CATWALK| One's To Watch: Full Catwalk Looks

Hellen Van Rees

Charlotte Simpson

Charlotte Simpson / Hana Cha

Hana Cha

Ming Pin Tien

The full line-up of Vauxhall Fashion Scout's One To Watch is here; Hellen Van Rees, Charlotte Simpson, Hana Cha & Ming Pin Tien took to the catwalk on Saturday 15th September for the first time ever, showcasing the best in innovation British design talent. 

Hand-picked by the VFS Selection Panel of industry experts including Vogue.co.uk, Browns, CFE, Avenue 32, Not Just A Label and POP Magazine, the One's To Watch designers highlight the potential of emerging design talent. 

For an in-depth Catwalk summary on each designer, click the names above. 

Images by Simon Armstrong

ONES TO WATCH| Hana Cha S/S13

Ones To Watch: Hana Cha SS13 Catwalk Show from VAUXHALL FASHION SCOUT on Vimeo.

As the clock struck eleven, midnight magic flooded the Hana Cha catwalk, her monochromatic fringed collection sashaying with soft movement. Reinventing the masculine trouser suit with silks and dip dyed chiffons, harrowing string music accompanied models that wore their hair in professional tousled buns at the nape of their neck.

Innocent scatters of star shaped embellishment and flecks of ink softened the ying-yang vision, paying homage to a twinkling night sky. Against bare arms and oversized cuffs, fringing naturally swayed about the body, mirrored by overly long garment belts tied loosely at the hip. Our eyes were continually being encouraged to acknowledge the entire female form.

True to her developing style that saw Cha win the Womenswear Collection of the Year at the LCF Victoria & Albert show, heavy androgynous tailoring layered over sheer black chiffon dresses teased the eye as they hung lower than waistcoats and shorts. Bias cut jumpsuits with a dropped waist injected a hint of modern, reminding us again why Cha is one of Vauxhall Fashion Scout’s One To Watch designers.

Text by Freya Hill (@Freyahilltalkin)

Images by Kevin Chesnais

BACKSTAGE| Ones to Watch

Four designers; Charlotte Simpson, Hana Cha, Helen Van Rees and Ming Pin Tien watch over the hair and make-up being done to suit their uniform aesthetic. Ming's collection is an array of leather and metal armour style designs and statement shoes that gives the collection the sense of a 'fashion warrior' in beautiful tones of maroon and beige. Helen's structural, chanel inspired collection brings a sense of sophisticated fun to the room and some beautiful tweed's which impressively are made from recycled yarn remnants.

The challenge for the teams of Tony & Guy and The Body Shop is to style the models in a way that fits all four collections. Celia Vincent, Head of Hairstyling for this show explained that “luckily all of the designers liked similar things, so the issue was to decide on the shine on the hairline. We found the texture that we liked and then we worked on the knotting at the back, trying a few variations.” The result is a sophisticated knotted bun that is simple but beautifully woven into place. The make-up similarly had to be kept simple;LAN Nguyen-Grealis, head of The Body Shop make-up explained that the look was “controlled nude, using bronzes, browns and taupes to contour eyes and cheekbones”.

VFS caught up with Charlotte Simpson, whos beautiful cream statement pieces are embellished with pastel yellows and greens, who explained “The collection is a development from last season but instead of focusing on increased surface area, I have focused more on the taste system, taste mapping of the tongue and taste buds.” We also spoke to Hana Cha who explained that her stunning graphic collection is inspired by “combining different classes from the proletariat so it is basically mixing different styles from upper class and lower class”. The collections from the designers really are stunning and it is clear why they have been identified as the 'Ones to Watch'.

Text by Katie Agar (@katie_agar)

Images by Asia Werbel and Kevin Chesnais

DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT SS13| Hana Cha

The first collection of VFS's One To Watch Hana Cha found inspiration in the difference between social classes and the ideas revealed by the way one dresses. The pieces themselves are a collaboration of fabrics, colours and structures that embody just that. With an MA in womenswear fashion design and technology from the London College of Fashion, as well as a BA in fine art under her belt, the Korean born designer is right at home in her field. Having won 'Womenswear Collection of the Year', her work was featured at a V&A catwalk show and being a runner up of South Korea's Project Catwalk equivalent, Cha's future seems an exciting one. To see the work of this skilled designer first hand, make sure you visit the VFS exhibition, running during London Fashion Week in our Freemasons Hall, as well as seeing her SS13 collection on the runway as part of the OTW showcase catwalk presentation.

By Josh Walker

Follow him on Twitter @josh_walker_

EXCLUSIVE| VFS chats to OTW SS13 designer Hana Cha

Last week, we took a look at one of Vauxhall Fashion Scout's newly announced Ones to Watch designers, Hana Cha. Over the weekend, we caught up with her to discuss the exciting news and to try and squeeze some information out of her about her highly anticipated SS13 collection!

"I already knew about VFS before and I thought if I could have any opportunity to show my collection, it would be amazing and unforgettable memory.  And finally I got in!  I am so excited and cannot wait to show my new collection at VFS Ones to Watch.

I must say it means a lot to me. VFS is a springboard to move forward to a broad and an international fashion field.  On the top of that, young rising designers can be exposed to mass press and media via VFS, I think it is really good opportunity to get in. 

I am willing to give hints of my SS13 collection, however, I can give you just exclusive hints. 

My new coming collection will be shown a drastic contrast by using opposite colour palettes which are black and white. 

Furthermore, there will be a pictorial brush stroke and unique fabrication which represent my strength and identity of design. "

By Editor Cass Gowing, 

Exclusive images courtesy of Hana Cha

EXCLUSIVE| Ones to Watch: Hana Cha

Hana Cha is another of our newly announced Ones To Watch. The Korean designer, who has a degree in Fine Art, is also a recent graduate of the London College of Fashion with an MA in Womenswear Fashion Design and Technology. Her graduate collection, named the 'Diffusion Between Proletariats and Bourgeois' is inspired by just that and won her the Womenswear Collection of the Year award. With a desire to explore the different attire of varying social classes, reinterpret class gaps and create something that combines these differing social styles, a stunning collection was born. In regards to her collection, Cha stated that “Dress reveals one’s ideas - it shouts out or speaks gently about an individual’s personality and identity to the outside world.” A strong aesthetic for a strong collection, we're very excited to see what ideas Hana Cha will be shouting out or speaking gently in the future.

Text by Josh Walker
Images from Hana Cha's MA collection