NEWS| Vogue Italia and The Dubai Mall's Eco Talents Scouting Initiative

Vogue Italia  have launched Eco-Talents Scouting, a new organisation created with The Dubai Mall in order to encourage creativity in eco-fashion and eco-design. Aimed at both emerging and established designers, all the selected projects will be exhibited in October at The Dubai Mall during the “Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience”.

Editor in Chief of Vogue Italia Franca Sozzani commented on the enterprise: "The Dubai Mall is a Fashion World. Vogue Italia is a Fashion Magazine. To make an event together means to welcome all the people who love fashion, and also to give an opportunity to young talents to show their creativity and their talent”

Want to enter? You need to send to ecotalents@condenast.it the following information:

• Biography and info on the brand
• A lookbook of the two latest collections
• A list of stores where the brand is sold
• A short text illustrating your project with relevant sketches and designs

Deadline to be part of this global eco initiative is 30th June 2013. For more information, visit Vogue Italia's Eco Talents pages. 

By Cass Gowing, Editor. 
Follow her on Twitter, @CassGowing

NEWS| Angus Chiang from Shih Chien Taiwan wins International Show

Taiwanese graduate Angus Chiang was yesterday announced as the winner of the inaugural International Show. His futuristic colour popping pom pom designs caught the eye of the esteemed panel of judges - headed by Vogue Italia's Sara Maino and the audience alike. 

Chiang, a graduate from Shih Chien Taiwan, will showcase his collection at Fashion Scout London during London Fashion Week. He has also won £1000 for himself, £500 for his university. 

By Editor Cass Gowing, Follow her on Twitter @CassGowing
Photographs by Tram Nguyen, Follow her on Twitter @TramNguyenP

NEWS| International Show at Graduate Fashion Week

Yesterday saw the first ever International Show take place at Graduate Fashion Week. Held at Earls Court, the International Show saw 20 graduate designers from the following schools take the stage. 

Academy of Art, San Francisco

BUNKA (Japan)

Shenkar (Israel)

Shih Chien (Taiwan)

FIT (Italy)

Istituto Marangoni Milan

IED (Institito Europeo di Design - Italy)

Accademia di Costume e Moda (Italy)

IUVA (Italy)

Kolding (Denmark)

Istituto Marangoni Paris

ESMOD Berlin

ESMOD Oslo

Parsons New York

Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design (Pakistan)

Mimar Sinan Fine Arts (Turkey)

An eclectic mix of cultures and styles were showcased through a series of accomplished and astounding designs - the very best of graduate collections globally. 

Aside from the showcase itself, the International Show was also being judged by an esteemed panel including Hilary Alexander (read her article for The Telegraph on the show here), blogger Susie Bubble, Royal College of Art's Professor Wendy Dagworthy and chaired by Vogue Italia's Sara Maino. After deliberation, the winner, Angus Chiang from Shih Chien Taiwan was announced. See full post of the winner here. 

By Editor Cass Gowing, Follow her on Twitter @CassGowing

Photographs by Tram Nguyen, Follow her on Twitter @TramNguyenP.

NEWS| Graduate Fashion Week tickets still available as industry rallies support

This weekend, the elite of the fashion industry from international recruiters to press to buyers will be attending Graduate Fashion Week (2^nd – 5^th June) 2013.

Having launched the careers of Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Christopher Bailey and Julien Macdonald – this esteemed platform will showcase the best new designers, marketeers, product developers, digital innovators, pattern cutters, textile designers, merchandisers and buyers. In fact, Drapers 2012 Market Report found that an astounding 78.2% of retailers thought that Graduate Fashion Week was beneficial to the sector

Rob Templeman, Chairman Graduate Fashion Week is thrilled with the industry's growing support, “It’s really great to see the industry coming together to support our young talent, we know that its absolutely crucial for graduates to have as much on the job experience as possible."

Graduate Fashion Week attracts approximately 25,000 visitors over 4 days, with 23 catwalk shows and the work from 56 universities on show including 16 from oversees. 

Don’t panic, there’s still time for you to get your tickets to the highly anticipated shows, including the International Show on Monday 3rd June. Visit the official GFW website here for more information. 

By Cass Gowing, Fashion Scout Editor. Follow her on Twitter @CassGowing.

NEWS| 2013 Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize applications close 31.05.13

Last chance to apply for 2013 Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize as applications close on 31.05.13. 

The Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize is available to enter for designers of couture, ready-to-wear clothing or premium accessories who are based in UK, France, Italy, Switzerzerland or the US. Applicants must have an established brand which has been running between 2-5 years. 

