PARIS SHOWROOMS| Nova Chiu AW14

Developed in London and with a focus on texture, print and colour, the Nova Chiu brand is one which combines culture with classic silhouettes. Run by Nova Chiu and Jeff Archer, their first show together was under our Ones to Watch initiative during the AW12 season.

Since then, the duo have showcased with us during the SS13 season. Born and bred in China, Chiu graduated from the London College of Fashion before launching her work to the industry. Since then, her career has only propelled with their designs. Now regulars at London Fashion Week, their work has already captured the attention of press among the likes of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and iD magazine. 

Nova Chiu’s AW14 collection will be on display at our Paris Showrooms until Tuesday 4th March. 

Images, courtesy of Nova Chiu.

PARIS SHOWROOMS| Nova Chiu SS14

After a spectacular Paris catwalk show alongside a busy exhibition last season, Nova Chiu and Jeff Archer of Nova Chiu return to the Fashion Scout Paris showroom.

Developed in London, the brand specialises on textiles, print and colour. Nova Chiu studied at London College of Fashion and claims that London propelled her into the fashion industry and gave her the right skills set to achieve and succeed.

After graduating in 2011 Nova decided that teaming up with boyfriend Jeff would be the appropriate move for the label. They first showcased with Fashion Scout for AW12 and have moved on to become an industry established brand featured in the Evening Standard, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, The BBC, The Independent and i-D Magazine.

Last season we saw impressively hand-worked pieces. This season you can look forward to frills, ruffles and an ultra feminine aesthetic.

By Emily Black @emilyy_black

Photos from Nova Chiu SS14 Lookbook

NEWS| Fashion Scout designers featured in Collezioni magazine

Four Fashion Scout designers have been focused on by Collezioni magazine as part of their accessories edit for A/W13. The Editors from Collezioni came across Fashion Scout designers Taeseok Kang, David Longshaw, Nova Chiu and Kirsty Ward at the Fashion Scout Paris Showroom last season and has consequently selected them for this feature. 

NEWS| Fashion Scout Designers featured on Vogue Italia

 

On Saturday we interviewed Senior Fashion Editor of Vogue Italia, Sara Maino. Before watching Merit award winner Yifang Wan, Sara visited our exhibition of international designers and has featured nine of them in her Impressions from London 2 feature. The feature on Italian Vogue's website curates a selection of moments, images, products and styles providing a visual story of London Fashion Week.

The prestigious fashion editor featured designs from Hellen Van Rees, Anna October, Claudia Ligan, Lulu Liu, Emillium, Yulia Kondranina, Ming Pin Tien, Christopher Waller and Nova Chiu. 

By Darcie Thompson-Fields, @DarcieTF
Images from Vogue Italia

EXHIBITION| Nova Chiu FEB'13

After a "whole bunch of travelling", Nova Chiu's Autumn/ Winter Collection landed in the Fashion Scout showroom, exhibiting to members of the international press and buying market. The polychromatic quirks of duo, Nova Chiu's and Jeff Archer's forthcoming collection were inspired by Nam June Paik's 'Electric Super Highway', which in turn was a point of reference stemming from the pair's travels across American and Chiu's native, China. We caught up with the two designers to find out how what's changed since they last showed with us in September.

"... [This season is] an evolution of last season. Last season we were doing a mass road-trip across China and America so we did a lot of prints last season with a lot of bright colours. This season we've still got the colours but we haven't got every colour of the rainbow. We wanted to bring black back into it too so we've got that."

... and on working with Fashion Scout for a third consecutive season:

"Last season we were in Paris for the first time which was awesome, we really liked it. Martyn's a big supporter so we really like working with him and the whole team at Fashion Scout are really cool."

Images by Max Barnett (@MaxBarnettPhoto)

CATWALK| Nova Chiu FEB'13

Images by Simon Armstrong
www.simonarmstrong.com

INTERVIEW| Nova Chiu

With the new collection of Nova Chiu soon to hit the catwalk, Fashion Scout talked to Jeff Archer on what we have to forward to with the AW13 collection.

What do we have to look forward to?

We were inspired by this Korean video artist, Nam June Paik. He did a piece in the mid 90's called the electric superhighway. It's a map of America and all of the states are outlined in neon lights and there are TV screens within each state. So we were inspired by the neon colours and we were also inspired by America in general so we took a lot of influence from native America, Alaska, eskimos and then multi-cultural America and then just infused it all. Obviously we always try to use a lot of animal stuff but not animals that are killed for fashion. So we have animals like deer, rabbit fur.

So how has it changed or adapted from last season? 

It's an evolution of last season. Last season we were doing a mass roadtrip across China and America so we did a lot of prints last season with a lot of bright colours. This season we've still got the colours but we haven't got every colour of the rainbow. We wanted to bring black back into it too so we've got that.

It's always good when designers evolve on their last collection. 

I see a lot of designers, especially starting off and each collection is the same as the last just a little bit different. Where as with us we try to go and completely change it. We want to try and show our full creativity and full inspiration of themes.

How has your experience been with Fashion Scout? 

Last season we were in Paris for the first time which was awesome, we really liked it. Martyn's a big supporter so we really like working with him and the whole team at Fashion Scout are really cool.

