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

EXCLUSIVE| SS15 Selection Panel

As Fashion Scout London and Paris's September season approaches, a group of leading fashion professionals joined Fashion Scout’s Director Martyn Roberts to decide on the exciting new line up of designers for the upcoming season. As well as selecting those who would showcase on our catwalk, it was decided who would be awarded Fashion Scout’s prestigious Merit Award, as well as our Ones to Watch.

Renowned fashion journalist Hilary Alexander commented that the overall quality of designer's pieces, describing them as “really interesting,” being sure to comment on the “ingenious craftsmanship” of some of the collections on offer. Alongside Hilary Alexander was Judith Tolley from the CFE, stylist Rebekah Roy, Not Just A Label’s Robert Cavell-Clarke and previous Merit Award winner, Phoebe English.

“Really original, you can tell they have really enjoyed making it, really lovely.” Phoebe English.

Since winning the coveted Merit Award, Phoebe English works closely with CFE London and has grown her business into a staple name in the fashion industry. Next week, English will be flying to New York with her latest collection for an exciting new launch event in Dover Street Market's new US branch. 

                               

The event was covered live on our social media platforms with quotes and photos during the selection process for which the winners will be announced shortly. 

Alongside the selection of designers applying for Fashion Scout September, the panel also viewed a collection of the best fashion design graduates work from this year. From these collections, the panel then curated a collective of the 10 best UK fashion grads. 10 graduates who will comprise to create the Graduate Showcase, which will be shown at our Freemason's Hall venue in Covent Garden for the fourth year this season. 

Fashion Scout London will take place from 12th - 16th September 2014. 

Images by Hannah Farrell 

Writer: Lauren Slater + Lauren West 

EXCLUSIVE| Fashion Scout Selection Panel for AW14

Yesterday, our Fashion Scout AW14 panel joined together at Beach Blanket Babylon to decide who will be showcasing with Fashion Scout during London and Paris Fashion Week as well as who will be our esteemed Merit Award and Ones to Watch winners this season. 

It was the general consensus of our judges that this is set to be the strongest season on Fashion Scout yet and we're onto a new 'wave' or 'era' of designers. There was a really stong mix of wearability and contemporary design, prompting Vogue.com's Jessica Bumpus to say: "There's a lot of fresh, new designers this season. There seems to be a new spirit of design here".

The Merit Award and Ones to Watch winners will be announced in mid-December exclusively on British Vogue whilst we will announce the individual showcasing designers here on the blog in the run-up to releasing our provisional schedule for our AW14 London showcase in January. 

By Editor Cass Gowing @CassGowing
Photography by Hannah McGee @HannahMcG3e

INTERVIEW| Selection Panel AW14 and British Vogue Fashion Features Editor Jessica Bumpus

British Vogue's Jessica Bumpus returns to the Fashion Scout Selection Panel for another season to give her invaluable opinion to decide who should be part of our London and Paris Fashion Week showcase for AW14. 

Jessica has been part of British Vogue's online team as Fashion Features Editor for five years, has assisted on our Selection Panel for multiple seasons, as well as been an integral part of Fashion Scout's mentoring programmes.

Looking to impress Jessica? For her, it's more instinctual, "you know when you've seen something good, be it a mix of being commercially viable, extremely creative or just very cool", Jessica said when we caught up with her today. "It always helps, though, to see it both in the flesh and in lookbook format. Something on the rail might not work until you see it being worn and vice versa." 

Lucky enough to be picked today to showcase with Fashion Scout during LFW AW14? Jessica advises, "Be prepared and be enthusiastic about it, this is the chance to sell your work and yourself quite literally!!"