The final will be on 29 October 2013 at The Dorchester, where five shortlisted designers will be invited to stage a catwalk presentation.

The prize is an endowment of £25,000 to help establish the brand, a two night stay at a Dorchester Collection hotel and one-to-one mentoring from a selection of the judges. 

To apply visit here. 

By Cass Gowing, Editor. Follow Cass on Twitter @CassGowing

COLLECTION| CYAN Autumn / Winter ’13 Look Book

Part of Fashion Scout’s Kiev Showroom that took place in March this year, designer Victoria Panyukova of CYAN presented an Autumn / Winter ’13 collection that takes reference in wooden toy building kit. Playful proportions of layers and panels sit on a palette of earth tones that read as rich yet calm. The Ukrainian based designer debuts a new look book of the collection that features photography from Furka Ishchuk-Paltseva.

“It is a story of childish curiosity and desire for discovering the world, inclination to build “castles in the air” Victoria talks on the narrative behind this winter collection. Geometric structures and forms mimic building blocks and explores a connection between the pieces that can be interchanged. Wool, chiffon and cotton with a use of vibrant prints create the mood for this collection that sticks to the label's aesthetic using high quality fabrics and  finding technological solutions for style.

Founded in 2012 the brand has a design ethos that combines functionality with traditional European styles. Victoria Panyukova takes a feminine approach to structured and minimalist design not focusing on trends but on creating her own woman.

Text by Vanessa Omoregie

NEWS| Fashion Scout designer Emma J Shipley wins UKFT RISE Award for Best Newcomer

Huge congratulations to Fashion Scout designer Emma J Shipley who has been awarded the UKFT Rise Newcomer award.

“Supporting fashion’s upcoming stars, the Hotel Indigo UKFT Rise Newcomer was presented

to luxury label Emma J Shipley, founded in 2012, in recognition of her successes with her

opulent scarves and textiles, which blur the boundaries between fine art and fashion.”

The awards were presented by HRH The Princess Royal, President of UKFT at One Mayfair last night and were accompanied by a catwalk produced by Fashion Scout.

The evening saw eleven awards presented across a range of categories, congratulations to all award winners from the evening!

For more information, visit their website. 

NEWS| Anne Sofie Madsen Browns Blog Takeover

Following the two previous blog takeovers by both Lily Silverton BLK DNM ; this week see’s Royal Academy of Fine Art graduate, Anne Sofie Madsen takeover the Brown’s Fashion Blog. 

On Day 1, Anne shared with us a collection of images from which she took inspiration for her SS13 Cherrilee Collection; inspired by the Miracle Strip Amusement Park in Miami, Florida, ‘a once-popular but now decayed paradise at the beach’.

The images, combined with her illustrations, portray the ruins of memories of joy and pleasures; whilst Anne explains the collection aims to personify ‘a Malibu Beach Barbie who has been buried in the playground for about a year and then picked up by a pit bull’, in order to present the vision of abandoned thrills and discarded pleasures. In particular, Anne demonstrates how a particular silk top from the final collection includes a ghostly woman’s face, white pit bull terriers, mirrored dinosaurs heads, dark forestry and nostalgic dripping ice cream cones; to capture this vision through the medium of print.

Day 2 sees images from the Cherilee SS13 Catwalk, in keeping with Anne’s brand aesthetic and her vision throughout her collections (to show the well-known thorough the un-known, by utilizing traditional handcraft methods and couture techniques); the collection sees delicate embellished and embroidered dresses and twin sets, met by leather appliqué, heavy white masculine hightops and unconventional patterns.

In progression Day 3 presents powerful images from the Cherilee SS13 campaign of the Melting Ice Dress, the Shelley Dress, the Candy Crystal Dress and the Spikey Dress – the latter of which is featured in DANSK Magazine. Whilst today's images look behind the scenes of the shoot. 

To follow Anne Sofia Madsen’s Browns Fashion blog takeover click here. 

@BrookeMcCord

Former Fashion Scout Ones to Watch star Agi & Sam receive NEWGEN MEN award

Agi & Sam showcasing at last season's LC:M

Agi & Sam's Fashion Week debut with Fashion Scout

Former Fashion Scout Ones to Watch winners Agi & Sam are one of the chosen four recipients for the S/S14 NEWGEN MEN as sponsored by Topman award. 

Fashion Scout provided Agi & Sam with their fashion week debut for S/S11 in September 2010 as one of our Menswear One's to Watch initiative. 

Announced today, all recipients receive sponsorship and showcasing opportunities as well as  mentoring support. Agi & Sam will showcase their S/S14 on the catwalk at London Collections: Men in June. 

