NEWS| Carrie-Ann Stein Through to MUUSE x Vogue Talent Young Vision Award Final

The accolades are piling up for London based womenswear designer Carrie-Ann Stein. 

After being named one of Fashion Scout’s Ones to Watch last season, Stein has made it through to the final of the MUUSE x Vogue Talent contest’s Young Vision Award. Her use of inventive silhouettes, quirky prints and experimental textile techniques set her sculptural designs in a league of their own.

Graduating in 2013 from Central Saint Martins’ Fashion Design with Knit course, Stein’s work incorporates the trials and tribulations of working class culture, particularly the double entendres and humour so prevalent in the culture. Her graduate collection featured Blackpool postcard prints in seaside brights on 3D rectangular silhouettes, a palette carried through to AW14.

Stein initially made the move to London from Lancashire and trained as a lawyer, developing her knowledge of design and trademark law. Remaining fascinated with her hometown, Stein’s desire to embrace and re-imagine the Lancashire she knew as a child, a ‘post-industrial cotton-mill town suffering from the loss of its textile trade’, makes her work a composite of inspiration, design talent, social commentary and legal acumen. No wonder The Telegraph, Harvey Nichols, Elle and Style Bubble have taken note.
To vote for Carrie-Ann Stein and see the other nominees, click HERE.

By Isabella Silvers, Contributor, (@izzymks).

NEWS| Fashion Scout Designers Shortlisted for the MUUSE x Vogue Talents Young Vision Award

We're excited to announce that Fashion Scout designers Vita Gottlieb and Liz Black have been selected and put through to the first stage in the Muuse x Vogue Talents Young Vision Womenswear award.

Every year, Vogue Talents partner with MUUSE to present the MUUSE x Vogue Talents Young Vision Award in which upcoming designers submit their work. From these initial entries, 50 semi-finalists are put to public vote before Vogue's Senior Fashion Editor Sara Maino selected the winner.

With a prize that includes designing a capsule collection under the MUUSE label to be sold on their website and a selection of retailers, it's a fantastic opportunity for the winner.

During our AW14 showcase, designs from both Gottlieb and Black hit the Fashion Scout runway, presenting collections that stuck to the standout aesthetic they've both become known for. Whilst Gottleib's ‘Caged’ collection reinterpreted the skin as both a covering and a cage, Black's collection was a tribute to the surrealist art icon Dali.

To vote for the designers, as well as see the other talent that has made it through, click here.

By Josh Walker, Editor, (@josh_walker_)
Images by Sim D and Lepa Georgievska.

ANNOUNCEMENT| Fashion Scout and MUUSE partner to host the Fashion Scout Paris Drinks Reception.

Fashion Scout partners with MUUSE to host our seasonal Fashion Scout Paris Drinks Reception. 

The drinks reception, which will take place on Saturday 26th September from 6-9pm in our Paris showroom is the perfect opportunity for international buyers, press and industry professionals to network with twenty of our talented designers. 

We were thrilled to be supported by MUUSE this SS14 season in London, (click here to find out more about Ones to Watch Hannah Williams's Special Prize which Muuse awarded), and are excited to be joined by them in Paris. This partnership brings together the visionary fashion companies and cements the Fashion Scout Paris showroom as the place for innovative talent. 

Fashion Scout's Paris showroom runs from 26th September until 30^th September at 23 Rue De Roi De Sicile to showcase over 20 talented designers from around the world. 

For Paris Showroom appointments or to attend the drinks reception please email info@fsi-events.com

INTERVIEW| Gitte Jonsdatter from Muuse

MUUSE and Fashion Scout team up for the first time awarding a Special Prize to Ones To Watch designer Hannah Williams. The prize will include full support and development as well as sponsorship along with promotion and distribution and the opportunity to showcase a new collection with Fashion Scout. We spoke to Gitte Jonsdatter from Muuse about the new collaboration and on choosing Hannah Williams as their winner.

What were the thoughts behind teaming up with Fashion Scout and One’s To Watch this season?

Fashion Scout is a fantastic collaboration for us because we provide production, support, and introduction of commercially viable collections and Fashion Scout provides all the things that we don’t provide so I think it’s an ideal setting for us.

