5 things every designer should know by Maria Alvares from FAD

Vauxhall Fashion Scout is soon organising mentoring events, with the main objective of providing help and advices to our designers with their businesses. 

This time The Fashion Scout listens to Maria Alvares who is the executive Director and founding member of Fashion Awareness Direct (FAD), which helps young people bridge the gap between education and industry. She told 5 things every designer should know in an interview by Blow PR. 

FAD selected for last season 15 designers, who showed with Vauxhall Fashion Scout. Them were enticed to create two garments with a theme, to escape. This young designers are advised by Maria, and now she shares those advices will all of us.

First she believes that it is essential to have experience within the fashion industry before establishing your own label.  According to her, this will provide you with knowledge and industry insights that then, can be applied to your own label.  As well, this industry experience will be the beginning of your career which is not a straight path, so be focused.

After your sponsoring finishes you have to be ready to face the industry as a growing business, in order to make money. Remember to concentrate on being creative, and find a good business partner, who have experience on the field. This is the advice of Maria Alvares when talking about running you business. Don not try to do everything by yourself.

You need to materialise you ideas and having construction skills will help, in order to know how they can be translated from ideas to an actual collection. “The bottom line is that people are going to buy your designs because they are well made” says Maria.  

Do not forget simplicity, and be focused on one idea to create your collection, do not put things on top of things, be cohesive. “Be brave enough to go with one idea” it is one of the advices from Maria. And this is right, as simplicity always is successful.

Once you have worked on your ideas, promote them. Let people know you and what you do, and what is different from others. The advice from FAD director Maria, is using the social media tools, to build a network of contacts that will talk about you. 

All this advices are key ideas and insights that can be used to build your brand and grow as a designer. Summarising, you have to have experience within the industry, have business knowledge or partner with someone who does, have construction skills, be simple and promote yourself.

Great advices from Maria Alvares who knows really well about breaking into the industry, and what it takes. To read the interview click here.

Juan Mora Yanes

Tze Goh spotted by Business of Fashion

Singapore-born designer, Tze Goh has been featured in Business of Fashion, in an article where he give some of the insights of his work processes and the thoughts behind his collections. “For me, fashion is all about changing the silhouette of a person.” according to the young designer, who already have a clear statement about fashion.

His clothes do not have any meaning “... so they don’t have so much semantics,” stablishes Tze Goh, to whom, the main idea to get from clothing is the shape they can give woman. He wants to create practical clothing stylistically sustainable, which nowadays is an innovative point of view over the fashion business were everything goes high speed.

He believes that a cohesive collection is the one that is only focused on one theme “I don’t really understand why there are so many themes in a collection; there’s no real reason for that” He sets one or two ides to work within those boundaries so he is sure his work is focused. As an example the two main inspiration for his Autumn/Winter 2011 collection, were the Japanese kimono and the sleek interiors of Porsche sport cars. Inspirations that helped to give shape to a minimal and pure lines collection.

To materialise this concept of clothes were the most important thing is shape, he makes his own materials, bounding virgin wood and cahsmere with 3D jersey to create slightly more rigid fabrics. This new way of utilising fabrics and other materials is what makes Vauxhall Fashion Scout Ones to watch designer, more innovative and clever when creating fashion is about. And is this unique techniques and ideas that makes Tze Goh gain the attention of media and the rest of industry.

This article reflects a unique personality, leaded by a constantly experimenting mind, with really fixed and mature fashion statements and ideas, that get succesfuly materialised in his collection.

Tze Goh collections are now available in new London´s concept store LN-CC, click on "store review" on this blog, if you want to read a store review by The Fashion Scout.

To read Business of Fashion article about Tze Goh click here.

Juan Mora Yanes

Louise Hardcastle is featured by Marie Claire in their Talent Spot section.

Louis Hardcastle, young australian designer, who exhibited with Vauxhall Fashion Scout, is featured in Marie Claire in their Talent Spot section, June 2011 issue. On the article she is appointed as ones to follow emerging designer, as well is highlighted the direction her brand is taking, and she speaks about what inspired her SS 2011 collection.

A self-taught Fashion designer, applies her learned skills while being an Art Director and Graphic Designer to launch a label with an innovative objective: make a relaxed approach to modern Australia.

Her collections  portray  a style that can be defined as “easy luxe”, young, relaxed and exudes sophistication with a masculine edge. All this made out by replicating impeccable craftsmanship and british tailoring.

