WGSN Global Fashion Awards 2011. Breakthrough is the word.

Breakthrough is word, simply because four of our designers and one of our Selection Panel member have been shortlisted as Breakthrough Designers and Breakthrough Brand categories. 


We are really happy to support breakthrough and innovation. 




WGSN, the leading online fashion trend-analysis and research service providing creative and business intelligence for the apparel, style, design and retail unveiled their 2011 shortlist. 


With this GLobal Fashion Awards, WGSN celebrates and prizes different fields from the industry, such as the most innovative Marketing campaign, pointing out the most influential menswear and womenswear designers, best E-tailing,   among others. Giving and highlighting  the excellence in this fields and shortlisting and recognizing talent. 


One of the categories they have included is Breakthrough designer, emphasizing and placing the great job that this new designers have done, and how they creations have turned fashion upside down. 


Four designer that showed with Vauxhall Fashion Scout before have been shortlisted in this category:


Kirsty Ward
Eudon Choi
Una Burke
Masha Ma


Congratulations guys. For you,  it means what you have done is being recognized and as well that your vision gave a new point of view into fashion, breaking and giving something new. VFS office felt really happy for you, and gave us energy to keep supporting and showcasing innovation. 


Also, we want to celebrate the shortlisting of our Selection Panel member, Not Just A Label who has been nominated for Breakthrough Brand category. And they definitely deserve this shortlisting in this category as they really push and support new talents and fashion pioneers. Turning themselves into pioneers by giving such a great online background. Congratulations to the Black sheep!


And stay tuned for next week, big announces will be unveiled. Can´t wait to finally say what is happening and what we are involve with. So exciting!


To know more about the WGSN Global Fashion Awards click here.

Contour 2011, the sexy side of Graduate Fashion Week

What an exciting week it has been! On Monday night, De Montfort University marked the close of Graduate Fashion Week, and what a night it was...

De Montfort University presented Contour 2011, their lingerie and body-wear Graduate Show, which has gained international recognition as one of the longest-running, unique courses for lingerie, body-wear and sportswear in the UK.

The result? A stunning show where innovation was applied to underwear. Some of the students reinterpreted the classic pieces, adding floral prints or modernistic inspiration with ultra-sexy and feminine figures aimed to empower women. Some played with new creative constructions such as corsets outlined with LED lights that outline the figure, camping inspired pieces adding a sporty touch to the body and jockey inspired creations ready for the race. 

New shapes were introduced coupled with new construction techniques like laser cut fabrics to create a sumptuous second skin or classic materials reconstructed to create new materials,  like lace printed silicon. 

Numerous sponsors from the lingerie industry where there to support the new young talent and to hunt for the future of lingerie design. The Vauxhall Fashion Scout team were on hand to manage and produce the event, and are proud supporters of graduate design talent.

Graduate Fashion Week Winners and Vista Bar Launching

Last night Graduate Fashion Week Winners were announced during the highly anticipated Gala Show, which closes a week full of innovation, new ideas and young excitement. 


This year, the renowned "Graduate Fashion Week Gold Award" was awarded to Rory Longdon from Nottingham Trent university. According to the Pane,l "Rory took a bold yet simple idea and translated it into stunning collection that was instantly wearable. It was cohesive and immaculately constructed with outstanding craftsmanship".


The Womenswear Award was given to Marissa Owen from the University of Central Lancashire, who´s collection has been described by the judges as "beautifully executed with vibrant colors and prints".


Felix Chabluk Smith from Edinburgh College of Arts was awarded the Menswear Award and Patrick Grant from the judging Panel said: "he won because of a clever use of historic patterns, rewritten with a romantic and a modern execution and excellent construction".


The Zandra Rhodes Catwalk Textiles Award was given to Dominique Kral from Northbrook College. Wonjee Chung from Nottingham Trent University was the winner of The Stuart Peter Visionary Knitwear Award and Christina Economu from Marangoni Paris was awarded with the International Award.


The last award, the Gala Music Award, was given to Kingston University for their blend of music that harmoniously floated over the collections.


