NEWS| Hellen van Rees Featured on Vogue UK

Hellen van Rees, a previous Fashion Scout One to Watch and one of our AW14 Fashion Scout Paris designers has been featured on Vogue UK. In an interview which discusses her ‘fair’ approach to design, it explores her raw sensibilities, love for sustainable textures and what inspired her most recent collection. “For as long as I can remember I was interested in making things, discovering materials and drawing," van Rees explains in the interview. "This later developed into an interest in textiles and drawing figures and fashion."

An individual confident in her choice of both material and method, her being featured in Vogue, not to mention having been shortlisted for the recent LVHM award says that the reputation she’s making for herself is only going to continue growing. 

PARIS SHOWROOMS| Day One Highlights AW14

As Day One of our Paris Showroom comes to an end, we look back on today's highlights. From Liz Black, whose collection, inspired by Salvador Dali, introduced itself in the form of a presentation during our Freemasons' Hall AW14 showcase in London to the strong, art and architecture inspired pieces from Yasya Minochkina, the talent has been impressive through and through.

Also including the work of recent LVMH Award finalist Hellen van Rees, with her tweed, straightforward designs as well as our Merit Award winner Xiao Li, the showrooms have already attracted a number of industry individuals and we look forward to what the second day brings. 

Our showroom will be open tomorrow morning from 10am - 7pm and is situated in the heart of Paris at 23 Rue de Sicile, Paris, 75004. 

By Josh Walker, (@josh_walker_), Editor.

Photos by Hannah Farrell, (@HFazzzz).

PARIS SHOWROOMS| Hellen van Rees AW14

With our Paris Showroom opening on Thursday, we take a look at the designers who'll be showcasing their latest collections. First, is Hellen van Rees.

A Dutch designer, Hellen van Rees graduated with an MA in womenswear from Central St. Martins college of Art and Design in 2012 and has gone on to take the fashion world by storm. The designer showed her debut collection in both London and Paris and was named one of our Ones to Watch for SS13, before going on to show again at Fashion Scout for SS14.

Van Rees reworks tweed in her designs, giving it a modern edge. Inspired by contemporary art, van Rees also utilises 3-Dimensional elements within her designs creating a fresh new approach to a classic material. Silhouettes are sleek and minimal in their construction with inspiration being taken from the 1920s. Digital printed silks also feature in Van Rees’ collections and provide a beautiful contrast to the frayed edges of her handmade tweed. A demure, feminine aesthetic juxtaposed with innovative textures make for a stunning combination and gives designs a tactile quality.

Based in Hengelo, The Netherlands, van Rees won the Humanity in Fashion Award during Berlin Fashion Week in 2013, being recognised for her skill in creating sustainable fashion designs by use of her one hundred percent recycled, hand crafted textiles. Her signature style of classic cuts combined with innovative design techniques make for an exciting fusion of the old and the new.

Returning to Fashion Scout for another season, Hellen Van Rees will be showcasing her AW14 collection at our Paris Showrooms.

By Charlotte Muscat, Contributor, (@CharlotteLM9).
Images courtesy of Hellen van Rees.

NEWS| Fashion Scout Designers Shortlisted For LVMH Young Fashion Designer Prize

We are pleased to announce that designers Anna October, Hellen van Rees and Paskal have been shortlisted for the LVMH Young Fashion Designer Award. Chosen from over 1,200 applicants, the winner will be selected from an industry panel which includes the likes of Karl Lagerfeld and Marc Jacobs on February 26th and 27th. As well as personal mentoring for a year from the LVMH team, the winner will receive a grant of €300,000. 

Born in Ukraine, Anna October debuted at Ukrainian Fashion Week with her SS11 collection. Soon after she showcased with Fashion Scout and since, attracted attention from top international press among the likes of Vogue and Business of Fashion, as well as being sold internationally. 

Hellen van Rees graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2012 and has since, with a standout aesthetic of tweed textures, made a name for herself. She was one of our Ones to Watch in September 2012 and has now finished her fourth collection under her label.

