’s saw panelist, Shingai Shoniwa of the Noisettes in a VFS former Merit Award winner, Georgia Hardinge's Autumn/ Winter design. The off-shoulder, burgundy dress from Georgia Hardinge’s “Inverted” Autumn/ Winter collection , worn with discus earrings, and a-lofty headpiece proved the versatility of Hardinge's aesthetic, and how the piece can be worked into a look as eccentric as Shingai's own. 
The former Merit Award winner’s collection- featuring exotic-skin-print panelling, and geometric stitching proved to produce an impact that has seen her business and fanbase growing season upon season. A designer we are proud to have among our ranks.

By Vanessa Omoregie (@wewearblack)

Image - BBC

NEWS| "Because magazines meets..." Georgia Hardinge

Former Merit Award winner, and Vauxhall Fashion Scout veteran, Georgia Hardinge is another of our designers to be profiled, and interviewed by TANK-affiliated online platform, Because Magazine.

The online feature sees a series of shots from Hardinge's studio, and an exclusive video interview in which the designer discusses her time as a student, living in Paris, Barcelonian inspiration, and coming home for her favourite wind-down; a good old stint in a British pub.

Click here to view the full-length feature, and see more exclusive images of Georgia's studio.

NEWS| Georgia Hardinge in the press, featuring Wolf & Badger and Universal

Georgia Hardinge stockist and all round ulta-cool independent designer boutique Wolf & Badger are hosting a range of 'Designer Profiles' on their blog and last week, they featured former VFS Merit Award winner Georgia. 

Beginning with a brief summary of Georgia's background and design trademarks, the blog then interviews GH on the progression of the label and on her inspirations for her collections. 

"Since then [graduating in 2009 from Parsons] the brand has gone from strength to strength winning the merit award from Vauxhall Fashion Scout and collaborating with many exciting brands such as Lancome,Victoria Secret , Samsung and L’Oreal."

Meanwhile, not content with her designs being seen on Florence Welch, Jessie J and the Alpines's Catherine Pockson - Georgia Hardinge hit Germany to style the music video for Universal's band Livingston. You can view the video, which features purely Georgia Hardinge designs - worn by the male and female in the video - here.  

By Cass Gowing, 

Images - screenshot from Wolf & Badger blog, 

Video images courtesy of Georgia Hardigne

NEWS| Georgia Hardinge Interviewed by Trace Publicity

Trace Publicity show their love for Vauxhall Fashion Scout designer Georgia Hardinge with an exclusive interview on their blog. 

Known for her excellent use of prints, Trace talk to Georgia about her AW12 prints and the inspiration behind the collection which she says was inspired by “Rachel Whiteread’s use of negative space and sculpture”. The designer also talks about her personal favourite print being the “Stained print” from her “Spined” collection which sold out from her store, but gives us a little to hint about her next collection saying that this one is “by far my favourite”!

A debut Resort collection and collaboration with Lancôme are amongst the many things Georgia has been up to these past few months, as well as preparing for SS13 which she describes as“print, sculptural layering, and transparencies”.  Georgia Hardinge will show her SS13 collection in September this year.

By Vanessa Omoregie

Follow her on Twitter @wewearblack

NEWS| Georgia Hardinge showcased designs at Hackney House

The work of Georgia Hardinge has been showcased in a recent Hackney House exhibition. On August 2nd, the trendy East London venue displayed the best of the fashion talent from the area, including that of the innovative and internationally stocked VFS designer. "I loved being part of Hackney House and I greatly respect the other designers involved," she said. "It was a real chance to come together and showcase our work collectively in this Olympic year! Andrew from Material PR did one amazing job!" Since launching her label in 2009 and being named Vauxhall Fashion Scout Merit Award winner for AW11, Georgia Hardinge has seen tremendous success including a main fashion feature in Marie Claire, critical acclaim in Vogue and being awarded InStyle's 'Name To Know'.

By Josh Walker

Follow him on Twitter @josh_walker_

Images from Georgia Hardinge

EXCLUSIVE| Georgia Hardinge's first Resort Collection

Vauxhall Fashion Scout former Merit Award winner Georgia Hardinge has created her first ever Resort Collection. Exquisitely cut with Georgia's trademark silhouettes and patterning,   Georgia felt that creating a resort collection was the next step in order to challenge herself. 