Congratulations to all of of the winning designers and Universities! 


While half of the Vauxhall Fashion Scout team were attending the Gala Show, the VFS kids were at the launch of Vista Bar at the Trafalgar Hotel, our official hotel sponsor for LFW. The night was great and the event was truly successful. Below are some pictures of the incredible views that make the place so special.

For more info on Graduate Fashion Week click here.
To book for a table for Trafalgar's newest roof top addition, click here.

NEWGEN winners for spring/summer 2012 unveiled

Last night the British Fashion Council unveiled NEWGEN´s  winners for spring/summer 2012, one of the world’s most internationally recognised talent identification schemes.  

The winners are announced as London’s brightest emerging fashion design talents who have been selected to receive BFC NEWGEN sponsorship, supported by Topshop, to show at London Fashion Week in September 2011. 

The winners are:

Catwalk sponsorship: David Koma, Holly Fulton, Louise Gray and Michael van der Ham. 

Presentation sponsorship: Christopher Raeburn, Craig Lawrence, Dominic Jones, J.W. Anderson and Nasir Mazhar. 

Installation sponsorship: Jordan Askill and SISTER by SIBLING. 

Exhibition sponsorship: Felicity Brown, J. JS Lee, James Long, Palmer//Harding, Thomas Tait and Tim Soar Woman. 

Congratulation to all of them and specially to David Koma, Felicity Brown, who showed with Vauxhall Fashion Scout before. Exciting news and awaiting for for the Graduate Fashion Week Gala show, were the best of all the week will be shown tonight. A week to celebrate fashion and design innovation. A great aperitif that waters our mouth for next September. 

As well tonight VFS will be attending the launching of Vista Bar at The Trafalgar Hotel. This will be the unveiling of a new point of view of London´s skyline. 

This is the beginning of an exciting summer full of events and work organizing next season.

To know more about NEWGEN winners click here.

A week for night unveilings. Today is tonight

Today is tonight as Jack Peñate said in his song. Vauxhall Fashion Scout office is awaiting for the evenings of this week as, this will be the time when several news will be unveiled.

First, tonight is New Gen´s finale,  which is  the world´s most internationally recognised talent identification schemes, launched in 1993 by the Bristish Fashion Council . NEWGEN continues to showcase and promote new designer businesses today, helping them to be promoted and presented to the industry and providing with financial support. 

Previous recipients, that have show with Vauxhall Fashion Scout, among others, are David Koma, Felicity Brown, Peter Pilotto, Maria Francesca Pepe, Coperative Designs.

Internationally recognised as a prestigious launch pad, this scheme is a showcase of the best up-and-coming British fashion talent. It also acts as an important introduction for young UK-based designers to influential press and buyers from around the world. The scheme has become a key draw for the international fashion media and buyers attending London Fashion Week. NEWGEN designers are among the must-see collections on schedule every season.

As well tomorrow night,  something exciting is going to happend around Trafalgar Square, a new perspective of the square will be unveiled not only to have a new vista of it but also to have a great perspective of London and it´s skyline.

Champagne,  summer feeling cocktails, and  some canapes will be wrapping an event that will be hosted at the The Trafalgar Hotel. Becoming the largest rooftop bar at central London, Taking London to all new highs, and setting the London landscape as the perfect backdrop. 

Wednesday evening, also will be hosting Graduate Fashion Week Gala Show, which is the final brooch for an exciting week, where the universities showed their graduates jobs and final projects with a special emphasis on fashion. This show will showcase a selection of the best, picking the designers who´s collection are better constructed or innovative. Mention De Monfort student, Anna Lee, last year winner of Zandra Rhodes Textiles Award at Graduate Fashion Week who showed with us. A collection of long silhouettes with colorful dragon prints.

Let´s the night begin and unveil the great.

Gradute Fashion Week so far, so good!

As each June London gets inmerse in the pre-summer mood: the days are longer and the sun is shinning at its bests.

But as well it is the time that the city exudes innovation and young creativity. we are talking about Graduate Fashion Week, which was launched in 1991 and is a forum to showcase the very best BA Graduate fashion design talent in the UK.  The place to see what the graduates minds are thinking about.

