Prophetik in the press

As Jeff Garner, the man behind Tennessee-based sustainable men's and womenswear brand, Prophetik prepares for his show Southern Shores on the 19^th February, he is fast gaining interest by the press. Well, he does do dresses painted by elephants…

At Spoonfed Tom Jeffreys writes:

One of Jeff's philosophies is “The Sustainable Journey”. “This means,” he explains, “that a meaningful analysis and evaluation of any product's relationship to the environment must include a broad array of criteria including low-impact production, low-impact maintenance, and its classification as recyclable, reusable or incineratable. Primary considerations are low impact on plant and animal life, conservation of limited resources, and waste minimisation.”

But this is also a fashion label, and the look is just as important as the philosophy. Luckily, for both men and women, Prophetik is both ethical and seriously cool. And they even do dresses painted by elephants! “Designing for both men and women becomes a story, as the collections have to complement each other. I actually have a lot of pieces that are unisex as well. For menswear we blend organic silk, hemp and organic cotton for smoking jackets, trousers and waistcoats and for the womenswear we do pieces like organic silk dresses, two-toned hemp cardigan dresses, and organic cotton day dresses. The colour palettes always reflect and play off each other.

Read the full story (and all about the elephants) here

And over at Drapers Online stylist and Vauxhall Fashion Scout favourite Rebekah Roy writes:

“I respect London and the UK in their drive for sustainable and ethical fashion.  I’m looking forward to doing and all-sustainable catwalk show at Vauxhall Fashion Scout. I’m hoping it will set a marker for the future of the industry and that I can be catalyst to encourage other companies and individuals to get involved in sustainability.”

Read the full interview here

Posted by Hannah Kane

The winners of The Fashion Scout illustration competition

Over the last few weeks we’ve been running a competition in conjunction with the fantastic students at the London College of Fashion to find the best new writers, photographers and illustrators to come and join us on the blog team at the upcoming fashion week. 

The illustrators were judged by Daisy de Villeneuve - one of the country’s top fashion artists who has illustrated for British Vogue, Topshop, Moët and Chandon, the V&A, Elle Decoration, Nylon, Nike, Browns Focus, Boots, Random USA and UK, and the Fashion and Textile Museum among others.

The winners are:

Louise O’ Keeffe, 1^st Year BA Hons Fashion Illustration, LCF

Daisy says: “Louise's illustrations were stylish, colourful with good added detail to the clothes”.

Kelly Sheppard, 2^nd Year BA Hons Fashion Illustration, LCF
Daisy says: “Kelly's illustrations were strong and bold, giving the characters she'd drawn attitude in which the clothing came alive”.

Hana Termanini, 1^st Year BA Hons Fashion Illustration, LCF
Daisy says: “Hana's illustrations were quirky and fun, I liked her use of colour and line throughout”.

They're a talented lot this bunch! Keep checking back over fashion week (19th -24th February) when they'll be drawing AW10's collections live from the front row...

Posted by Hannah Kane

Images: top: Louise O'Keeffe, middle: Kelly Sheppard, bottom: Hana Termanini

AW10 Menswear Designers

The boys are back in town and set to bring down the house this season.  Beekay, Komakino, Orschel-Read, Braille and studio_805 make up our menswear designers, and have already got our juices flowing with their refreshing, super modern perspective on 21^st century menswear.  For Pakistan born Beekay, tough, punky masculinity will be the order of the day.  A powerful, confident aesthetic dominates the brand, mixing tough, rebellious leather with lighter, more flexible fabrics like denim and lycra. 

Husband and wife team Komakino (pictured above) take elements of classic menswear and rough it up, slashing fabric, ripping off sleeves and featuring frayed edges and exposed seams.  Fusing military influences with classic tailoring, the design duo use leather and fabric manipulations to create a clean, modern view of masculinity.

