Graduate Fashion Week Announces George Gold Award

                         Eileen-Pang Liv., modelled by Amber le Bon, Photo: JOHN WRIGHT

As the biggest-prize in British Fashion Education, Graduate Fashion Week Gold Award has become one of the most anticipated and coveted on the fashion calendar. Graduate Fashion Week is delighted to announce that the panel of judges for this year’s award will be Amanda Wakeley, Patrick Grant, creative director Norton & Sons and E.Tautz, Lucy Yeomans, editor-Harpers Bazaar and Fiona Lambert, design director, George.

Date: June 5-8, 2011

Venue: Earls Court 2, London

Amanda Wakeley launched her signature label in 1990 and over the last two decades has developed an international reputation for designing stylish, supremely luxurious, womenswear and accessories. Amanda was awarded an OBE for her services to the fashion industry on 16th February 2010. She is also the winner of several awards including-three British Fashion-Awards for Glamour.

Over the years, Amanda Wakeley has dressed-stars such as; Scarlett Johansson, Demi Moore, Kate Beckinsdale, Dita Von Teese, Charlize Theron, Jada Pinkett Smith, Mischa Barton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Helen Mirren and Kate Winslet. Amanda Wakeley has also had the honour to dress-many members of Royal families, most notably the late Princess of Wales and Queen Rania of Jordan.

Amanda Wakeley

"I am really excited about being involved in the judging of this year's Gold Award at Graduate Fashion Week. Seeing new designer's at the start of their career is so inspirational-and I'm sure we'll spot some of the stars of tomorrow. British Universities are renowned for their creativity and inspirational training of the world's fashion industry and I can't wait to see what this year's generation-has in store for us."

Celebrated-menswear designer Patrick Grant has been the creative director of men’s luxury ready to wear brand E. Tautz since 2009 when he revived this classic British brand. Patrick is the current British Fashion Council’s Menswear Designer of the Year and the only menswear designer to make the shortlist for the BFC/Vogue Fashion-Fund (2009 and 2010).

Patrick Grant

“Britain’s fashion schools-attract the best young talent and their record of producing exceptional designers is unmatched. I am excited to see the very best of this year’s graduating-class."

The judges-will review ten shortlisted collections made from 19 catwalk shows and put the students through a gruelling interview process, before selecting the winner of the £20,000 prize money. They will also select a Menswear and Womenswear award-winner. 

To ensure that absolutely-none of the event’s exceptional catwalk talent is missed, an elite industry panel of preliminary judges is in place to join the audience at every university show to highlight what they consider to be the hottest collection from each show. The judges include GFW Trustee Professor Wendy Dagworthy, Sandra Hill, Paul Smith Head of Womenswear, Mark Eley (Eley Kishimoto) and Head of design, Sadie Robson from-George at Asda. 

Luxury Brand Fendi launches New fashion line on Seoul floating island

Brushing off controversy over its use of fur, luxury brand Fendi launched its fall and winter fashion line-on a large man made island in Seoul to highlight its--creativity.
Models showing Fendi's new collection, including-the Italian fashion house's signature fur items, strutted down the catwalk as hundreds of celebrities, guests and journalists watched what was only Fendi's second ever show in Asia.
"We don't do shows just-to do shows. We don't do shows to repeat what we showed in Milan," said Fendi CEO Michael Burke of the Thursday event.
"If we're going to do a fashion show, it has to be something noble, innovative, creative and sometimes risky. We like-that. There's no creativity without risk."