This season she will be launching her debut collection. She got inspired by the Quechua tribe in Peru, how they mix a vibrant palette and how they clash colours like red and fuchsia. And it is definitively innovative to see Quechua inspirations to build up a relaxed modern Australian look.

As well she confesses that she would love to see Diane Kruger or Carey Mullligan wearing Louis Hardcastle, as she likes and gets inspired by how they dress so simply but never wrong.

Her work is a colourful, relaxed and fresh wind that is on the "Talent spot", bringing a personal and innovative vision of sofistication. Enjoy her collection here.

Juan Mora Yanes.

Yusuke Maegawa featured in Fashio156.com daily blog

Young Japanese designer, that exhibited with Vauxhall Fashion Scout, has been feature in Fashion 156, a magazine that aims to celebrate emerging talents. This time they got amazed by Yusuke Maegawa, who´s style is defined by the use of eclectic materials and his signature surface decoration. His main idea is to design and create real clothes.

The feature highlights how Yusuke constructs looks, as well as the importance of paying attention to detail, like the leather collars, or the pieces he designed that creates the illusion like a turtle shell cape.

Consider to be a deconstructionist, the silhouettes he creates are asymmetric using angular draping cuts, giving a new definition to Japanese deconstructionism.  This new way of constructing garments ensures a new point of view and innovative design of clothing, and promises different things to see, merging and mixing things that we might know, to create something new.

As result pieces to smile for, like Susan Walsh, the author of the feature, does.  Enhancing the playful attitude of the handbags that blends fur, plastic and other materials, that brings a colourful touch.

This interest on combining different materials and innovation spirit, plus the concept of searching for real clothes, turn this designer into someone worth to follow and see, for example, how others get amazed by his collections. To enjoy the feature click here.

Well done Yusuke!.

Juan Mora yanes

photos: Yusuke Maegawa

Mr. Lipop shortlisted for Fashion Finest Emerging Menswear Designer.

Not only one but two. Last post we featured Asger Juel Larsen nomination for Fashions Finest Emerging Menswear Designer 2011, today we are glad to announce that Mr. Lipop has also been nominated for the same prize! It seams that our guys are doing really well!


This nomination recognises Tom Lipop work and an unique and different vision of what men should wear. Mr Lipop´s signature style fuses beautiful illustration with experimental use of fabric and garment construction, being inspired by the historical lineage of British fashion.

This season, he showcased with Vauxhall Fashion Scout his A/W collection, which look book you can enjoy here.
 
Entitled “From London to Tokyo via the old crow runway” Mr Lipop designed baggy jerseys, luxurious fur trimmed hoods, drawstrings, rolled up trousers and chic yet rough leather rucksacks. Using uniform colours like beige, black, navy blue and red wine to create total looks or colour blocking mixes.  A minimal aesthetic and versatile collection, creating an elegant and urban uniform for today man. 


Mr. Lipop´s work has also called the attention of media and he has been featured in many different magazines that reviewed his collections or also got him to collaborate with them. Magazines like fashion 156 or featured in publication such as "this hearts on fire".
 

Since his graduation he has being growing up as designer and reinforcing his distinctive and innovative idea of menswear, this is the reason to be shortlisted as Fashions Finest Emerging Menswear Designer.

Chapeaux Mr. Lipop.

Juan Mora Yanes 

VFS is happy for the nomination of Asger Juel Larsen

Young menswear designer Asger Juel Larsen has been Nominated in the Category of Menswear Designer of the Year in the Fashions Finest Awards 2011.  This awards main aim is to recognise talent from the diverse British Fashion industry. This nomination recognises the talent of this Danish Viking young designer, and his personal way of dressing men.

We at Vauxhall Fashion Scout are happy for this nomination, as he deserves it for being innovative in the way he designs and the way he uses different materials and fabrics, giving birth to a new interpretation of menswear, reinterpreting American iconic items.

Inspired by historic events, the designer blends unusual materials to create a silhouette that is sharp and structured. Mixing battle uniforms with wild and earthy America, and using heritage prints, native america, gothic, stars and even fetish, he created an outstanding collection with an eye-catching style and unmistakable signature look.

This collection AW11, was showcased last season at London Fashion Week by Vauxhall Fashion Scout, being at the same time his Ma graduate collection. 

Congratulations for this nomination Asger!