Over at Orschel-Read, expect suped up, futuristic boys to rule the pack, as innovative, new generation tailoring and sci-fi style lines are at the centre of this brand.  Already worn by Ga Ga herself (unperturbed by the fact it's meant for men), and shot by photography gods Hedi Slimane, Nick Knight and David Bailey, Orschel-Read take couture fabrics and make them wearable and exciting. 

Now, despite all this macho talk, every girl needs a gent from time to time, and Braille will deliver just that.  Providing a fresh, crisp and upbeat look, Braille employs a smart, classic silhouette in natural fabrics like hemp and wool.  Coupled with a soft, flattering colour palette, the brand expertly transforms the traditional suit and tie aesthetic into a clean, modern, relaxed look.

For something all the more surprising, studio_805, created by Leeds Collage of Art graduate, Andrew Bannister, takes mainstream menswear and administers a much needed dose, actually, make that a triple dose, of fun.  Chocka-block with neon colours and bold, graphic patterns, expect a collection that’s a feast for the eyes from start to finish.

In a world when the girls always seems to get first dibs in the style stakes, this season it seems the lads are going to be spoilt for choice.  Yes, men, throw out those ill fitting polyester suits and comedy socks, this season, you are about to be well and truly styled up.   

Posted by Fiona Anderson

An the Oscar goes to... Vauxhall Fashion Scout Film Club! Do you have a fashion film to show at London Fashion Week?

Here at The Fashion Scout we love fashion film. The way it encapsulates a designer’s collection in a more conceptual way. Music and the pace of the video set the tone, and being able to see garments moving on a model really captures our imaginations.

Now you can keep us (and the rest of the world) occupied, if only for a few minutes, by producing more fashion films. Vauxhall Fashion Scout is proud to be presenting The Fashion Film Club during London Fashion Week. Designers can submit fashion films to be shown at the film event.

The deadline is Saturday February 13^th 2010 - there are a few requirements including that the maximum duration is 4 minutes. For further information and enquiries please contact Mail@LaraFerros.com.

Posted by Emma Drinnan

Fashion Film by Can Evgin from Visions on Vimeo.

Theatre de la mode from Visions on Vimeo.

Fashion Film Neurotica from Visions on Vimeo.

Fashion Film Milena Silvano from Visions on Vimeo.

Showtime: The London a la Mode pop-up showroom

London a la Mode is a pop up showroom held at Liberty House, introducing British brands to domestic and international buyers, press and stylists.  Running from the 2^nd-26^th February, this uniquely collaborative showroom, owned by the brands it represents, includes an exciting mix of British talent, including Vauxhall Fashion Scout's Viking Wong, Ada Zanditon and Harriet’s Muse.   

Brit designer Alice Palmer will also be presenting her new diffusion line ‘AP’ to independent buyers.  Inspired by Batman, this knitwear line features minimalist garments in blacks, greys and teals, in short jackets and body con silhouettes.  Previously stocked by ASOS and Topshop Oxford Street, AP is set to conquer the independent retailers too, with her modernist, clean aesthetic.     
Having already notched up a loyal following of celebrities, stylists and press, the featured designers are the crème de la crème of design talent.  Expect the room to be a-buzz and reams of industry insiders queuing around the block.

To find out more, click here to view the London a la Mode website.

Posted by Fiona Anderson

Esprit de Corps (HORACE ready to wear)

This season sees the design team behind the minimalistic, androgynous and deliciously edgy label, HORACE, present their new ready to wear collection, Esprit de Corps.  Oozing with lashings of classy, understated sex appeal and contemporary, feminine chic, Esprit de Corps (by HORACE) is sophisticated, sassy, and a new, grown up direction for the design team.  Will they pull of another show stopping collection?  We reckon so, with bells on.

The current Horace line can be picked up at Kokon to Zai in London, or if you’re across the pond, Seven New York.