Editor Cass Gowing caught up with Georgia to chat about the new development for the designer.

Georgia - talk us through your first ever Resort collection:

As you can see the collection has a light feel. I made the print by placing paper over melted, coloured wax crayons and then scratching it off the paper once dry to create an image that I then manipulated. The shapes within the collection are rounded and constructed with minimal seams to produce bold silhouettes. 

The fabric that I used in some of the pieces is interesting; particularly a new technology fabric which is layered between chiffon and cotton (this is the grid fabric you see in the images and is sometimes used under carpets to stop them from slipping). I was drawn to this particular fabric because of its geometric form.

Such a detailed geometric form and patterning is definitely something that you are renowned for. What are you working on at the moment? 

Making costumes for Sarah Brighton and working on main collection!

Whet your appetite? Here's a snap of Sarah Brighton wearing GH whilst shooting her latest music video

By Cass Gowing, VFS Editor

Images from Georgia Hardinge's Resort collection lookbook

Credits: Photography: Niclas Heikkinen Designer: Georgia Hardinge Styling / Creative consultant: Aldene Johnson Model: Jenny Meister (Models 1) Hair: Carolina Crona Make up: Adam Baker Design Assistant: Sarah Gibson Studio Assistant: Erin Wilson Photography assistant: James Harrison 

NEWS| Georgia Hardinge featured in Vogue

Who caught a glimpse of Vauxhall Fashion Scout's designer Georgia Hardinge in July's Vogue? Her tweed shorts, from SS12, were featured in their 'Urban Angel' trend piece. Vogue states that this look is heavily focused on 'sleek silhouettes, cool metallics and graphic prints' so naturally GH was picked up for this piece. 

Whilst we're talking about Ms Hardinge, why not view this video of the Wolf and Badger Dover Street launch party which features an interview with the designer herself. 

By Cass Gowing, Editor

Follow her on Twitter @CassGowing

Images from Vogue and Fashion One

NEWS| Florence Welch in Autumn/Winter Georgia Hardinge

Florence Welch opted for another Vauxhall Fashion Scout designer to wear at the pre-London Collections Mr. Porter party last weekend- this time seen sporting former Merit Award winner, Georgia Hardinge's Autumn/Winter for the "dress in your best" event.

Having also been seen in VFS's Inbar Spector's latest work, Miss Welch- along with stylist Aldene Johnson- are proving pioneers of emerging design talent, and we look forward to seeing who she wears next.

To see the official video for Florence and the Machine's 'Spectrum' featuring Spector's work click here. Let us know what you think via Twitter, @FashionScout.

NEWS| Georgia Hardinge Lancome video

At the beginning of May we posted about the exciting collaboration between VFS designer Georgia Hardinge and beauty giant Lancome for the Diamond Jubilee and today is the launch! Georgia Hardinge has created these wonderfully royal images as part of an animation for Selfridges's LCD screens, watch the video exclusively on her Facebook page.  

Don't forget, as part of their Big British Bang event you can watch Georgia hand-paint the designs and even request for it to be personalised (taking place on May 31st - today! -  and June 7th). Read more about the Selfridges event here. 

By Cass Gowing, Editor. 

Follow her on Twitter @CassGowing

NEWS| Georgia Hardinge's designs featured in the Alpine's new video

Georgia Hardinge's designs have been worn in a video for Alpines's new single Empire. Catch a glimpse of the dress, worn by Catherine Pockson, three minutes into the video. The UK band tweeted to VFS designer Georgia: 

"@alpinesmusic: @hardingegeorgia Thank you so much Georgia! It is SUCH a beautiful dress and I felt honoured to wear it." 
Alpines singer Catherine joins Ren Harvieu and Jessie J in the list of celebs who have been spotted in Hardinge's designs. 