Juan Mora Yanes

VFS´s Ones to Watch Anja Mlakar contributes with Fashion 156.

Anja Mlakar graduated from Central Saint Martin, and selected as Vauxhall Fashion Scout Ones to Watch this year, has contributed with Fashion 156 for a week. With an interview, a show report and a love list, this young designer collaborates with this online fashion magazine that provides a celebratory platform for emerging talent. Is good to see how young minds join forces to create a successful career.

In the collaboration, is highlighted Mlakar´s challenging and reinterpreted traditional forms and how they meld 3d, geometrical design with classic cocktail dresses and athletic notes.
Twisting and applying her own vision of purity and elegance, she creates a new concept of woman clothing.

In the interview she founds her self inspired by architecture, and as she said she would like to see her models jumping from Flatiron Building in New York. As well she would create a spider woman if she could reinterpret any infamous costume, or she will design fencing uniforms, and she wont choose any place to get stranded as her boat can´t sink.
This is the personality of this great young designer who´s designs has called the attention of Lady Gaga.

Collaborations like this are great, as we can see our designers growing not only in their fashion skills, but as well in others aptitudes and becoming mature creative talents. Being multi-tasker is a major skill to be an innovative mind, and be successful nowadays.

Anja is not the only Ones To Watch designer that collaborates with Fashion 156, David Longshaw now interviews other young talented designers. With not only a natural talent  for fashion, but also for illustration, he develops his journalist side, and everything he does has his own signature and personality.

In VFS we celebrate young designers joining together, growing not only in their fashion skills. Even more important we celebrate unique personalities that translate into innovative designs.

Juan Mora Yanes

VFS celebrates the union between Not Just A Label and Mango fashion awards get together for the 4th edition of El Boton 2011.

Vauxhall Fashion Scout is really exited for the up and coming 4th edition of  “El boton” - Mango Fashion Awards (MFA) as it consolidates it self as a mayor fashion contest joining forces with Not Just A Label (NJAL), a globally reaching designer directory and independent online retailer.  

El Boton has the support of 5 international fashion schools: Central Saint Martins, Institut Français de la Mode, Istituto Marangoni, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp and l’Escole Superior de Disseny, which are the leading institutions on menoring new talents.

A worldwide opportunity is given with this collaboration giving out  a €300,000 prize to allow the young designer the chance to further their collections, being this year the largest sum offered to date in a competition of this type.

VFS ´s Merit Award Hermione de Paula interviewed in Fahion 156

Vauxhall Fashion Scout ´s Ones To Watch and Merit Award Hermione de Paula was featured and interviewed in Fashion 156 giving an unique advice yet really important. Measure twice, cut once.

The central Saint Martin graduate Hermione de Paula, has internationally established her style: hand painted prints, with a twisted vision of femininity. 

VFS’s rising stars Tze Goh and Camilla Bruerberg feature on Dazed Digital

 Tze Goh: Vauxhall Fashion Scout's Ones To Watch AW11

 Camilla Bruerberg: Vauxhall Fashion Scout's Ones To Watch MEN AW11

Vauxhall fashion Scout´s Ones to Watch, Tze Goh and Camilla Bruerberg have been featured in Dazed Digital as the newest rising designers. As true representations of innovation, Dazed picks up on Tze’s bold, minimal, structural silhouettes and Camilla’s fusion of knit and digital print in this insightful interview into the bright young minds behind the designs.

Kingston MA Fashion Open Studios

Kingston's prestigious Fashion MA is hosting a series of open studio events at their Knights Park Campus, presenting both past and present students portfolios, allowing people to discover the course and inspire future generations.

Course Director Nancy Tilbury, who is hosing the events, is an expert in the field of wearable technologies, prospective students are welcome to come by and talk to tutors. 

The open study next dates will be: 22/06  14/07  27/07. 

To reserve a place on any of the dates listed contact a.bolton@kingston.ac.uk

or go to Kingston´s website http://www.kingston.ac.uk/postgraduate-course/fashion-ma/

Juan Mora Yanes

Vauxhall Fashion Scout visits Yohji Yamamoto´s exposition in Victoria and Albert Museum

Long admired for his challenging works, the story of controversial fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto and his designs are on display for the first time at the Victoria and Albert Museum.  For a man who has been on the fashion scene for decades creating scandal and revolution with each move, the exhibition is a chance to celebrate 30 years of ups and downs of Yohji Yamamoto and his career. 