Posted by Fiona Anderson

Image from Horace mainline SS09 collection

Vauxhall Fashion Scout announces Exhibition designers

We can now announce our exhibition designers! The talented bunch exhibiting their collections this season are:

Beekay

Braille

Charlotte Taylor

Chelsea Rebelle

Dean Quinn

Felicity Brown

Lidjia &Dejan's

Silja Manninen

Viking Wong

You’ll get a second chance to see some of our catwalk stars, too, as they’ll also be exhibiting their collections. Hot off the runway, the designers are:

Doii

Jcob Kimmie

Ones to Watch:

ASKH

David Longshaw

Eudon Choi

Florencia Kozuch

Merit Award winner: Hermione de Paula

Keep your eyes peeled for more info coming soon!

Posted by Fiona Anderson

Image: Chelsea Rebelle

Spotlight on the Ones to Watch: Eudon Choi

All big hair and red lipstick set against a vibrant urban backdrop. This beautiful photo shoot showcases Ones to Watch designer and rising star Eudon Choi's SS10 collection. Asymmetric paneled dresses mixed with soft, elegant silk tie ribbons.

Eudon Choi studied menswear at RCA before finally turning his talents to womenswear. Not only was his graduate collection stocked at Dover Street Market he went to design at All Saints and Twenty8 Twelve before starting his new label.

His incredible knowledge of pattern cutting as well as the female form is showcased through detailed construction. His figure-hugging, sensuous designs with a high fashion edge have already attracted Sienna Miller and Jade Jagger as fans.

The collection was inspired by Joan Crawford in Mommie Dearest, watch the trailer below and you will see the muted hues and power shoulder.

Posted by Emma Drinnan

BODYAMR SS10 Film

Fashion Scout has an incredible schedule this season and there are so many designers I am already a fan of. London based fashion designer Amr Ali is one of those, he set up the BODYAMR label whilst studying and is now well known for his feminine designs in vibrant colours.

At the end of last year BODYAMR produced a beautiful fashion film to showcase their SS10 collection, premiering it at Somerset House. Sunlight bursting over barren landscape and flashing lights in a bustling city, the gorgeous backdrop is set against eerie music.

Fashion photographer Emma Summerton who stars in the film also shot and directed the video with Tony Notarberardino. Summerton’s gorgeous red lips and long windswept hair look stunning styled with the fluid, silhouette-enhancing collection. I hope there’s another collaboration this season, I don’t know about you but I want to see more.

Posted by Emma Drinnan

The Darlings of Disney: Anika Noni Rose and William Tempest at the premiere of The Princess and the Frog

Hurrah!  Disney’s gone all fashion on us since the news that William Tempest has designed a dress for the leading lady of new animated movie, The Princess and the Frog.  Disney’s latest star, Anika Noni Rose, whose character is the beautiful Princess Tiana, wore her specially made dress to the film’s premiere last Sunday, and earned the talented Tempest a mention on GMTV where the actress was interviewed.  The hyper-structured, origami inspired dress is a far cry from the usual bows and frills of Beauty and Cinderella; this is a gown fit for a thoroughly modern day Disney heroine, and we love it!

Posted by Fiona Anderson

Vauxhall Fashion Scout announces the Ones to Watch

Finally the announcement we have been waiting for - the Ones To Watch. This February, Vauxhall Fashion Scout will showcase four AW10 collections by Askh, Eudon Choi, David Longshaw and Florencia Kozuch. Ones To Watch has for the past two seasons launched the careers of many emerging designers including Dean Quinn, Alice Palmer, Ada Zanditon and this season merit award winner Hermione de Paula.

Ones To Watch has already had coverage in all the right places including FTape, Vogue and Grazia even saying that they "absolutely blimmin’ love Vauxhall Fashion Scout... We can’t wait to go along to the show and try our hand at identifying future Alexander McQueens!" I don’t know about you but neither can I. See you there.

Click here to  view the coverage on: Grazia | Vogue |FTape 

Posted by Emma Drinnan

Fashion Scout chills with Mr Hudson and Paloma Faith at Vauxhall Ice Skate

Paloma Faith and Mr Hudson hit the decks

Sugar and spice and all things ICE. Last night the Fashion Scout team spent an enchanted evening in North London’s P3 venue hosted by Vauxhall. Snow covered surfaces, a shadowy forest and moon lit ice skating rink, all completed with Russian vodka and a gingerbread car.

