The Fashion Scout

Tuesday, 25 September 2012

VIDEO| S/S13 Merit Award Winner and One's To Watch: Full Catwalk Shows

Heohwan Simulation SS13 Catwalk Show - Merit Award Winner from VAUXHALL FASHION SCOUT on Vimeo.

Ones To Watch: Ming Pin Tien SS13 Catwalk Show from VAUXHALL FASHION SCOUT on Vimeo.

Ones To Watch: Charlotte Simpson SS13 Catwalk Show from VAUXHALL FASHION SCOUT on Vimeo.

Ones To Watch: Hana Cha SS13 Catwalk Show from VAUXHALL FASHION SCOUT on Vimeo.

Ones To Watch: Hellen Van Rees SS13 Catwalk Show from VAUXHALL FASHION SCOUT on Vimeo.

One week has passed since the end of London Fashion Week S/S13! Why not relive our highly acclaimed catwalk shows from our Vauxhall Fashion Scout S/S13 Merit Award Winner Heohwan Simulation as well as Ones to Watch Designers Ming Pin Tien, Charlotte Simpson, Hana Cha and Hellen Van Rees. Tweet us your thoughts of the shows @FashionScout.

By Editor, Cass Gowing

NEWS| Raffaele Ascione S/S13 in the press

Vauxhall Fashion Scout designer Raffaele Ascione was featured in an 1883 editorial just days before showcasing his SS13 collection at VFS's Freemasons Hall during LFW.

1883 magazine teamed up with Martin Zahringer in order to promote Raffaele's collection with an editorial spread which was styled by Holly Ounstead.

Vauxhall Fashion Scout hosted Raffaele's first ever catwalk showcase on Saturday 15th September 2012 (he also presented his AW12 in a striking presentation last season at VFS) where the Central St Martins student showcased his line of aesthetically feminine-streetwear chic clothing through his highly anticipated SS13 line

Fashion 156 described his "jocular mix of references and textures provide just the right amount of eccentricity to keep London at the forefront of statement fashion", NOT JUST A LABEL made reference to his "contemporary mix appealing to all women" whilst his collection was also featured on British Vogue and Glamour.

By Editor Cass Gowing, follow her on Twitter @CassGowing

Images from 1883 magazine and Vogue.com

Monday, 24 September 2012

REVIEW| Fashion Fringe 2012

Being the platform that VFS is, supporting and exposing the best in emerging designer talent is our top priority. With shared aims, it's no surprise we've developed a good relationship and closely follow the work of Colin McDowell's Fashion Fringe. The closing show of London Fashion Week, three finalists, Haizhen Wang, Teija Eilola and Vita Gottlieb showcased three very different collections, for one to be chosen as the winner by the creative force behind Burberry and Fashion Fringe's chair Christopher Bailey.

Wang's pieces walked the catwalk first. Influenced by the work of architect Santiago Calatrava, blacks, greys and a flash of blue encompassed his structured, clean lined and feminine pieces in a powerful display of design. Eilola's garments brought her Finnish roots to London. Simple and feminine pieces of an earthly palette were focused on beautifully cut and draped fabrics. Gottlieb's very cultural and detailed creations displayed a mix of unique textures and prints in the implementation of figure hugging silhouettes.

After speeches from Colin McDowell and Christopher Bailey on the hard work, journey and passion of the designers, it was Haizhen Wang who Bailey announced the Fashion Fringe 2012 winner. With designers such as Fyodor Golan holding the title previously, Wang's future looks set to be nothing but bright. With three collections that all deserved their place on the catwalk, there really isn't much better than seeing the best in upcoming talent, exposed to the masses.

By VFS contributor, Josh Walker. Follow him on Twitter @josh_walker_

Images from WWB and Haizhen Wang's website

NEWS| Paris Showroom Drinks Reception

Vauxhall Fashion Scout launches a new showroom (again!) Situated in the heart of the Marais and only a five minute walk from the London Showrooms, Vauxhall Fashion Scout showcases 21 of the brightest new UK & International design talents.

To celebrate, VFS are holding a drinks reception on Friday 28th September from 6pm - 9pm for special guests.

For your exclusive invite please RSVP to: press@fsi-events.com

Look forward to seeing you in Paris! x

EXHIBITION| Liz Black S/S13

Graduating from Central Saint Martins, Liz Black launched her own label going on to Fashion Fringe in 2011 as a semi-finalist selected by Roland Mouret and being named as a “Vogue Talent” by Vogue Italia’s Sara Maino. Her conceptual designs have seen catwalks in Paris and Istanbul and have been worn by Lady Gaga. The talented designer presented her SS13 collection at Vauxhall Fashion Scout's Exhibition Space and spoke to us about her concepts and use of materials.

What is the story behind this collection?

Looking at London’s surroundings, the collection is inspired by nature as well as its structure. There are hard shapes that can be quite architectural as well as softer materials and prints that create a contrast.