Interview by Josh Walker (@josh_walker_)

Images by Lauren Marsh (@LaurenAlicia24)

COLLECTION| Nova Chiu FEB'13

Inspired by Korean-American artist Nam June Paik's "Electronic Super Highway", former One-to-Watch Nova Chiu's Autumn/ Winter was as bright and wide-ranging a-faction as the scenes you'd expect out on the open road. A case of East meets West; a taste of every state you pass through.

February 2012 saw the newly graduated LCF alum amalgamate dense fluoro-alpaca knits, and fox-fur trim in an exploration of her Eastern heritage. Conversely, Spring/Summer's showing was a 180-degree turn to diaphanous satins, the focus Chiu's exploration of digital-print. Three seasons in, and it seems the Chinese One-to-Watch, and North American partner Jeff have settled on a middle-ground, with their present-day offering an intermediate between both, opening with form-fitted fox-fur fuschia; their staple embellished fringe separates grounding the collection in its Americana- in this case native- roots.

Paik's neon highway as the collection's catalyst, there was the controlled momentum of a vehicle in motion, and kinaesthetic duality to the bustling-facets of embroidered trim as they trailed the ground. This controlled movement drove the collection- as the duo behind it on their recent travels- evident in a drop-waisted velvet shift, cut for a restrained kick at the 'swish' of woman's hip with every step. 

The "journeying" theme is apt, given Autumn/Winter is illustrative of the pair's progression, and clear compromise as they develop as a duo, and it's clear "two heads are better than one" with regards to exploring every avenue, putting ideas on the table, and pushing technique. We said she's One-to-Watch, and now that's true of both.

Images by Tram Nguyen (@TramNguyenp)

BACKSTAGE| Nova Chiu FEB'13

In previous seasons Nova Chiu has referenced her cultural background, and continued to do so for Autumn/ Winter, citing indigenous native American culture as her inspiration, with the contrasting  highway scenery.

Taking the brief on board, the Toni & Guy team were busy slicking back models hair ready to grace the Nova Chiu catwalk. Instead of opting for braids representative of native American culture, Celia Vincent created a sleek sectioned, clean cut part to illustrate both the culure and city skyline ideologies.

Complimentary to the simplistic hair, the Body Shop's Jo Sugar worked with a combination of minimal, illuminating base make up with heavily contoured cheeks mirrored that of Native American archetypal beauty.

Text by Brooke McCord (@BrookeMcCord)

Images by Kris Elliott (@KrisElliott)

ILLUSTRATION| Nova Chiu FEB'13

Illustration by Joshua Osborn (@joshuatusk)

NEWS| Fashion 156 The London Fashion Week Preview featuring Fashion Scout

A number of Fashion Scout designers have been featured as a part of Fashion156's A/W13 preview issue. The work of Timur Kim, Nova Chiu, Heohwan Simulation, Eugene Lin, Yulia Kondranina, Patrick Li and Apu Jan all make an appearance, and give a real taste of what we can expect over the Fashion Scout London showcase. From floral prints to black knitwear, geometric design to fringed embellishments, its clear all of the designers have created unique and personal aesthetics through their work.

All of the above designers will showcase their AW13 collections on the catwalk between the 15th and 19th of February at our Freemasons Hall.

By Josh Walker (@josh_walker_)

Images from Fashion156.com

NEWS| Paloma Faith in Nova Chiu

Pop sensation Paloma Faith is featured in The New Yorker upon the release of her second album Fall to Grace, the singer’s first to appear in America. The review includes a portrait of Paloma looking stunning in a piece from Nova Chiu’s Spring / Summer 13 collection, a striking painted print that compliments the star’s vibrant style and music.

Since rave reviews at Vauxhall Fashion Scout AW 12 Ones To Watch show, the label started by Nova and boyfriend Jeff has seen fans drawn to their unique sense of colour and textures. This season saw the duo continue with their signature style with light fabrics and sophisticated silhouettes.

Have a look at the feature here.

By Vanerssa Omorgeie, @wewearblack

Picture from New Yorker.

 

NEWS| Nova Chiu, Label of the Day in DASH Magazine

Bon Voyage is the theme so elegantly reflected in Nova Chiu Spring / Summer 13 collection featured as DASH magazine’s Label of the Day. Talking about the design duo’s “timeless yet versatile” statement pieces the magazine emphasises the journey both metaphorically and aesthetically shown in the warped yet beautiful landscapes that serve as prints for this beautiful collection. “Minimalistic tones merge with structured shapes”, the label’s concepts show passion and dedication that has seen their fan base grow from their first show at Vauxhall Fashion Scout.

Check out DASH magazine here

By Vanessa Omoregie, @wewearblack

Images from DASH magazine

HIGHLIGHTS| The Final Day at Vauxhall Fashion Scout

Myrza De Muynck Presentation

Sabina Bryntesson Catwalk/Presentation

Leutton Postle Presentation

Toni & Guy Trends Backstage

Sabina Bryntesson Presentation

Nova Chiu Backstage

Leutton Postle Backstage

Backstage Model Line Up

Beach Blanket Babylon Pop-Up Bar, Media Centre

Sponsor Goody Bag & LFW Survival Kit

Images by Hannah Wilson, Rebecca Andrews, Dani Farrow, Lauren Marsh