One of this year graduates from Royal College of Art was Stephán Orschel-Read, born in India but raised up in Scotland, who studied laws before turning into a menswear designer. And the change worth it.

After showing with Vauxhall Fashion Scout for 2 seasons, he decided to enroll in a MA at RCA, which he finished last week presenting his graduate collection. A great collection, with special attention to details, such as the reinterpretation of the lapel,  and wise selection and use of fabrics, designing suit jackets with knitwear. Specially showing mastered skills for tailoring and patronage. Definitely this master has improved his skills and turn him into  a more mature menswear designer. He gained our applause from the front row.

Royal College of Arts, has nurture and educated, as well, other great designer that has showed with us such as, David Longshaw, Eudon Choi, Felicity Brown, Sarah Bro Jorgensen among others.

This whole week, is being exciting, coming in and out to shows, and coming to the office impressed by all the new things we have seen. It is worth to mention specially one of the graduate from Westminster University, Catarina Holm, who called our attention. Her collection was a collaboration between her and photographer Noémie Reijnen. Playing with transparent fabrics and acid orange and using floaty fabrics which are trapped with harnesses.

So far so good, this years Graduate Fashion Week is being exciting and inspiring, showing that graduates have a lot to say.

Uk Fashion & Textile Export Awards.

There are just three weeks to go before the deadline for entries to this year´s UK Fashion & textile Export Awards: closing date is 5pm on 17 June 2011.

This award, which this year celebrates their 25th edition also celebrates the awards that  220 Companies have benefited over the past 22 years.

The Awards always attract a very diverse crowd. As well as the winners and other finalists, guests include UKFE members, exhibition organisers, the press and leading retailers. 

The Awards are designed to reward companies, irrespective of size, who have demonstrated export excellence. Judging panel will be looking for winners in eight categories – Menswear; Men's Accessories; Womenswear; Women's Accessories; Childrenswear; Ethical Fashion; Lingerie/Beach Fashion; and New Exporter. 

For the 2011 Awards they have introduced new categories that open up the competition to a broader spectrum of suppliers, retailers and e-tailers within the fashion and textile industry. This year's Awards also take into account the multi-channel marketing strategy that companies are using to sell their products overseas. 

It is a great occasion to network and entertain, and meet people from the industry and other fellows. 

Just to have in mind for this year,  Joanna Lumlet, who presented 2010 edition, joked saying: "Just to let you know, in this room of friends, I am very open to product placement. I'm an average size 12, I have a head, shoulders, feet ready for shoes...you know what to do," Remember this when applying. 

Deadline reminder. They are  Closing date is 5pm on 17 June 2011. 

To start your application just click here.

60 seconds with Fyodor Golan

Young designers, Fyodor Podgorny and Golan Frydman, are the creative minds behind new label Fyodor Golan. Since showing with Vauxhall Fashion Scout last season, the design duo were named Fashion Fringe Finalists yesterday.

Amidst celebrations, Vauxhall Fashion Scout catch up with the boys... 

VFS: What does it mean to you to be nominated as a Fashion Fringe finalist?

Fyodor Golan: It means great belief in our design and support from fashion insiders. We have a chance now to prove ourselves. Show our abilities and style to even wider audience.

VFS: Are you ready in full-swing for next season work?

F.G: Yes our hands are full.

VFS: What is the main inspiration for your next season collection?

F.G: Flowers of evil.

VFS: Which soundtrack are you currently playing in your studio?

F.G: Pink Floyd.

VFS: What's London's best kept secret?

F.G: There are no secrets in London, but Golders Green falafel's are worth the travel!

VFS: What did you did to celebrate last night?

F.G: Lots and lots of Champagne and very good steak!

For further details and to view collections, click here.