You’ve used a range of materials here, how did you incorporate them into the collection?

The material on some of the dresses is made from pig skin leather that has been treated so it creates an effect under the light. I think there’s a lot of diversity, with different patterns coming together in the dresses with more organic shapes as well throughout the collection.

The mesh fabric is interesting, where did the idea for this come in?

With the Olympics that happened, there is a lot of sportswear that has been incorporated in the collection in subtle ways. The mesh being a little more obvious added to the evening dresses that make them stand out.

The prints are a great addition to the collection, how were these created?

Going back to the idea of nature they started as floral prints and taken into more abstract prints as they progressed. These are added to parts of the collection to bring the story together.

What do you have planned for the future?

This is our first time at Vauxhall Fashion Scout it’s very exciting, we’ll be going over to Paris later this season. We’re currently stocked around the world in Vancouver, Shanghai and here in London and hopefully looking to expand!

Text by Vanessa Omoregie (@wewearblack)
Images by Rebecca Andrews

Friday, 21 September 2012

EXHIBITION| One's to Watch Charlotte Simpson S/S13

Featured in prestigious publications Elle, Vogue and i-D, Charlotte Simpson, winner of the Zandra Rhodes Textile Award, seduced the Ones To Watch audience as her understated designs graced the SS 13 catwalk. Vauxhall Fashion Scout spoke with the British designer after the show to gain an insight into her inspirations and developments.

Your current collection shares the same inspiration as your ‘Biological Dimensions’ show, what made you continue in this direction?

I still get a lot of inspiration from the same imagery, there’s a lot of interesting microscopy photography out there so there was still a lot for me to explore, and there still is.

Will we see this inspiration transpiring into future collections then?

Probably a development of, but in a different direction.

What initially attracted you to researching biological images?

It was research when I was at university into a specific subject – the imagery really caught my attention.

Can you talk us through the beautiful colour palette you have chosen to work with?

Yes! The colour palettes are based on scientific imagery as well so there’s a lot of … well.. they take the photos in black and white and then add the colours afterwards so it’s normally quite vivid. So that’s why the pastels and quite bright citrus come in.

How do you feel you have developed as a designer since studying at LCF?

My last collection, my MA collection, was specifically done for show purposes so it wasn’t really that feasible. Now I’ve had the chance to do a collection I’m really gearing towards sales.

How have people reacted to your collection?

There’s been really good feedback - a lot of people come to the VFS shows. It’s been really positive so far, everyone seems to have really like it – which is great!

How do you feel about being a Vauxhall Fashion Scout Ones To Watch designer?

It’s been really great; I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s been wonderful to have the show and to gain that experience and to get the exposure. I was really pleased to find out I was a Ones To Watch designer, it was really great to get the chance to show.

What can we expect to see from you next?

Hopefully another collection! A development on but with a similar aesthetic. But it won’t be the same thing!

Freya Hill (@Freyahilltalkin)
Images by Rebecca Andrews

Thursday, 20 September 2012

EXCLUSIVE| Designer Interviews at the launch for Vauxhall's new supermini- Adam

Vauxhall have teamed up with three of Britain's most innovative designers to create three customised cars for the launch of their new supermini, Adam. Available in three trims, the Adam car blends your own sense of style and taste with classic Vauxhall detailing and top-of-the-range components.

Fred Butler, Louise Gray and Vauxhall Fashion Scout designer James Small worked with mentors and the designers at Vauxhall to designer three one-of-a-kind cars to celebrate these individualised cars. Vauxhall Fashion Scout caught up with the designers at the launch party of the Adam car & exclusive behind-the-scenes film.

Fred Butler

You collaborated with Vauxhall this season on designers for their new ADAM car; how did you find the experience and what drew you to take on board the project?

I've never done a car before and I don't think i'd ever get the opportunity to do it again so it was amazing. I love trying out different things, anything that comes my way.

What was the experience like?

Brilliant because it was very free- we could do whatever we wanted. I really enjoy doing origami so that is what I did, and then I made it big.

What do you think of Vauxhall Fashion Scout , have you managed to see anything this season?

Brilliant, yeah really exciting. I haven't because I was finishing my own collection but I came to Pam Hogg yesterday after my show.

We caught up with Fred again later on after the premiere of the new Vauxhall ADAM film and advert.

What did you think of the film?

I think it's fantastic, the mentor side of it; it's captured that forever. I don't think anyone necessarily would have been able to get all of those people together so yeah.

What was it about Diane (Pernet; Fred's mentor for the project) that inspired you?

Just her really; always being so open, friendly and supportive.

James Small

What drew you to the project initially and what was your experience working with Vauxhall like?