Following on from their successful roller disco event last season and being a free invite only event, the tickets were quickly snapped up, even before the confirmation of guest DJ’s Paloma Faith, Coco Sumner, George Lamb and Mr Hudson.

All in all a night to remember, well done Vauxhall, for the first time since Christmas the winter wonderland lifted my January blues.

www.vauxhalliceskate.co.uk 

Posted by Emma Drinnan

The venue

Fashion revellers on ice

Tempest at The Enchanted Palace...

Lovers of all things beautiful and whimsical may rejoice as, from the 26^th March 2010, the rooms of Kensington Palace will be temporarily transformed into The Enchanted Palace for a show-stopping, eyes-on-stalks, multisensory exhibition, and our very own William Tempest will be taking part. 


Accompanied by legends like Vivienne Westwood, Stephen Jones, Boudicca and Aminaka Wilmont, Will’s in good company for this extraordinary exhibition-come-art installation.  Brought to you by the theatre company Wildworks, the event will use the Palace’s sordid and juicy history as inspiration for interactive theatre, film projections and stunning fashion installations (Aminaka Wilmont has created a ‘dress of tears’ for one room). 


Tempest, inspired by the young Queen Victoria’s sudden new-found freedom and independence, will create an avant-garde, period dress packed with optical illusion as it appears to vanish and merge into its surroundings, before your very eyes!  It all sounds very Mad Hatter to us, and we can’t wait!


Posted by Fiona Anderson

Salon 13th January 2010 - PUBLIC RELATIONS

There’s no such thing as bad publicity, right?  Well, tonight, we are out to show our bevy of designers that PR isn’t all air kisses and champagne-fuelled press nights.  It’s targeted, strategic, militarily planned and takes a sharp business brain. 

With our speakers, Nell Trotter, Accounts Manager at Blow PR and Jessica Bumpus, Fashion Features Editor, Vogue.com, poised on their stalls and ready for interrogation, here’s their whistle-stop tour of getting onto a publication’s radar, dealing with PR agencies and mastering the art of self promotion.

Approaching a Journalist

·       Pinpoint specific publications and make your approach highly targeted and personal.

·       Know the publication and its lead times: is it daily, weekly or monthly?  Are they working 3 months ahead, 6 weeks or can they publish information within a few hours?

·       Consider who the reader of the publication is; are they your target customer?

Sending a Press Release

‘A press release should make the journalist think, ‘I get them, I feel like I’ve almost met them’, Nell Trotter.

·       Your press release should be a paragraph of attention grabbing writing that encompasses you, and your brand, completely.

·       Mention price points, where you will be stocked and materials.

·       Keep it concise and provide all the essential facts; journalists are on a tight deadline so the easier you make it for them the better.  Including a good quote and low res images can also be useful.

Dealing with PR Agencies

‘The PR is part of your team and acting as a little version of you, so they need to know you’, Nell Trotter.

·       Consider which designers you like and admire, which PR are they with?  Look on LFW’s website to see the PRs for each designer.

·       Manage your expectations.  It takes time to build a young designer’s profile and patience is key.

·       Question whether you are ready for a PR?  Are you prepared to wait to make this a long term business?  Don’t put the vanity of PR and high profile coverage above sales which, essentially, pay everyone’s wages.

·       Monthly reports from PRs are essential, will show you what’s planned, where your samples are going out and which celebs are being dressed in your clothes.

Building Contacts

·       Get bloggers on your side, email them, compliment them on their blog; if you get featured other bloggers will take note.

·       Set up a Google Alert, it will email you every time your name gets mentioned on the web.  If you get coverage, take the time to send a thank you email or card to the blogger or writer.

·       Befriend the assistants on publications, they are useful to know and may become lifelong supporters of your brand as you both move up the career ladder.