To know of a designer’s collections is to skim the top of something much deeper; you need to understand his meaning, his philosophy. Before viewing the exhibition I ‘enjoyed’ his designs, but now having read, watched and examined every inch of Yohji’s thinking I can truly appreciate the genius that he is. The exhibition holds over 60 garments, footage of catwalk shows, clips of film collaborations, shoe and accessory collaborations, books containing his philosophical ideas, catalogues of his collections, interviews, music albums, intimate photos. 

Úna Burke awarded Designer of the Year at the Irish Fashion Innovations Awards

Congratulations to Úna Burke, who was awarded Designer of the Year at the Irish Fashion Innovations Awards on Tuesday night.

The Vauxhall Fashion Scout designer is renown for her leather creations and this award signifies Úna’s recognition as an outstanding design talent. The technically challenging pieces are inspired by medieval war armour and medical braces, yet are extremely wearable without alienating the original concept. As stated by Úna herself, “They are free to exist just as the objects that they are, interpreted independently by each individual.”

Well done Úna! 

Juan Mora Yanes

Vauxhall Fashion Scout interview's LN-CC

London based concept store LN-CC mixes emerging and established labels in new and exciting ways. A unique combination of womenswear and menswear makes for unisex shopping, and the appointment only store strives to push the boundaries of the retail experience. Taking a tour through the wooden architecture, Vauxhall Fashion Scout interview the people behind the concept…

What is the concept behind LN-CC, and where did the idea come from?

The concept behind LN-CC is basically to mix classical, directional European designers, with new wave brands and Japanese labels. We are very happy and proud to be working with these brands. We try to acquire more and more brands, to ensure we keep on being relevant, gathering good quality products. We constantly need to be moving forward and keeping ahead of new or emerging labels.

Vauxhall Fashion Scout Opens Applications for LFW Sept 2011!

 

 

 

 

The search begins for the best innovative designers as Vauxhall Fashion Scout, London’s leading independent showcase, opens its applications for London Fashion Week September 2011 and Paris Fashion Week October 2011!

Renowned for showcasing some of London’s most successful talents including Peter Pilotto, David Koma, Felicity Brown, Maria Francesca Pepe, Cooperative Designs, Iris Van Herpen and William Tempest, Vauxhall Fashion Scout is LFW’s leading international platform for both Off and On-Schedule designers.

Permanently located in Freemasons’ Hall, Covent Garden, the event runs for the full length of LFW and features multiple show spaces including two catwalk halls, exhibition hall and media lounge.

Applications open on Tuesday 12^th April 2011 to womenswear, menswear and accessory designers for

·       Catwalk

·       Presentations

·       Salon Shows

·       Exhibition

·       Paris Showroom

We are also excited to announce that application are open for VFS’s acclaimed awards - Merit Award, Ones To Watch and the newly launched Ones To Watch MEN.

The Merit Award offers a fully sponsored catwalk show and specially tailored mentoring and business support to winning designers for three consecutive seasons. Attracting leading international press and buyers, the prestigious Merit Award has previously launched William Tempest, David Koma, Hermione de Paula, Eudon Choi and Georgia Hardinge into the fashion spotlight.

Ones To Watch is a highly acclaimed platform designed specifically to launch the freshest new talents to the market in a collaborative back-to-back showcase. Providing designers with their first opportunity to show to a UK and international audience and with dedicated exhibition space in London, Ones To Watch has quickly become the leading showcase for the next generation of design talent.

We will also be opening applications for Vauxhall Fashion Scout’s Paris Showroom, located next to the Picasso Museum in the heart of the Marais.

To show at Vauxhall Fashion Scout, designers must have reached the creative and business level required for an event of this stature. Successful designers will be selected by our panel of leading industry experts and will be judged on their creativity, quality and business potential.

Applications open on Tuesday 12^th April 2011 and close on Monday 23^rd May 2011.

For further information please visit www.vauxhallfashionscout.com and to request an application form please contact show@vauxhallfashionscout.com.

Good luck!

Bunmi Koko selected to show at New York Fashion Week

Having shown her AW11/12 collection with Vauxhall Fashion Scout back in February, a few weeks later designer Bunmi of Bunmi Koko, went on to show at Arise magazine’s fashion week in, Lagos, Nigeria. 


The fashion scene in Africa has continued to flourish, with more and more designers being scouted for their creative designs rich in cultural influences. 