What did you see in Hannah Williams’ collection that stood her out as a clear winner?

Hannah is one of the most original visions we’ve seen this year, incredible creativity her use of materials and shape. It’s simple yet it’s detailed, kind of is reminiscent of early Margiela but completely her own thing.

Muuse seems to be a supporter of young talent, what is it about young designers and graduate collections that you love?

Some of the talent when they’re first coming out of school their vision is the most pure, creative and original. It’s before they’ve kind of been out and I guess tried to interface with the industry and with the compromises that that brings. We really try to capture people when they’ve still have that original vision that hasn’t been sold yet.

What have you seen so far here at Fashion Scout that you’re loving?

It’s been a pretty exciting few days here and a number of catwalk shows have been really interesting, Kiev Days was super fascinating to the see the difference in cultural background and what that brings, complete surprise in shapes and in choice of print and pattern, that was great. 

Follow us on Twitter @FashionScout #FashionScout

By Vanessa Omoregie, @wewearblack

Photography by Benjamin Turgel, @BenjaminTurgel

ANNOUNCEMENT| OTW designer Hannah Williams wins MUUSE's Special Prize

This season, for the first time ever, MUUSE and Fashion Scout teamed up to award a special prize to one of this year's Fashion Scout Ones to Watch designers. The winning collection is awarded collection development and production which is fully sponsored by MUUSE, along with promotion, sales and distribution. 

We are thrilled to announce that Hannah Williams the 2013 graduate from UCA Epsom is the winner of the Special MUUSE Prize.

Hannah's graduating collection captivated MUUSE's Gitte Jonsdatter as "novel, combining interesting molded shapes with innovative use of materials". Hannah's collection impressed particularly with her levels of intricate and exquisite detailing.

As the winner, Hannah Williams, in collaboration with MUUSE, will develop a capsule collection fully sponsored by MUUSE to be showcased at Fashion Scout in London and Paris fashion weeks. The collection will be sold under the designer's own name as ‘Hannah Williams by MUUSE’ on www.muuse.com.

NEWS| Angus Chiang from Shih Chien Taiwan wins International Show

Taiwanese graduate Angus Chiang was yesterday announced as the winner of the inaugural International Show. His futuristic colour popping pom pom designs caught the eye of the esteemed panel of judges - headed by Vogue Italia's Sara Maino and the audience alike. 

Chiang, a graduate from Shih Chien Taiwan, will showcase his collection at Fashion Scout London during London Fashion Week. He has also won £1000 for himself, £500 for his university. 

By Editor Cass Gowing, Follow her on Twitter @CassGowing
Photographs by Tram Nguyen, Follow her on Twitter @TramNguyenP

NEWS| International Show at Graduate Fashion Week

Yesterday saw the first ever International Show take place at Graduate Fashion Week. Held at Earls Court, the International Show saw 20 graduate designers from the following schools take the stage. 

Academy of Art, San Francisco

BUNKA (Japan)

Shenkar (Israel)

Shih Chien (Taiwan)

FIT (Italy)

Istituto Marangoni Milan

IED (Institito Europeo di Design - Italy)

Accademia di Costume e Moda (Italy)

IUVA (Italy)

Kolding (Denmark)

Istituto Marangoni Paris

ESMOD Berlin

ESMOD Oslo

Parsons New York

Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design (Pakistan)

Mimar Sinan Fine Arts (Turkey)

An eclectic mix of cultures and styles were showcased through a series of accomplished and astounding designs - the very best of graduate collections globally. 

Aside from the showcase itself, the International Show was also being judged by an esteemed panel including Hilary Alexander (read her article for The Telegraph on the show here), blogger Susie Bubble, Royal College of Art's Professor Wendy Dagworthy and chaired by Vogue Italia's Sara Maino. After deliberation, the winner, Angus Chiang from Shih Chien Taiwan was announced. See full post of the winner here. 

By Editor Cass Gowing, Follow her on Twitter @CassGowing

Photographs by Tram Nguyen, Follow her on Twitter @TramNguyenP.