VFS

Fashion Fringe Finalists & Five Years of Esthetica

  Fyodor Golan at VFS Feb 11

Cat & Fox
VFS at Esthetica

It was a busy night for the VFS team – first up was the announcement event for the finalists for this year’s Fashion Fringe. While we congratulate all three finalists – Fyodor Golan, Heidi Leung & Nabil El-Nayal – the loudest cheer from team VFS was for Fyodor Golan. Their debut catwalk show at VFS last season went down a storm and was a highlight of the week for many of our regular guests. Fingers crossed guys!

Then it was on the the Fifth Birthday Party for Esthetica where many of our favourite PR’s and designers were enjoying the champagne and canapés. We loved the installation downstairs - especially the giant inflatable animals by Christopher Raeburn! 

Clerkenwell Design Week. Presenting the new.

Clerkenwell area is exuding design, creativity and innovation during this week 24-26 of May.  This new three-day festival breaks with convention by happening midweek, as designers, makers, architects and craftspeople highlight the creativity of this corner of near-central London, which houses 10% of the UK's architects.

This area, where Vauxhall Fashion Scout Headquarters are, has exploded design and creativity, and in every corner there is something new to see. Everywhere and everyone in the neighbourhood show to the outside what they do, inviting everyone to see it and experience it as well as the design process, offering to the visitors the opportunity to interact with the mind behind the innovation and today´s London Creativity, with an exciting programme of talks, debates and workshops.

Clerkenwell is home to over 60 showrooms, a multitude of architectural and creative practices. This cultural hub is the perfect location to host an international festival that celebrates all disciplines of design.

With over 150 events, a series of pop up exhibitions, installations, talks, performances, music and workshops, the festival is a showcase of cutting edge design from some of the biggest names in the industry. In 2010 the design community flocked to Clerkenwell with over 18000 registered, 2011 promises to be bigger and better.

The wonderfully Dickensian Farmiloe warehouse building, which hosts a design exhibition, is one of the event stars, though there are also film shows, art installations, seminars and debates, all design-themed. Tom Dixon fans can get a sneak preview of his new Peg chair and a forest of giant floor lamps will fill St John's Square as well as a craft market hosted by Craft Central.

The House of Detention is a Victorian prison, hosting an exhibition showcasing some of the most exciting contemporary talent. Exhibitors include, PlacesandSpaces presenting Droog, Hendzel and Hunt, Timorous Beasties, Lizzie Mary Cullen and Bank furniture.

A Three days exciting exhibitions with outdoor expositions, a design market held in St John Square South and open days studios, come to the area and enjoy London´s innovative design and experience creativity alive. 

To know more click here, or just drop yourself at Farringdon or Barbican and enjoy.

Fashion Scout gets all nostalgic...

Jens Laugensen Feb 07

Peter Pilotto Feb 08

Felder Felder Feb 08

David Koma Sept 09

William Tempest Sept 09

David Longshaw Feb 10

Iris Van Herpen Feb 10

Hermione de Paula Sep 10

Eudon Choi Sep 10

With the closing of designer applications for VFS Sep 2011 yesterday and a flurry of excitement for the coming season, Fashion Scout HQ took a moment to reflect on our successes.

Over the past ten seasons, Vauxhall Fashion Scout have nurtured and supported over 180 amazing designers – that’s a lot of acclaimed talent on our catwalks and in our exhibitions

Bursting onto the scene in February 2008, Peter Pilotto graced the VFS catwalk, leading to his highly anticipated NewGen debut next season. And following in his footsteps, Felder Felder, Cooperative Designs and Avsh Alom Gur all presented their collections with VFS to an internationally renowned audience.

More recently, Vauxhall Fashion Scout have been responsible for launching the likes of David Koma, William Tempest, David Longshaw, Hermione de Paula, Iris Van Herpen, Felicity Brown, Dean Quinn and Eudon Choi to the market.

David Koma made his catwalk debut with Vauxhall Fashion Scout as the proud recipient of the Merit Award and within just two seasons he was propelled on to the NewGen catwalk. Felicity Brown after just one season at the Vauxhall Fashion Scout London Exhibition (which saw them snapped up by Barneys, Liberty London and Selfridges) also joined the NewGen alumni.