By Cass Gowing, Editor, Follow her @CassGowing
Images from Georgia Hardinge's Facebook Page

NEWS| Georgia Hardinge's Jubilee collaboration with Lancôme

Yesterday, Georgia Hardinge proudly announced the news on her Facebook page that she has collaborated with Lancôme to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. The VFS designer proves herself unstoppable by producing limited edition designs for Lancôme's Visionnaire 50ml and Génifique 75ml bottles. Georgia will hand-paint the specially designed crown and spector on each individual bottle (!) whilst the unique designer boxes will feature her illustration of a patriotic item (four in total to collect )

A must to celebrate the Jubilee - they are available at Selfridges from May 31st. As part of their Big British Bang event you can watch Georgia hand-paint the designs and even request for it to be personalised (taking place on May 31st and June 7th). Read more about the Selfridges event here. 

By Cass Gowing, Editor
T: @CassGowing

Images from Latestbeauty.com

NEWS| Georgia Hardinge creates bespoke dress for Ren Harvieu's BBC appearance

VFS designer and former Merit Award winner Georgia Hardinge designed the bespoke dress worn by Ren Harvieu for her 'Later Live - With Jools Holland' appearance last night on BBC2.

The dress features the cobalt blue and burnt orange print (created using her signature resin cast method) that was first displayed in her AW12 collection, showcased at VFS's Freemason's Hall in February. 

VFS chatted to Georgia about how designing a bespoke dress for emerging singer Ren Harvieu occured, "Ren and her stylist Amanda asked me to come and watch her sing at her headline gig in London and I thought 'why not dress her for that!'. We got on so well and I just loved her style so we decided we had to work together on something special. She is a very talented girl."  

By Cass Gowing, Editor,
Images from Georgia Hardigne

APPLICATIONS STILL OPEN| Just seven days left to apply!

Images from Georgia Hardinge's AW12 show at Vauxhall Fashion Scout by Natalia Ilina

Images from Georgia Hardinge's AW12 show at Vauxhall Fashion Scout by Natalia Ilina

Backstage at Georgia Hardinge A/W12, Rowan Papier 

Backstage at Georgia Hardinge A/W12, Rowan Papier 

Vauxhall Fashion Scout closing date on applications for London Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week SS13 is one week away...

Applications close Monday 30th April

Vauxhall Fashion Scout, hailed a “talent goldmine” by Vogue.com, is renowned for launching some of the most innovative names in the industry including:

Peter Pilotto / David Koma / Felder Felder / William Tempest / Iris Van Herpen /

Hermione De Paula / Leutton Postle / David Longshaw / Eudon Choi / Phoebe English.

Designers can also apply for Vauxhall Fashion Scout’s coveted awards:

 Merit Award

Ones To Watch

Former Merit Award winner Georgia Hardinge described Vauxhall Fashion Scout as 

"a great platform for emerging young designers" adding "It has given me great support and the Merit Award has helped kick start my career."

The internationally recognised ‘Ones To Watch’ showcase is a back-to-back catwalk presentation, specifically designed to introduce some of the freshest new talents to the market and has been awarded to some of the leading emerging designers in the industry including Hermione De Paula, Eudon Choi, David Longshaw and this year's Merit Award winner Phoebe English.

Applicants can apply for:

Catwalk

Presentation

Salon shows

The London Exhibition

Paris Showroom

Please note that there will be no Menswear day at Vauxhall Fashion Scout for September 2012.

For further information please visit www.vauxhallfashionscout.com

To request an application form please contact show@vauxhallfashionscout.com


Interview with Georgia Hardinge conducted by Vauxhall Fashion Scout Blog Editor Cass Gowing

NEWS| VFS designers stocked at one of London's hottest boutiques

Vauxhall Fashion Scout designers Georgia Hardinge, Ekaterina Kukhareva, Baartmans & Siegel, T.Lipop as well as VFS alumni Jasper Gardiva are all stocked in the fab boutique Wolf & Badger. 

The boutique focuses on showcasing innovative and emerging designers both in its stores and online. Described as 'Britain's best boutiques' by Vogue UK, Wolf & Badger first opened 'The Lab' in Notting Hill two years ago, but now also has a flagship site 'The Shop' in Mayfair and a store in Porto Montenegro. This retailer makes exciting and innovative new designers accessible to all, view their site now.

By Editor Cass Gowing 

T: @CassGowing

Images from the Wolf & Badger website