Written and interviewed by Editor Cass Gowing @CassGowing

INTERVIEW| Selection Panel AW14 and Founding Member of YBD Debra Hepburn

This season, we are thrilled to be joined by Founding Member of Young British Designers, Debra Hepburn, on the Fashion Scout Selection Panel. Launched in 2010, Young British Designers (YBD) is an innovative online retail platform that hand-picks emerging British fashion design talent and has worked closely with Fashion Scout and our designers for many seasons. In fact, "our very first season saw us find Eudon Choi, Charlotte Taylor and Felicity Brown", Debra Hepburn - one of four founding partners of YBD -  explains. Before Debra joined us at the Selection Panel today, we asked her a few quick fire questions to find out what will make designers stand out for her. 

The Ones to Watch initiative and Merit Award are acclaimed within the industry for scouting exciting new talent- what criteria must those designers meet for you personally?

To look like a real force in the making, however raw, and to hold together as a collection that is true to a uniquely held design point of view. To know that this season or next we can showcase them on Young British Designers and set the world alight further with even more of our brilliant Brit talent.

What are three qualities do you look for in a future Fashion Scout designer?
Standout, the tangible embryo (at least) of a design signature and an intangible thrill.

Any words of wisdom for Fashion Scout Designers who are picked today to showcase at FS AW14?
Take a big deep breath, concentrate hard, believe in yourself and your vision, don’t be swayed and emerge triumphant the other side!

Written and interviewed by Editor Cass Gowing @CassGowing

INTERVIEW| Selection Panel AW14, GFW Trustee and Journalist Hilary Alexander

Fashion Scout's Selection Panel are fortunate enough to once again be joined by Hilary Alexander. A renowned and inspiring journalist whose acclaimed journalism career includes working as Fashion Director of The Telegraph for 26 years, Hilary's contribution to the fashion industry have been recognised in countless awards include receiving the British Fashion Journalist of the Year accolade (twice!) at the British Fashion Awards and an OBE for her services in fashion journalism. 

In addition to being a trustee member of Fashion Scout's sister company, Graduate Fashion Week, Hilary has been part of the Fashion Scout selection panel for many seasons. 

"I look for something I haven't seen before, plus workmanship/talent for pattern-cutting and understanding of fabric/colour", said Hilary when we caught up with her ahead of tomorrow's Selection Panel. 

As an experience journalist, what advice does Hilary give for successful Fashion Scout designers ahead of their AW14 catwalk showcase? "[Shows should be] well-edited, well-lit, with interesting music, no waiting for the show to start longer than 20 minutes and brief but explanatory programme notes (especially if using unusual fabric/techniques)."

Designers, why not look to Hilary's past favourite Fashion Scout shows ("David Koma, Eudon Choi and Phoebe English") for inspiration!

Follow Hilary Alexander on Twitter @HilaryAlexander

Written and interviewed by Editor Cass Gowing @CassGowing

INTERVIEW| Selection Panel AW14 and Former Merit Award Winner Georgia Hardinge

Ahead of tomorrow's Selection Panel for Fashion Scout AW14, we caught up with past Merit Award Winner and Selection Panel member Georgia Hardinge to get her top tips for this season's applicants. 

Georgia Hardinge's SS14 collection was part of the Ones To Watch initiative whilst her AW11 collection was awarded with the Merit Award accolade in January 2011, provided her with the first stand-alone catwalk show. Since showcasing with Fashion Scout, Georgia's career rocketed; from receiving rave reviews in top titles including Grazia, Marie Claire, Sunday Times Style, British Vogue, Tatler and ID, to gaining celebrity fans of the brand such as Florence Welch, Lady Gaga and Erin O’Conner, to collaborating with Victoria's Secret, Lancome and most recently, River Island. 

1. What are the three qualities you will be looking for when choosing a future Fashion Scout designer?

Originality, authenticity and consistency

2. What criteria do you have for the Ones to Watch and Merit Award potential winner? What OTW/Merit Award winners of previous seasons really impressed you?

The design must show unique wear-ability and attention to detail. I loved Eudon Choi collection he's a great designer and the David Koma's Merit Award collection was a great success.

3. What advice can you give to designers who will be showcasing at London or Paris Fashion Week for the first time?

Get a good team together who are prepared to work hard!