Huge congratulations to both Agi Mdumulla and Sam Cotton, we look forward to seeing your S/S14 collection!

By Cass Gowing, Editor. @CassGowing

NEWS| Graduate Fashion Week announces International Show

Graduate Fashion Week has announced the launch of a new International Show featuring 16 leading global fashion universities. The event, which will take place at GFW in Earls Court on June 3rd will feature designs from 16 students from the chosen international universities.

As part of this initiative, a International Award accolade will be awarded for the best collection, as judged by Sara Maino, senior editor Vogue Italia and the Royal College of Art’s Professor Wendy Dagworthy. The winner, on top of receiving a cash prize for themselves and their university, will win a place at Fashion Scout's acclaimed Graduate Showcase. 

FS are also teaming up with MUUSE to offer a special  sponsorship award to produce and show a collection in London and Paris fashion weeks.

Tickets for Graduate Fashion Week and the International Show can be purchased here. Visit http://www.gfw.org.uk/ for more information. 

By Cass Gowing, Editor. Follow her on Twitter @CassGowing

NEWS| Fashion Scout designers Shao Yen and Heohwan Simulation in Tank Magazine

This week has seen Tank magazine highlight two Fashion Scout designers in their ‘Power Four’ of emerging international designers article; more specifically, Shao Yen and Heohwan Simulation.

Disclosing that Shao Yen never planned to become a knitwear designer, the article explains how Shao initially directed his talent toward jewellery design; before taking a place on the Central St Martin knitwear programme –  a movement which proved a vehicle for experimentation. The article goes on to discuss Shao’s brand aesthetic of experimental spirit, which is accessible to many people; his most recent collection inspired by Catalan artist Joan Miro and Giuseppe Castiglione’s portraits of the Chinese Emperor Qianlong, mirrors this, combining wearable clothing and eccentricity.

Alongside Shao, RCA graduate and Fashion Scout Merit Award and ‘One’s to Watch’ designer, Heohwan Simulation, is also deemed an emerging designer destined for big things. The article places emphasis on Hwan Heo’s determination, the philosophical and concept based aesthetic of his brand; and his “The decade Project”, a ten year concept he is undertaking inspired by his reading of fashion’s history.

Both Fashion Scout designers are featured alongside British, Danish Duo Trager Delaney and London launched label Ostwald Helgason. 

Text by Brooke McCord @BrookeMcCord

Images from Tank Magazine.

NEWS| UKFT Awards 2013 nominations including Charlotte Taylor, Emma J Shipley and Joseph Turvey

The NatWest UK Fashion & Textile Awards 2013 have announced their nominations and include three Fashion Scout designers: Charlotte Taylor, Emma J Shipley and Joseph Turvey. The shortlisted brands will be showcased in a catwalk show produced with Fashion Scout on May 23rd. 

After receiving a record number of entries this year, they have consolidated the entries to the announce the nominations for the 2013 awards. The judging was chaired by UKFT Deputy Chairman Simon Berwin and whilst the judging panel includes Fashion Scout selection panelist and Fashion Features Editor at Vogue.co.uk,  Jessica Bumpus as well as Caroline Nodder, Editor-in-Chief of Drapers and Maurice Mullen, Head of Fashion & Luxury Goods for Evening Standard.

Charlotte Taylor and Emma J Shipley are competing for the UKFT Rise Newcomer Award whilst Insley & Nash for Joseph Turvey is also up for an accolade. 

The highly anticipated awards ceremony will take place on May 23 at One Mayfair in London where the winners will be announced.

NEWS| Former Merit Award winner Phoebe English in The Independent

Open up today's Independent or i paper today and you'll see Fashion Scout designer and former Merit Award winner Phoebe English looking back at you. 

The feature, which focuses on Phoebe's new window installation which launches at Dover Street Market this Friday, interview Phoebe in her studio in her East London studio. 

"For her window display English, whose studies focused on knitwear and textiles, has created a large orb of blue glass beads that will be suspended from the ceiling by a single wire. “I wanted something that looked as though it was floating or hovering – a lunar orb. The textiles we're using are all glass and we found that during the [spring/summer 13] show you got a really great reflection of the show lights while the girls were in motion. We're hoping that the light will sort of sparkle across the surface.”"

You can read the full piece online here. View Phoebe English's A/W13 collection review here, as showcased at Fashion Scout in February.

Written by Editor Cass Gowing, @CassGowing

NEWS| William Tempest collaborates with W London

Former Fashion Scout designer William Tempest’s  collaboration with W London, Leicester Square is due to be unveiled in June this year.