But Fendi's journey to-the launch on the world's largest artificial "floating island," itself unveiled less than a month ago, was far from easy.
The Seoul government, which is in charge of the island in the Han River, demanded that fur be excluded from-the show in response to protests from anti-fur activists about this use of a public venue.
Fendi countered that, with-only weeks to go, it was too late to change the plans for a show that usually takes months of planning and a substantial budget.
Eventually Fendi introduced a greater variety of items, including bags, shoes and other accessories, in an attempt to diminish the focus on fur.
It also said it would provide scholarships for young South Korean designers and sponsor design contests-for college students, with an internship provided to the winners.
"Being able to do this show on the floating island ranks up there as one of the very best and unique and authentic events we've done," Burke said, adding that the show wasn't only about fur.
"Of course, a fashion house like Fendi also does fur, so of course there are going to be some fur pieces.. Some people had said it would be a fur show, which-was obviously not as you can see," he added.
But animal rights activists were unconvinced, with about a hundred protesters gathering in front of the island.
Chanting anti-fur slogans as models and guests walked into the venue, they also soaked fur items with red paint and displayed a banner with "Fendi" written on it, along-with lurid sprays of red paint and a paint-soaked stuffed animal.
"We're furious that Fendi has brought fur into this country and makes people buy them when people abroad have turned away from fur," said activist Park So-yeon.
"We're earnestly hoping that as a global luxury brand, Fendi will develop varied items besides fur."
Fendi is a unit of the French luxury conglomerate LVMH. Its previous-Asian show was in 2007, at China's Great Wall.

Royal College of Arts Graduate Fashion Show 2011

Cross dressing, neon rubber and fur feature at the College's annual showcase of fashion's newest design-talents.

Philipp Schueller Photo: GETTY

Impatient foot-tapping usually sounds out the summer - a season that fatigues those in the industry for its lack of sartorial fodder until the September shows. But something always momentarily-halts those bored taps in the interim: the graduate fashion collections. After Central Saint Martins kicked things off earlier this week, it was-the turn of 36 young designers at the Royal College of Art to stir the fashion-crowd.

Inspiring fashion, Inspiring location

Collections of the week Bohoboco won the most press from Fashion Week Poland, while Łukasz Jemioł showed a sophisticated range

Joanna Mroczkowska reports from the latest Fashion Philosophy Fashion Week in Poland, held in the city of Łódź

PHOTOGRAPHED BY MODA FORTE

THE FOURTH POLISH FASHION WEEK WAS held last month. Fashion Philosophy Fashion Week Poland, to give its official title, aims to show the strong presence of the fashion industry within Poland.


Although still young, Polish Fashion Week is starting to get big attention from overseas. Kenzo Takada, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Nuno Gama, Miguel Vieira, François Emeric, Patrizia Gucci and Gaspard Yurkiewich all attended. The organizers have been promoting the event not only to fashion journalists but to people interested in the industry, in art, and to celebrities.

One of the main highlights was On Aura Tout Vu, a Bulgarian duo who designs for Lady Gaga. Diane Pernet, a French blogger and former designer, showed ASVOFF (A Shaded View On Fashion Film). Each day at Fashion Week was finished with three official parties.
Fashion Week Poland took place in Łódź, a city near Warszawa, well known for its associations with the fashion and textile industry for over two hundred years. The unique nineteenth-century feel of the city was an inspiration for many artists.


One highlight from the Polish Fashion Week is OFF Out of Schedule, showing young designers and alternative projects. The OFF shows were hosted in abandoned factories, giving a creepy and unforgettable experience.
Konrad Parol (above and above right) did a great job with his “green mile”, where models made their way to an electric chair with the sound of an electric razor in the background. His show, like his style, was very dark. One of the most eccentric designers, Maldoror (left), presented a futuristic, oriental-style collection. Young Brazilian creator Vitor Bastos (below) added a great foreign accent with his fourth collection, inspired by Tanzanian albinos. He is already well known to Lucire readers from Lisboa’s fashion week.
There was also a commercial section of Fashion Week, Designers’ Avenue. The mainstream segment hosted around twenty shows over four days. This year, one of the best reviewed was Bohoboco, a Warszawa duo who wonderfully mixed styles. Bohoboco is well known for dressing Polish celebrities. Zuo Corp (zuo, or zło, in Polish means evil) showed a very clean, symmetrical and humorous collection (bottom). As always, Łukasz Jemioł showed a very classic, sophisticated and casual range. Michał Szulc was depressing and minimalist, the public loved it!
The Fashion Philosophy Fashion Week Poland has a lot to offer and inspire. The next and fifth Polish Fashion Week will be held this October.

