DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT SS15| Xiao Li

Named our Merit Award Winner last season for her refreshing, innovative and forward thinking aesthetic, Xiao Li's work is nothing short of impressive. 

Chinese born, Li was educated in London. A graduate of the BA Womenswear course at the London College of Fashion and MA Knitwear at the Royal College of Art, the design aesthetic she's created for herself is as charming as it is intricately produced. 

For AW14, her Merit Award show, Li took exaggerated forms, a shock-blue palette and an element of the futuristic with LED lighting to the catwalk, impressing an audience of buyers and press alike. An evolution from her previous season, her choice in fabric and approach to craftsmanship were the elements that truly set her apart. 

No stranger to success, Xiao Li received the Diesel Award from International Talent Support in 2013, the Loro Piana Award for best knitwear collection in 2013 and the Feel The Yarn competition in 2012 - as well as our Merit Award earlier this year.

Back again to display her SS15 at Fashion Scout Sunday 14th September, we have no doubt her collection will be as, if not more impressive as the last.

By Josh Walker, Editor, (@josh_walker_).
Images by Hannah McGee, (@HannahMcG3e).

NEWS| One Week Left to Apply For Fashion Scout SS15

Applications for the SS15 London and Paris showcases are still open, and will close on Monday 7th July.

Taking place once again at the Freemasons’ Hall in Covent Garden, Fashion Scout London will run over the five days of London Fashion Week from Friday 12th - Tuesday 16th September. Showcasing the most innovative in upcoming fashion talent, you can apply to show your collections as catwalk shows, presentations or part of our respected exhibition.

Applications will be open again for the prestigious and highly desired Merit Award, won by Xiao Li last season as well as our coveted Ones to Watch showcase. The Merit Award new talent initiative is worth £25,000 over three seasons and is responsible for the launch of design careers including that of William Tempest, David Koma, Hermione De Paula, Eudon Choi, Georgia Harding, Leutton Postle, Phoebe English, as well as Xiao Li. The Merit Award is open to new womenswear designers who have already graduated and wish to show during London Fashion Week.

Fashion Scout Paris will also return to its Paris home between Thursday 25th September and Tuesday 30th September in the heart of Marais, where designers will be able to individually display their collections to the elite fashion Industry. Visitors to the Fashion Scout Paris Showroom last season included Anna Wintour, Hamish Bowles, Lucinda Chambers, Fran Burns, Sarah Mower, Sara Maino, Worldwide Vogue and Worldwide Elle. 

To request an application pack and for full information, email: enquiries@fashionscoutevents.com.

Be sure to check back to the Fashion Scout blog for full details on our Selection panel, as well as all of the news and events in the run up to Fashion Scout SS15.

Images by Oliver Savage, (@olisav) and Jamike Latif, (@JamikeLatif).

NEWS| i-D Magazine Interviews Xiao Li

i-D Magazine have featured and interviewed designer Xiao Li following the announcement that she is Fashion Scout's Merit Award winner for AW14. The article, hailing Xiao as a "knitwear extraordinaire", asks Xiao Li about her background as a designer, her challenges and the future of knitwear. The renowned publication also asked the designer about winning our esteemed Merit Award accolade, "I am really surprised, excited and grateful. I always wanted to have my own brand and show" Xiao answered, "I'm trying not to worry about it too much right now but I think it happened at the right moment". 

We don't think you have anything to worry about Xiao, we can't wait to present your Autumn/Winter 2014 collection during London Fashion Week in February. 

By Cass Gowing, Editor