I've worked with Vauxhall for many a season and they've been very supportive and they're very open minded. They don't really put any pressure on us to change our designs or our viewpoints and they're very creative in their own way. I went over to Germany and met their whole design team and they're an amazing bunch; very creative and we all got along.

Words by Madeleine Ayers (@MadeleineAyers)

NEWS| Vauxhall Fashion Scout, the Home of New Talent; scouting the next generation of British Design Talent

Merit Award Winner Heohwan Simulation

Raffaele Ascione

Zeynep Tosun

Manuela Dack

Leutton Postle Backstage

Leutton Postle

Sabina Bryntesson

Myrza De Muynck

One's To Watch Designer Hellen Van Rees

Phoebe English

Supporting, nurturing and showcasing new talent is what Vauxhall Fashion Scout is all about; bridging the gap between mainstream media, press and industry and emerging, new and even graduating designers.

Hand-selecting designers each season, and scouting the Graduate Showcases from across the country make VFS a personal and intimate showcase to be a part of. With help from esteemed members of the industry- including Vogue.co.uk, Browns, Avenue 32, Not Just A Label, Selfridges and POP magazine, S/S13 saw an amazing array of new talent for our off-schedule London Fashion Fashion Week.

The Vauxhall Fashion Scout One's To Watch showcase is always.. well, one to watch, however this season Hellen Van Rees, Charlotte Simpson, Hana Cha and Ming Pin Tien brought a series of collections that produced a wave of appreciation for the sheer magnetism of new talent in the industry.

Last season's Merit Award Winner Phoebe English brought in the crowds, including Front Row Guests from The Shop Bluebird, Dover Street Market, CSM & Susie Bubble- who also visited One's To Watch designer from last season, Myzra De Muynck, backstage and Manuela Dack who has been featured many a time on Stylebubble.com.

Long standing Vauxhall Fashion Scout designers Leutton Postle are often featured in mainstream media and press, impressing the industry with their attention to detail and use of bright and vivid colours to produce an eye-catching, slight tongue-in-cheek but completely wearable collection; a stark contrast to this season's Merit Award winner Heohwan Simulation- who's sharp lines and clean aesthetic are some-what of a calling card for his unparalleled blend of menswear tailoring and femininity in his collections.

This season, however, saw the celebration of the Graduate designer. With Kingston University showing their MA collection as part of of our off-schedule line up, and debut catwalk collections from Sabine Bryntesson and Zeynup Tosun- the industry can't get enough of these fresh and young-minded designers. Having received attention from Vogue, Sabina Bryntesson's collection did not disappoint, with Zeynup Tosun being highlighted by Susie Bubble as a highlight for the season.

Vauxhall Fashion Scout, unparalleled for the appreciation and support of next generation designers, showcase every season with a new line-up of hand-picked emerging designers. For more information on VFS and the designers themselves, head to the new-look website- www.vauxhallfashionscout.com

NEWS| Style.com feature Vauxhall Fashion Scout as "hot spot for new talent" with Susie Bubble

Susie Lau, more commonly known as blogger Susie Bubble, has written a piece for esteemed Fashion site- Style.com, featuring the importance of emerging designers and their place in 'Off-Schedule' Shows during S/S13 London Fashion Week, focussing emphatically on the role of Vauxhall Fashion Scout.

Describing Vauxhall Fashion Scout as a 'hot spot for new talent', Susie looks specifically at VFS S/S13 designers Merit Award winner Heohwan Simulation, former Merit winners Leutton Postle and Phoebe English as well as Zeynup Tosun and Myrza de Muynck (Susie pictured above, backstage at Myrza this week). Susie focuses on the importance of Vauxhall Fashion Scout as a springboard for new and innovative design talent and our 'impressive off schedule'. Read the full blog post here.

We loved seeing Susie at some of our shows this season and we even caught up with her on the last day of our S/S13 showcase which you can read here

By Cass Gowing, Editor

Images - screenshot from Style.com and photograph of Susie backstage at Myrza de Muynck by Abby Gurney-Read.

Wednesday, 19 September 2012

PRESS| Sabina Bryntesson joins Vauxhall Fashion Scout and attracts the attention from British Vogue

The penultimate show of Vauxhall Fashion Scout was from Sabina Bryntesson, a CSM graduate who was tipped at one of the top 5 MA grads this year. The show attracted a lot of attention after Jessica Bumpus, Fashion Features Editor at Vogue.com, identified her as a designer to watch out for when Vauxhall Fashion Scout interviewed her for the Browns Blog in August this year. Jessica came to Vauxhall Fashion Scout to see the show today and seemed to be very impressed by Sabina's most recent work.

The designer told Vogue about the SS'13 collection, describing how she is “interested in how people dress depending on what religious beliefs they have and how important colour is for the imagery in these groups and the impact of strictness and conformity”. Jessica was right to anticipate Sabina's success, the collection was slick, intelligent and refined.

Text by Katie Agar (@katie_agar)