The W London is renowned for being committed to supporting high-profile British fashion names, events and parties since its opening in 2011 and this collaboration is the next step. William Tempest has had a bold presence in the fashion hemisphere since 2009 - when he was named Fashion Scout's Merit Award winner – and has since received critical acclaim from international press as well as built up a huge celebrity following including Victoria Beckham, Alexa Chung and Rihanna.

Inspired by the hotel’s unique design concept, the innovative collaboration is set to encompass a limited edition pyjama set; which celebrates the duality of British personality.

The clichéd mentality – ‘buttoned up by day and let loose by night’; through the vehicle of a demure grey pattern on one side, contrasted by a statement geometric print on the other, which in essence, allows the wearer to dress according to their mood.

The British-produced pajamas will be available for W hotel guests, whilst a limited number will be available in W The Store from June 1. 

By Brooke McCord, @BrookeMcCord 

NEWS| Sotheby's exhibition with David Longshaw

Hot tipped by ELLE by as a “Rising Star” David Longshaw former Fashion Scout Ones To Watch, represents a new breed of fashion talent lending his skills in illustration and storytelling to his work. Launched in 2010, the designer established his label with a strong place in the industry.

David’s latest venture introduces the story of Maude and Hector who are off to Sotheby’s and to be worn at the “animal ball” which Prince Charles is hosting.

The illustrations and masks show “cult” icon and loveable Maude the fashion mouse made by David whilst at CSM, Editor-in-Chief of Maudezine and creative director Hector who bumps into Elephant friends Erin and Edward on their way to the Animal Ball. Vibrant and fun prints are featured on the elephant masks as Maude and Hector wearing David Longshaw (of course!)get a lift to the ball.

A graduate of Central Saint Martin’s and RCA, David was awarded the BFC/ELLE Talent Launch Pad and has since gone on to be featured on Vogue.com and Fashion156 and using his unique imagination to create a weekly comic strip “Francesca & Arthur” for Vogue Italia.

Vanessa Omoregie, @wewearblack

Illustrations by David Longshaw

NEWS| Last day to apply for Fashion Scout S/S14

Today marks the last day for designers to apply for catwalk, presentation and salon shows with Fashion Scout, the international showcase for fashion innovation for the S/S14 season. 

Ones To Watch alumnus to date include Eudon Choi, Kirsty Ward, Phoebe English, Dean Quinn, Hermione de Paula, David Longshaw, & Anne Sofie Madsen - your name could be added to this prestigious list of past designers!

Womenswear designers can also apply for Fashion Scoutʼs coveted Merit Award (worth £25,000 over three seasons, the Merit Awards includes a fully sponsored catwalk show and a £1000 bursary in the first season which specifically propels the very best in new design talent into the industry) as well as the esteemed Ones to Watch initiative .

Please send applications to show@fsi-events.com. For more information, please visit our website. 

NEWS| Kate Nash's Tour Wardrobe Open Call

In anticipation of her upcoming South and North American tour, Kate Nash is holding an open call wardrobe day for designers and PRs. Meeting everyone in person on the day, Nash will be editing her potential tour wear on the spot. 

The wardrobe day will take place on the 1st of May from 1pm to 3pm at the Fashion Monitor and Entertainment News headquarters:

Centaur Media, Wells Point, 79 Wells Street, London, W1T 3QN.

A regular at both New York and London Fashion Weeks, Nash is a platinum-selling singer songwriter and has worked with a number of emerging designers on her world tours. "Fashion is a key element to my onstage performances," she says. "Everything I wear on stage has to communicate to the audience and function as performance-wear. Fashion is art as much as a piece of music is art."

To RSVP, email: dresskatenash@forwardpr.com

Follow the Twitter hashtag: #DressKateNash

NEWS| Former OTW winner Hellen van Rees announced as The Humanity in Fashion Award finalist.

Fashion Scout designer and former Ones to Watch winner, Hellen van Rees has been announced as a finalist for The Humanity in Fashion Award. 

Hellen, who has showcased her SS13 and AW13 collections with Fashion Scout London and Paris ,has been named alongside two other designers as a finalist for this prestigious award which recognizes creative fashion design through sustainability and eco-friendly clothing. The winner will be announced following a final catwalk presentation (of Hellen's A/W13 collection - which you can view here) during Berlin Fashion Week on July 3rd. 

Congratulations Hellen - we wish you the best of luck for the upcoming awards!

By Cass Gowing, Fashion Scout Editor @CassGowing

Photographs by Kris Elliott and Asia Werbel