What to Watch Out For: Scammers and Dodgy Dealers

·       Never send out samples to an unusual address, or if the person is only providing a mobile number.  Google the person’s name and if in doubt, don’t take the risk. 

·       Use delivery notes, take photos of your products before you send them and after they are returned to you so if they are damaged, or missing, you have proof of what was sent. 

Be Your Own PR

‘Everything you do can have a hook or an angle’, Jessica Bumpus.

·       Create your own database of contacts, scan, collect and make note of your coverage.  Put it in a press book or up on your own website and make sure you balance old and new clippings from a variety of different press.

·       Be willing to share your inspiration, have an opinion about who’s wearing your collection, and be out there socialising and meeting people. 

In the end, the key to PR success is being confident and clear about what you do and who you are, as well as having realistic expectations.  If you believe in your brand the chances are, everyone else will follow.

Posted by Fiona Anderson

From runway to red carpet - A listers ♥ Vauxhall Fashion Scout designers

When previous Merit winner and rising star, William Tempest, teamed up with Sony to design a gorgeous clutch for the new VAIO P-Series earlier this year, it signalled big names a go-go for the young designer with every celebrity from Emma Watson to Victoria Beckham coveting his collection.  His success seems to be catching as rock chick Rihanna has been seen sporting a warrier-esqe look by our very own Bryce d’Anice Aime in her new video, Hard.  Working Bryce’s s/s 10 collection’s futuristic, cubist shapes to the max, avant garde fashionista Rihanna pulls off Bryce’s power-woman look effortlessly. 

And it wasn’t just Bryce who caught Rihanna’s eye during the Paris and London shows. David Koma’s metallic, industrial-look, statement hubcap dress has been a firm favourite of the megastar. The Georgian designer, winner of last season's Merit Award, first hit the celebrity radar when Megan Fox was styled in a dress from his graduate collection in Wonderland magazine. Then Beyonce stormed the MTV Europe awards in the same creation, and when Cheryl Cole popped up on X Factor in an almost identical dress, the masses jumped on board and Browns Focus sold out of the entire stock.  With a reaction like that, expect the front row of Koma’s a/w 10 show to be a star studded line up.

Unsurprisingly, controversial performer and eccentric style maven Lady Gaga wants a piece of the action too, and has given her stamp of approval for Koma’s collection in a film collaboration with fashion filmmaker Kathryn Ferguson.  Shot during rehearsals for her London shows, this beautifully arty and inspiring short film illustrates the pop phenomenon’s love of design, and celebrates pioneering emerging designers.  Including creations by Koma, amongst others, Lady Ga Ga proves that celebrity endorsement can go beyond film premiers and VIP bashes.  Bring on the A-listers!    

Posted by Fiona Anderson

Research / images supplied by Emma Drinnan

Images

Above left:

William Tempest as worn by Emma Watson and Victoria Beckham

Left:

Megan Fox, Cheryl Cole and Beyonce wear David Koma 

Print Wizard: Hermione de Paula wins Vauxhall Fashion Scout's Merit Award

There were many catwalk shows I loved over September's fashion week, but only a few I absolutely adored. One of those few was Hermione de Paula’s collection. At the Ones to Watch show she wowed with her beautiful mix of colourful patterns and prints in delicate fabrics.

“Hermione is incredibly talented and is becoming renowned for her beautiful prints. Last season we showcased her as part of our Ones to Watch show which resulted in a huge amount of press coverage and her work being picked up by Browns Focus.” Martyn Roberts, Vauxhall Fashion Scout Director.

Now I am delighted to announce that she has won the coveted Vauxhall Fashion Scout Merit Award, which entitles her to a fully sponsored catwalk show during next London Fashion Week. This generous three season award will offer de Paula a mentoring program to help develop her business into a thriving label. Previous winners have been the increasingly successful William Tempest and David Koma.

