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)

'Wash' James Small SS12 film starring Jaime Winstone and the Astra GTC

One of Jame Small's colourful creations

    

Actress Jamie Winstone

James Small's printed shirts

Hey VFS followers!

We've got some fashion film news today!

James Small Menswear gets hot & wet with new fashion film ‘Wash’ starring Jaime Winstone and the new Vauxhall Astra GTC – the film has been directed by Konstantinos Menelaou (producer at large and art director of A Shaded View On Fashion Film Festival by Diane Pernet).  Wash showcases James’ SS2012 collection and announces Vauxhall Motor’s patronage of the innovative British menswear designer as part of its support of Vauxhall Fashion Scout. 

Vauxhall Motors has loaned James Small one of the first exclusive Astra GTC’s and collaborated on a moving image showcase to highlight his collection.  Further support will take the form of sponsoring James’ show and after party on Wednesday 21^st September.  James Small Menswear will show as part of Menswear day at Vauxhall Fashion Scout held at Freemasons Hall in Covent Garden.

The film tells the story of a strong, beautiful and stylish woman who spends her summer days driving from carwash to carwash to look at men wash her car. She alludes power, style and is in control of her surroundings.  After confirming her authority, she signals the start of the carwash by removing a boom box out of the boot of her car and hitting the play button.  The men proceed to wash her car for her to view, interacting with them with the same unaffected composure. As soon as the music stops, it signals the end of the carwash and she gets into the car drives off to find the next carwash, leaving the men waiting.

Commenting on the creation of ‘Wash’ Konstantinos Menelaou stated; “We wanted to subvert the male dominated fantasy of the carwash as it traditionally portrays an object of male power (the car) being cleaned by an object of male desire (the girl).  In this case we reverse the roles and we give the power to the woman”. 

The female lead in the short is played by British Actress Jaime Winstone who James Small cast. James comments “Jaime is a great friend and we needed someone that could fit with the slick and powerful look of the Astra GTC and make it work in the context of subverting male fantasy”.  

James Small went onto comment; “The SS12 collection is all about forward thinking and its great that Vauxhall Motors let me work in such a dynamic way with the Vauxhall Astra GTC. I cast the Vauxhall Astra GTC as its sleek design fitted the collection – which is all about looking back to my days in art college when we were allowed to freely express creativity and find our own personal style. I have streamlined the collection into a sleek and romantic vision incorporating the James Small trademark silk shirts and use of floral. Wash reflects this”.

Music for the short has been provided by East End artist, Actually Huizenga. 

To view Vauxhall Motors presents ‘James Small SS12 Wash’ click here

You can also watch the behind the scenes video here

Asger Juel Larsen collaborates with “The Awakening"

Earlier this week we documented S magazine's collaboration with Asger to make his first fashion film.

“Uncle Sam”, directed by Theo Prodromidis, is a beautiful and thought provoking film featuring Asger’s outlandish designs. With Paul Joyce providing styling this fashion feature oozes creativity and sensuality. 

But that is not all Asger is up to, the talented designer is also collaborating with “The Awakening”:

“The Awakening" is a gathering of Scandinavian creatives and designers that seek to express their individual esthetical philosophy within a common group.”

The artist’s disciplines range from fashion design to architecture and their exhibition begins on 4th August at the Forum Copenhagen during Copenhagen Fashion Week. They will be taking part in the Gallery International Fair. They will be celebrating the exhibition with a double party whammy at the official home of Copenhagen Fashion Week on August 5th.

Phoebe English:Fashion Film Debut

Phoebe English uses her long slim line creations to seduce the viewer into another world. A figure appears in the distance though you nearly miss her as she blends into the white almost florescent background. The illusion of floating garments is created, accentuating the focus of the film: Fashion, beauty and flattery of figure.

This other-worldy vixen slowly moves forward without emotion, the fringes of fabric caressing her luminous body. The use of the inverted black and white imagery represents a ghostly, possibly apocalyptic wasteland. A Kaleidoscope is created with the close ups of Phoebe’s designs which disorientate and yet intrigue, the patterns almost mathematical in view.

Phoebe wished to present her collection through various platforms. While the garments themselves remain the main body of work, the vision was extended through photographs for the media and catwalks shows. However, showing the garment through the medium of film allowed for extended and experimental movement in a contrived setting to attention and enhance the focus of the collection.

She collaborated with conceptual artist and filmmaker Marie Kristiansen, also a Central Saint Martins graduate. Kristiansen’s work revolves around the sinister side of human nature. Her inspirations for this piece include Tarkovsky and Alfred Hitchcock. On why she chose Kristiansen, Phoebe commented: “I have always admired the sense of proportion and composition within her filmmaking, an aspect I think she brings to film from her photographic work. This viewpoint translates well into film as her work exists at an equal level both as a static and a moving image.”

Phoebe has perfectly captured the essence of her looks in this dreamy and powerful fashion film, and we at Vauxhall Fashion Scout love the results.

"Uncle Sam":Asger Juel Larsen's Fashion Film Debut

 A navy mock of the American flag eerily floats above a desolate concrete landscape.
 Asger Juel Larsen received Vauxhall Fashion Scout's Ones To Watch MEN Award last season, showcasing his AW11 designs last February during London Fashion Week. The London College of Fashion graduate creates grunge, dark almost villainous outfits. He is also influenced by the American flag; he inverts and cuts the pattern on some of his garments. Subtlety, he refrains from using showy colours and sticks to a palette of blacks, greys and browns. The use of zips and spikes in his work accentuates and reflects a by gone era of anti-socialism. Leather is a consistent trend in his work, with spikes protruding away from the skin and through accessories which intensify the fetish feel behind some of his projects.

 S magazine collaborated with Asger to make his first fashion film. “Uncle Sam”, directed by Theo Prodromidis is a beautiful and thought provoking film featuring Asger’s outlandish designs. With Paul Joyce providing styling this fashion feature oozes creativity and sensuality. The premier took place on Thursday 28th of July with an exclusive launch at Shoreditch house.

 To watch this innovative fashion film please click here.

Edward Finney SS '11 Fashion Film

Edward Finney’s SS ’11 collection, inspired by exotic dancers, courtesan and spy Mata Hari includes a conceptually designed ivory gown which interestingly bleeds colour: To demonstrate this Finney has collaborated with film maker and director, Andrew Evans to create a short fashion film which portrays the revolving dress leaking pink hues before returning to it’s former pallid state. We can’t wait for 'The making of the garment that bleeds’ - the second film instalment dedicated to Edward’s revolutionary fashion creation.  

Sarah Barlow

Posthuman Wardrobe Fashion Film

Film has increasingly become the ‘number one’ medium for showcasing a new collection or a fashion story. As well as successful runway shows, presentations and exhibitions this season, some of our designers including Carianne Moore and Posthuman Wardrobe have also opted to present their designs to the world through a digital form by creating short Fashion films.

Posthuman Wardrobe’s film presents us with an ‘urban’ aesthetic conveyed through street fighting and break dancing which was also featured at their London Fashion Week presentation last month.


Sarah Barlow

Carianne Moore SS11 Fashion Film Sponsored By Swarovski Elements

Earlier this month The Fashion Scout revealed news that VFS designer, Carianne Moore, was to collaborate with Swarovski to create a fashion film, campaigning her new SS 11 collection... and it’s finally here!

If you are unable to visit Carianne’s exhibition stand at our Paris Show Room this weekend, then why not catch a glittery glimpse simply by clicking play above! Enjoy!