Here in the UK Bunmi’s vibrant collection was highly praised by industry and followers. We all remember the excitement that followed the show. A stunning array of flattering dresses in fearless colours and patterns brought some euphoria to fashion week; cheesy but true - Bunmi gave us a bit of Africa. With a rich cultural background of bold colours and tribal patterns, Bunmi has taken inspiration from her homeland and translated this into her innovative designs. 


Taking her collection to Nigeria’s biggest fashion event, Bunmi Koko was greatly awarded for her efforts. Out of over 50 designers there at Arise fashion week, Bunmi was one of five to be chosen to represent Africa at New York fashion week this September; in her own words; “It is just really rewarding after all the work we put in each season.” Well deserved we say. 


Louisa Kilburn

Vauxhall Fashion Scout Announces London & Paris Fashion Week Dates

Vauxhall Fashion Scout are pleased to announce the dates for London Fashion Week S/S 2012, held at the Freemason’s Hall on September 16^th-21^st.

Our applications for our Exhibition, Catwalk, Presentations and our Paris Showroom will be opening really soon…we’re happy to confirm that our Paris Showroom will run from September 29th  to October 4^th.

Maria Francesca Pepe: AW11 Lookbook

It seems long ago now, but it was only last month that Maria Francesca Pepe presented her A/W11 collection at VFS. Her collection caused quite a stir, featuring bondage style headwear and a monochrome palette of angelic versus demonic garments in delicate chiffon. Maria entitled her A/W11 collection Fortuna; Fortuna was a roman Goddess who possessed the power over mankind’s fate. It was quite fitting that her nymph like creatures were positioned about the presentation room like roman statues. This theme was carried through into her look book.

Pandora Lennard of Tank magazine, who has styled for Maria before, has styled the A/W11 look book. The back drop for the gothic photo shoot was our very own catwalk/presentation space in the Freemasons Hall, a place in itself full of mystery. With heavy white light beaming out from behind the mystic creature, it seems as though she has emerged from somewhere unknown to mankind. This angelic nymph shows her evil side however, from white delicate chiffon adorned with gold and glittering jewellery, to black leather and demonic head pieces; Maria’s juxtaposed collection represents this Goddess Fortuna who dealt fortune out in extremes; either very good or very bad.

Other stunning imagery of Maria’s collection to emerge is that produced by Ellen Rogers. Maria told VFS’s blogger Charlotte Summers how she wanted to create a “magical and enchanting fairytale” with this collection. Taken on the day of Maria’s presentation Ellen has created this fairytale story but in a dark almost twisted way. Utilising the endless eerie rooms of our London fashion week venue the Freemasons Hall, the location adds that spine tingling feel to photos of satanic creatures and saintly nymphs. The imagery has been perfectly edited to enhance this feeling as though we have stumbled across some kind of cult and been allowed to observe.

Already stocked across the globe and with endless praise from the press, we all anticipate her next collection; if only September weren’t so far away.

www.mfpepe.com/

Louisa Kilburn

Asger Juel Larsen : Uncle Sam AW 11 Lookbook

The bolshie London College of Fashion graduate stormed the London Fashion Week menswear stage this February during our Ones To Watch group showcase. Grunge, fetish, deconstruction, and American military history were clearly the ideas influencing his debut collection as each look emerged telling a story, bold and daring. 

This week, fresh from the cutting room comes Asger’s AW 11 lookbook. At once theatrical and understated, set mainly against a blank canvas, it allows the heavy-duty looks to speak for themselves as they flaunt the tension between sexuality, violence and melancholy that amalgamate in Asger’s work.

Asger’s innovative attitude toward design epitomises what the Ones To Watch initiative is all about. It is playful, courageous and filled to the brim with attitude. 

We think the lookbook is both gritty and highly stylised, much like Asger’s catwalk show, and almost has us wishing it was Autumn / Winter 11 already. ...Almost.

Lara Angol

Photography : Ellis Scott
Model : Jordan Gene Bowen
MUA : AC Rino assisted by Marco Storm Braskov

Paris Showroom

 

 

Sadly there is only one day left of our Paris Showroom. Fortunately are open until 17.00 tomorrow (Tuesday 8th) so come visit us at Galerie Odile Ouizeman, before its too late!!

 

Galerie Odile Ouizeman,

10-12 Rue Des Coutures,

Saint-Gervais 75003.

 

Amy Finch