A womenswear designer creating garments of the sharpest quality, Julie Paskal studied architecture before launching her fashion label. Renowned for her minimalistic tendencies and innovative precision, Paskal took the Fashion Scout catwalk during the Kiev Fashion Days show this season at our Freemasons' Hall. 

All three designers will be showcasing their new collections in our Paris showroom from 27th February - 4th March.

Images: LVHM Prize press (top), courtesy of Hellen van Rees (middle).

PARIS SHOWROOMS| Hellen Van Rees SS14

Former Ones To Watch winner, Hellen Van Rees is also showcasing her SS14 collection at Fashion Scout Paris next week.

Aside from winning the prestigious Ones To Watch title, Dutch designer and Central Saint Martins graduate, Hellen also won this years The Humanity in Fashion Award for her creative fashion design through sustainability and eco-friendly clothing.

Hellen’s collections strike the perfect balance between intricate hand made garments and accessible pieces. With a focus on handcraft the collection is created out of a unique combination of wool, silk, silicone and her trademark woven threads. 

by Brooke McCord, @BrookeMcCord

Images by Grace Sanchez

COLLECTION| Hellen Van Rees SS14

Last season she took tweed on a modern journey and for SS14 she has continued her voyage. ‘Fuzzlayerglossbox’ presents an assortment of nostalgic elegance and futurism through the minimization of waste along with the use of recycling.

Her ability to rework tweed with a modern and contemporary aesthetic does not go unrecognized, as this collection is not just visually strong but surprisingly wearable. The Dutch designer who is also a former OTW, yet again presented a playful and futuristic array of garments that are drowning in depth.

The use of obscure digital prints, PVC strips and rough frayed edges take Hellen van Rees minimalistic silhouettes on an exploration. An intention to shock was clear through rough edges, bizarre music and ambiguous images projected on the walls.

This showcase evoked a feeling of misperception and captivated the entire room.   

Emily Black, Writing Contributor, @emilyy_black

Follow us on Twitter, @FashionScout, #FashionScout
Photography by Grace Sanchez @gracyphotograph

BACKSTAGE| Hellen Van Rees SS14

Vogue Italia has awarded her for her attention to detail, therefore it would be imagined that Hellen Van Rees is a lady who cannot be distracted from her work. The atmosphere backstage, however, could not have been predicted by anyone. Hectic, chaotic, frantic; these are just a few words that typically describe the set up backstage as designers prepare for LFW- yet, things could not have been further from that for Hellen Van Rees. She’s renowned for doing things her own way, so it shouldn’t have come as a shock that backstage there was no running around manically, no hair brushes flying and definitely no shouting.

The atmosphere was peaceful as make up artists focused on created soft brown eyes and enchanting scarlet lips. Hair was complete and looked stunning in a delicate low bun- however the make up artists were nowhere to be seen. Hellen van Rees herself could not be distracted as she silently dressed models and put together her collection and her team also displayed a muted determination as they intently added their finishing touches in a truly remarkable atmosphere.

With all the hard work put in back stage, this show is sure to pay off for the talented Central Saint Martins graduate. 

Emily Black, Writing Contributor, @emilyy_black
Photographs by Tracy Asslanian @Tracyasslanian

Follow us on Twitter @FashionScout #FashionScout

SS14 PREVIEW| Fashion Scout London Designers Part 1

Apu Jan 

Basharatyan V

Hellen van Rees

Krystof Strozyna

Liz Black

Lulu Liu

Every season the Fashion Scout blog give an exclusive preview to the SS14 collections that will be showcased during London Fashion Week at Freemason's Hall. As a two part blog post, here are the lookbook, sketches and samples of what's to come from the following Fashion Scout London September 2013 designers:

Apu Jan 

Basharatyan V

Hellen van Rees

Krystof Strozyna

Liz Black

Lulu Liu

Fashion Scout London runs throughout London Fashion Week on Friday 13th September - Tuesday 18th September at Freemason's Hall. To view the full schedule visit our website.