Always a first for new talent, Ones To Watch stars Eudon Choi and David Longshaw saw Harvey Nichols Dubai, Harvey Nichols Hong Kong, Lusia Via Roma and Debut New York collectively invest in their debut collections, leading to the highly successful Elle Talent Launch Pad Award for both!

Vauxhall Fashion Scout has quickly become renowned as London’s leading showcase for innovation, selecting and showcasing the quality and vision that London is so famous for. And with such an established eye for the future of British talent, Vauxhall Fashion Scout has recently introduced On-Schedule talents Maria Francesca Pepe, Tim Soar, Krystof Strozyna and BodyAmr into its fold.

The Vauxhall Fashion Scout intention has always been to discover and bring the most exciting talents to the attention of the industry and are proud to have showcased some of London’s hottest names.

With a smile on our face we look forward to the next season!

FAD students featured in Disorder magazine

Menswear Runner-up, Annie Vallis of Nottingham Trent University and finalist Lucy Johnson from The University of East London, FAD students from the February show – FAD Competition – at Vauxhall Fashion Scout, have been featured in the latest edition of UK Mag Disorder.

F.A.D (Fashion Awareness Direct)  is a charity that has been helping budding designers in the transition from education to the fashion industry for a decade now by awarding the winner and two runners up with £2000 and £1000 and unique industry placements. Protégées go on to work in top fashion industry designer roles or set up their own label, testament to the importance of the work that F.A.D is doing.

On their latest competition, they celebrated ten years of supporting young creative talent with a successful show that saw a refreshingly diverse range of womenswear and menswear. The theme behind this year competition, enticed students to design a mini-collection inspired by the concept of escaping. 

Finalist Lucy Johnson got her inspiration from her personality and what she thought about what she wants to escape from, the fear of being alone somewhere. She found the place through travel – looking at mountains, rocks and water to pick up textures and an organic feel, to finally create a hooded brown men’s parka and leaf scarf look

Annie Vallis, the second runner up, presented the new idea of men clothing, earthy menswear. Landscape printed shirts grounded with beige shorts, legging and plastic macs, made for a new breed of eco-warrior. 

Both students will be showcasing at Graduate Fashion Week in London this June, along with several other talented FAD students including FAD’s 2010 winner, Rasa Abramaviciute. 

Read more about the FAD Competition: the winners, runners-up and inspirations at www.fad.org.uk.

To have a look at Disorder Magazine click here. 

Maria Francesca Pepe. People you should know.

Maria Francesca Pepe, On-schedule designer who showed with Vauxhall Fashion Scout, is presented by 10 magazine as someone we should know, and they gave us an insight into the designer behind the name with an in-depth interview about how she works, where she gets inspiration from, and some tips to make your own jewellery.

She defines her self as avant-garde and gothic, she likes luxury when it gets dirty and contaminated. She also confess “I´m rather selective and critical in my choices. But I do have a thing about pink stuff” which she regrets.

At the moment she is analyzing what she has done after fashion week and besides dealing with the industry, she feels the urgent necessity to start designing again, and she starts collecting ideas, inspirational things, and feedback  to be ready for the moment to start over again.

For her, it is easier to design jewels as you don´t have fitting rules and the construction process is much more straight forward. "What you draw in the paper is most likely what the final piece is going to look like" she says. And you can play with elements and tools. As well, she finds funny working on printing for her jersey range, she often use pictures of her jewelry to create prints. 

Maria gives an advice to student-budgeted readers. When she was a student she used to take pictures of expensive things she liked and printed them in cotton stripes to make fabric-jewelry. Now, that she can move into different materials, she has pierced with crystals and pearls the faces of vintage sexy icons such as James Dean, Rita Hayworth, Theda Bara.

She is auto-referential in her work, she goes with her emotions, but she is learning to be more aware of commercial values. She is not only trying to think about her wearing MFP but also about the customers and celebrities who represent the brand, like hugely eye-catching Lady Gaga. 

To know more about Maria Francesca Pepe click here.
To see her show with Vauxhall Fashion Scout click here.


Juan Mora Yanes