Hermione de Paula told The Fashion Scout, “I’m so thrilled to have been selected as the winner of the Vauxhall Fashion Scout Merit Award. Vauxhall Fashion Scout have already championed and helped the careers of some incredible designers and I am honoured to be considered in the same light. February is set to be a busy and exciting time for me, with my first stand alone catwalk show and the launch of my S/S collection exclusively at Browns Focus, following a successful first season with Vauxhall Fashion Scout and their ‘Ones to watch’ show”. 

Posted by Emma Drinnan

Images from Hermione de Paula's SS10 collection

Paris, je taime: Vauxhall Fashion Scout set to show at Paris Fashion Week

Vauxhall Fashion Scout is expanding next season with the launch of a new showroom at Paris Fashion Week. This March (5^th-8^th) 2010 will see Vauxhall Fashion Scout showcase the UK’s hottest emerging designers in Paris as well as London. Showing these up and coming labels in the fashionable Marais region in Paris will raise their profile outside of Britain.

“We're really excited about our Paris showroom and London exhibition as it enables us to offer a complete package for our new designers. We are looking forward to a great Fashion Week and working with some amazing new designers," says VFS director and founder Martyn Roberts.

The designers who will be showcasing in Paris with Vauxhall Fashion Scout are being selected as we speak and will be announced at the start of next year. So keep your eye on the blog as we will of course keep you updated. Posted by Emma Drinnan

Salon 9th December - SALES

It’s Wednesday night at the Castle, the room’s rammed and with the recession still in full swing, tonight’s sticky subject for the Vauxhall Fashion Scout Salon speakers is Sales. Unfortunately one speaker’s a no show and Cowcross Street’s had a power cut.  Not a good start, however, with an audience of fashion’s brightest young things, sat, chomping at the bit, all red lipstick, coiffed hair and notebooks at the ready, the show must go on.

‘I love a recession.  It sharpens up the competition and everyone has to try much harder to make it work’ says guest speaker Mark Bage (pictured right), Managing Director of leading online fashion store Coggles.com. Mark knows how tough a global financial crisis can be on a fledgling design label, however tonight he’s out to prove that all is not lost, and with low costs and a minimal team it can serve as a great opportunity for emerging designers to focus on the customer, and how best to sell to them.  If you missed the event, are in the dark and need inspiring, here are Mark’s brilliant words of wisdom for sure fire sales success.

The Mentality of the Online Shopper

With online shopping, the fundamental obstacle is that the customer cannot touch, feel and immediately try on the garment.  However, online customers making pricey purchases will be very clued up, interested in the product, have done price comparisons, and will have researched the colour, cut and fit already.

Utilise Bloggers

In the next 5 years, blogs will have all the power; they have quickly transformed from an outlet for the eccentric few, to a tool for the mass media.

You need to make blogs work for you – they can feature your product and take a commission on any sales.  This is a great way to get your product seen by a massive, international audience.

Margins and Pricing

It is a myth that online stores have lower margins than a bricks and mortar shop, Google acts as a virtual landlord and can be just as expensive as a real shop.

Customers assume a more expensive product is superior to a cheaper one – if you have the right product you can charge any amount of money.  Alter your prices as you become better known, either start low and introduce a premium line or start high and bring in a diffusion line.

Getting Your Designs Seen By Third Party Websites

Persistence is key, network and don’t focus on being too slick – often, a handwritten letter is more attractive than a hyper polished pitch.  It creates a sense of individuality, creativity and of being decidedly non-corporate.

Maintaining Control

You don’t need to have 100 accounts to make a good profit, less is more – you will appear more in demand and your product is more desirable to larger companies.

Never get so many accounts that you lose control or awareness of how your product is selling at the grass roots.  Understanding your customer is vital to any business success.

Coming soon!  Watch this space for even more sales grilling as we interview Dylan Wilde Hershman, creative director of the seasonal sales showroom, Eastern Block, who specialise in working with emerging designers.

Posted by Fiona Anderson

Live catwalk illustration at William Tempest by Victoria Lyons

Live catwalk illustration at studio_805 by Bianca Scarpellini