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| Martyn Roberts, Fashion Scout Director

On the penultimate day of Fashion Scout we caught up with Fashion Scout Director Martyn Roberts to get his thoughts on this season's showcase.

How has Fashion Scout this season progressed from previous seasons?

It has been very successful. We've had some great new designers which is wonderful to see. For a little while there were not a lot of new designers coming through. It's also been great to see our designers developing from previous seasons. We have had some great media this season, and some fantastic buyers coming to our shows.

Do you have any personal highlights from this season?

Our Merit Award winner. I am very proud of our Merit winner. Xiao Li’s collection was stunning and highly creative, she kept true to herself and pushed barriers. I think she is going to be very successful. I have really enjoyed all of the collections this season.

What can we expect to see from Fashion Scouts Paris and Kiev showrooms?

In Paris we will have all of the collections that we have shown in London but in a showroom setting. Guests will be able to see the collections up close, talk to the designers and buy the clothes. We also have new designers showing in our Paris showroom including Nathan French who has some fantastic designs. He's created his entire collection using feathers. In Kiev, we will have a new range of designers, all from that region showing their collections in a showroom setting. It's very exciting.

What does the future hold for Fashion Scout?

We will carry on supporting and showcasing the best new British talent as well as showcasing International designers. Creativity is not just confined to one country, London is the heart of creativity but its about bringing a worldwide creative industry to London and that in turn will make us stronger.

How important is the blog team in the day to day running of Fashion Scout?

Our social media team is vital. They are the first people to see and review every show, they are the first to receive all of the backstage information and images. If someone misses a show they can see it all on the blog which is why it is so important. All anyone has to do is log onto the blog and it's all there. All of our hair and makeup crew and our writers and photographers are crucial to the success of Fashion Scout. Fashion Scout is a place to celebrate all of this creative work. Fashion isn’t just about design, its about celebrating all creative aspects of this process.

How do you feel about Fashions Scout's growing success?

Very proud. The team are so passionate and dedicated to showcasing exciting new talent. We are all here to help designers reach for their dreams.  

By Charlotte Muscat, (@CharlotteLM9)

Image by Sim D, (@SimD_8), taken on the fashion forward LumixGM1 (@PanasonicUK).

ANNOUNCEMENT: Fashion Scout Kiev

We are thrilled to announce our continuing partnership with Mercedes-Benz Kiev Fashion Days has continued and expanded into a Fashion Scout Kiev platform.

Following our partnership with Kiev Fashion Days during our Fashion Scout London FEB'13 showcase, we will now be adding a showcase in Kiev to our international design showcases.

Over the past 14 seasons, Fashion Scout have scouted and presented in London and Paris a whole generation of creative, international talent including  designers David Koma, Peter Pilotto, Felder Felder, Pam Hogg and Eudon Choi. Since our rebrand at the beginning of this year, we have enforced our global audience and international outreach through continuing to present worldwide talent- something that has now expanded further with Fashion Scout Kiev.

We caught up with Fashion Scout Director and Co-Founder Martyn Roberts on the news: "I am thrilled with the further expansion of Fashion Scout and the continued partnership with Kiev Fashion Days through Fashion Scout Kiev. 

Through exhibiting key emerging Ukranian talent at our Fashion Scout London platform, we provided them with the global audience and recognition they deserve. This continued partnership enforces Fashion Scout's global expansion as the key platform for creative talent worldwide and I am proud to add Kiev to our Fashion Scout enterprise."

For more information please visit our website. 

By Cass Gowing, Editor. 

INDUSTRY SELECTS| Martyn Roberts, Hilary Alexander, Jessica Bumpus and Eudon Choi

Ahead of the eagerly anticipated Fashion Scout London A/W13 showcase, we exclusively caught up with Fashion Scout Director Martyn Roberts, Vogue.com's Jessica Bumpus, esteemed journalist and Graduate Fashion Week trustee Hilary Alexander and Fashion Scout alumni Eudon Choi to find out their selection of Fashion Scout designers this season and what they think designers need to do in order to gain global recognition within the industry. Tweet us your thoughts of this exclusive insight @FashionScout. 

Martyn Roberts, director and founder of Fashion Scout:

Out of the showcasing designers for Fashion Scout February '13, who are you hotly tipping for global recognition? 

Merit Award winner Yifang Wan and Ji Cheng have both been getting lots of publicity in China.  I'm also looking forward to our two international showcases - Runway Collective from Istanbul and Kiev Fashion Days

What is your advice for designers in regards to international recognition?

They need to think big and ensure that their vision is global.  The models and styling they use need to appeal to different markets.  Its an exciting time for designers who want to conqueror the world

What shows are you looking forward to the most this season?

 I love Pam Hogg's shows - they're always so crazy and have a fantastic celebrity audience


Jessica Bumpus, Fashion Features Editor at Vogue.com and Fashion Scout Selection Panel member:

What Fashion Scout shows are you most looking forward to this season?

I'm looking forward to seeing what all of the designers have in store but I think I'm especially looking forward to Patrick Li from the Ones To Watch and Yifang Wan, the Merit Award-winner.

In your experience, what qualities do designers need to in order to gain international appeal?

Well international appeal is quite a large and expansive term and you have to think globally and about your markets - and each is different. So I would say designers need to be flexible about their vision and realise that it has to be just as commercially viable and covetable as it is creative. What works for one market doesn't for another. Think big, be pragmatic and open to suggestion

Hilary Alexander, former Fashion Director of the Telegraph, Graduate Fashion Week trustee and Fashion Scout Selection Panel Member:

One of my favourites to watch from Fashion Scout, is Stephanie Kitchen, from Bath Spa who will be showing as part of the FAD show on Tuesday.

Fashion Scout alumni and former Merit Award winner Eudon Choi:

Out of the showcasing designers for Fashion Scout February '13, who are you hotly tipping for global recognition and what shows are you most looking forward to? 
Heo Hwan (Heohwan Simulation) for his immaculate tailoring and precision. Again, I have to say Heo Hwan as he is a dear friend and very talented.

In your opinion, what qualities do designers need to have in order to have international appeal? 

I think that if you are true to your vision and work hard then sooner or later you will succeed. 

By Editor, Cass Gowing

Images by Natalia Ilina, Asia Werbel and Industry London.