NEWS| NOT JUST A LABEL hosting Q&A for aspiring designers

Calling all aspiring designers; supporters, and online platform for emerging creatives, NOT JUST A LABEL are hosting a live Q&A from 2pm today (Thursday, 26th April). Tweet your questions to @NJAL, with the hashtag #askNJAL.

Many of our designers are now stocked on NJAL's online store- Myrza de Muynck, Lako Bukia, and Claudia Ligari to name a few- so this is a great opportunity for those seeking advice on how to launch their design careers. Let us know how it goes in the comments below, or via our Twitter @FashionScout.

VFS Sub-Editor, Sara McAlpine @sara_mcalpine

COLLECTIONS| VFS Press-Day Picks at Felicities PR

Final stop of our press-day tour was the Felicities London show-room where the Autumn/Winter collection of VFS designer, Lako Bukia hung- or should we say "shone"? Be it on the rails, or mannequins, light refracted off every surface of the collection's streamlined lamés, and textured lurex knits, in silvers ranging from near-white polished to gunmetal-grey.


Mirroring the fragmented shards of broken-glass, the lucite heels drew attention to the collection's unifying theme: one addressing the multiplicitous readings of our reflections, and [at times] our avoidance of it. Mirror-gazing a little longer than our morning routine require still isn't quite top of our "to-do" list, but getting our hands on Bukia's Autumn/Winter boots now is... 

Images and text by Sara McAlpine

Follow her @sara_mcalpine

LONDON| Vauxhall Fashion Scout Designers featured on Not Just A Label

Eleanor Amoroso Exhibition at Vauxhall Fashion Scout, London Fashion Week A/W12 

Claudia Ligari Exhibition at Vauxhall Fashion Scout, London Fashion Week A/W12

Lulu Liu Exhibition at Vauxhall Fashion Scout, London Fashion Week A/W12

Vauxhall Fashion Scout Designers Lulu Liu, Claudia Ligari and Eleanor Amoroso have all appeared as new arrivals on Not Just A Label. 

All three designers were with Vauxhall Fashion Scout this February presenting their new A/W12 collections and pieces from their Spring/Summer '12 collections are now available to buy on the prestigious online shop - Not Just A Label.com.

They are joined by Lako Bukia, who has had phenomenal success since her catwalk show at Vauxhall Fashion Scout this February, as featured on Vogue Italia. 

To have a look at the selection for yourself, head over to Not Just A Label by clicking here, or read more about Lako Bukia and Vogue Italia, here.

All images by Rowan Papier - www.rowanpapier.com

NEWS| Lako Bukia featured on Vogue Italia

Vogue Italia has featured Vauxhall Fashion Scout designer Lako Bukia following the Kiev Fashion Days. The Ukrainian Fashion Week took place between March 22nd - 25th and Vogue Italia has praised the "deceptive effect created with different, deliberately contrasting fabrics and a colour palette limited to black and silver".

The LCF graduate wowed crowds when she showed her AW12 line at VFS's Freemason's Hall in February with her geometric and futuristic inspired collection. Judging by the Vogue Italia article, her appeal is transatlantic. Read the review of the collection on Vogue Italia's website here. 

Lako Bukia was also interviewed for Kiev Fashion Week's site and was described as 'one of the most promising designers in London'. In the interview, she discusses the pride of showcasing her latest collection at Vauxhall Fashion Scout and the influences of living in London. Read this interview here. 

By Cass Gowing, VFS Blog Editor. 

T: @CassGowing

Photography from AW12 at VFS by Natalia Ilina

BACKSTAGE| Lako Bukia Hair with Toni and Guy

Futurism was once again the word du jour behind-the-scenes of Lako Bukia with our sponsor Toni & Guy at the helm.  With a slick high-ponytail, secured by a metallic cuff, the hair displayed motifs of science-fiction and modernity.  

The simple lack of ostentation suggested a minimal aesthetic, and a tendency towards androgynous sportswear.  This clinical, contemporary hair design corresponds to her trademark inspirations of cubism and the sharp angles that the movement constitutes. 

Words and photographs:

Abigail Gurney-Read VFS Contributor
Photography by Natalia Ilina and Abigail Gurney-Read

Designer Spotlight: Lako Bukia

Redefining the way the world sees femininity and sexuality; Lako Bukia is known to create flattering, yet beautiful garments- her label aims to show off the shape of all women using luxury materials and high-end, complicated cuts.

Last year, the Georgian designer wowed onlookers at VFS’s Freemason’s Hall by introducing prints to her line in an Asian inspired SS12 collection, leading to her receiving high praise from press and buyers alike.

Her label is strongly influenced by the Cubist movement and this is continuously illustrated through the minimalistic lines and geometric shapes which dominate her work. It is this signature bold style, which when combined with the extraordinary, complicated construction techniques that she uses for her clothing; that makes her a serious contender within the fashion sphere.

Since graduating from London College of Fashion, Bukia has been presenting her collections at both London and Paris catwalks for the past three seasons and will be closing the final day of womenswear at Vauxhall Fashion Scout’s Freemason’s Hall at 7.30pm on Monday 20^th February.

Cass Gowing, VFS Blog Editor

T: @CassGowing