Great advice from an incredible designer who knows being a OTW and Merit Award winning Fashion Scout designer first hand! We can't wait to find out who our designers are for AW14!

Follow Georgia on Twitter @HardingeGeorgia to keep up to date with her at the Fashion Scout panel tomorrow! 

Written and interviewed by Editor Cass Gowing @CassGowing

Images from Christopher Dadey and Push It Magazine

EXHIBITION| Highlights from the London Exhibition at Vauxhall Fashion Scout

A selection of Britain's most innovative and talented emerging designers have come together for London Fashion Week. At the Vauxhall Fashion Scout Exhibition, you can see, touch, photograph the new collections up-close & discuss with designers their passions, influences- anything! Our esteemed One's To Watch designers; Charlotte Simpson, Hana Cha, Ming Pin Tien & Hellen Van Rees & Merit Award Winner for S/S13 Heohwan Simulation. 

With a fantastic line-up of designers, hand-selected by some of the industry's biggest names such as Vogue.com, Brown's, CFE, Avenue 32, POP Magazine & Not Just A Label, it's no surprise that buyers & media from across the world have visited Vauxhall Fashion Scout to meet these extraordinary designers and their beautiful garments for S/S13. 

The Vauxhall Fashion Scout Exhibition is open from 10am-7pm for media, buyers & public. 

For a full line-up of Exhibition Designers, head to the Vauxhall Fashion Scout website here.

Images from Asia Werbel, Hannah Wilson, Kevin Chesnais, Rebecca Andrews and Stephanie Matti

NEWS| Exclusive Insight - Vauxhall Fashion Scout S/S13 Selection Panel

The Vauxhall Fashion Scout Selection Panel for London Fashion Week S/S13 has come and gone, but the excitement is still with us a week on...

Beach Blanket Babylon in Shoreditch housed over 40 designers, 14 industry experts and hundreds of beautiful garments last Tuesday, which saw the seasonal Vauxhall Fashion Scout Selection Panel hand-pick the designers that will be joining us at the Freemason's Hall for September's London Fashion Week and the Fashion Scout Showroom in Paris.

Amongst the selected designers, the Merit Award Winner & One's To Watch Designers were selected- the awards that highlight the leading emerging talent at Vauxhall Fashion Scout. These highly esteemed awards have gone to truly talented designers in the past, helping them launch their careers into the industry. Previous Merit Award Winners have included:

Georgia Hardinge

Hermione De Paula

David Koma

William Tempest

Applying for catwalk, exhibition and Paris Showroom places, Vauxhall Fashion Scout had nearly 200 applicants for S/S13.

With just the afternoon to select the designers they believe will be the leading new talent for Vauxhall Fashion Scout, our panel of prestigious fashion industry individuals came from all areas within the fashion world- buying, marketing, designing, anything a designer could possibly need when trying to break into the industry.

Our Vauxhall Fashion Scout Panel this season were:

Martyn Roberts- Vauxhall Fashion Scout

Charlotte Gunstone - Vauxhall Fashion Scout

Ruth Runberg - Browns 

Erin Mullaney - Avenue 32

Stefan Siegel - Not Just A Label

Jessica Bumpus - Vogue.com

Tui Lin - POP Magazine

Judith Tolley - CFE 

David Koma - Designer & VFS Alumni

Eudon Choi - Designer & VFS Alumni

Rebekah Roy - Stylist

Laura Margott - Vauxhall Motors

Katie Oyler  - Vauxhall Motors

Karen Harper - Toni&Guy

Now heading into our 14th season, the "home of new talent", Vauxhall Fashion Scout is the leading platform for exciting new fashion designers to showcase their talent to London Fashion Week and the world. 

Make sure you stay tuned to the Vauxhall Fashion Scout blog for all the information for September's London Fashion Week and our new line up of designers, and keep up with up-to-date news with the Vauxhall Fashion Scout Twitter, here.