A fashion show for the ages

Emmeline Fucik of Appleton prepares a poodle skirt she will model Sunday as vintage fashions from the 1940s through the '80s are on parade and for sale at a fundraiser for the Community Clothes Closet at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton. / Ron Page/The Post-Crescent

Written by

J.E. Espino

APPLETON  It was a case of serious déjà vu and chuckles for many of the models waiting to flounce down the catwalk at Sunday's Vintage Fashion Show.
"The mini skirts, I definitely do remember that," said Mary Elson, remembering the wild patterns and bright colors she wore in the 1970s as a young woman.
Representing that decade for the event, she wore a long-sleeved, turquoise cocktail dress with silver embroidery and matching silver pumps and observed, "My mother might have worn it."

The biennial fashion show is a fundraiser for the Community Clothes Closet, a nonprofit providing free clothes to people in need.
The show reviews styles from the 1940s to the 1980s. Think floral and psychedelic patterns, high waists, big sunglasses, bell-bottoms, hot pants, eyelet shift dresses, cardigans, jumpsuits and plaid slacks, all in one place.
The event raises between $15,000 and $20,000 for the nonprofit, whose clientele continues to grow year after year. The success of the show is a must to keep the doors open, said Diane Bishop, Community Clothes Closet executive director.
The nonprofit has an annual budget of about $230,000. Last year, it served more than 16,000 people, a significant increase from 2009, when it served 11,500.
"This is the only time that we ever sell anything because we know our clients would not wear these clothes," she said.
The fashion show packed a ballroom at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel, and 48 models hustled to slip in and out of their period attire.
Several of them are connected to the nonprofit through family or work or are longtime friends of Bishop.
"I was the first one out today during the 1940s in a wool bathrobe. I went out with three women wearing their cooking attire, and I was in the 'go-get-the-newspaper' attire," said Paul Cameron, executive director of The Family, Christian radio stations that includes WEMI-FM 91.9. "I've got four times I've got to go through yet, so I've got a couple more eras."
Cameron has participated in the past five fashion shows put on by the nonprofit. But he was not in his comfort zone during Sunday's 1960s segment. Organizers had picked for him a crimson smoking jacket, ascot and pipe. His four companions on the runway were showing off negligees.
"I got the approval of my cohorts as suave and styling," he joked about his look.
Leslie Asare of Appleton thought her three daughters, Lexi, 11, Olivia, 9, and Isabella, 7, would need more coaxing to get involved with the show. But they were handling the pressure well in their maxi dresses.
"We are not going to be professional models or anything, but we're doing it for the charity," she said.
Scott Resch of Appleton soaked in the atmosphere in his laid-back, hippie piece and black wig.
"Everything was more carefree. Everybody was just about love and enjoying one another," he said.
The show brought a flood of memories for some.
"I was of the era of the mini skirt and the empire waist and the bell bottoms," said Gail Bergner of Menasha. "But I'm so glad we don't have to wear dresses all the time anymore, and that we can be sloppy in jeans and T-shirts."
Elson smoothed out her turquoise dress before getting in line with the rest of the models. She thinks clothes from decades past were more fun, at least more than the present one.
"There were less rules. The colors were fantastic. The lengths went up and down, extremely short, to middy, and then maxi. Shoulder pads and then no shoulder pads," she said.
"Today's styles are more conservative. People are more serious now. There are wars all over the place. I think it's a more serious time. There's also a big shortage of money right now."

Riccardo Tisci Replaces Galliano At Dior

Reputed fashion blog Fashionista is reporting that Italian designer Riccardo Tisci is set to take over as the new designer for Christian Dior.
The former creative director for Givenchy is rumoured to replace John Galliano following his sacking over Anti-Semitic charges last month
“He’s also…openly discussing his move to Dior with certain acquaintances,” writes editor Lauren Sherman. “And while we still don’t think the official Dior announcement will happen until September, we’re pretty sure the deal is sealed.


Tisci was the most evident choice for many, with French designer Haider Ackermann expected to take his place at Givenchy.
Tisci, who his known for his dark, gothic-inspired take on fashion, would certainly make for a big aesthetic change at Dior after Galliano’s flowerily flamboyant years.
Source: AFPrelaxnews

Giambattista Valli show couture in Paris

Giambattista Valli has just been elected as guest of the French Chambre Syndicale, the organization in charge of the haute couture shows.
In what is an unusual move for the notoriously exclusive committee consisting of design houses such as Armani, Valentino and Elie Saab, a young and independent designer has been granted a spot on the official schedule for the July shows.
According to the calendar, his show will take place at the Galerie de la Madeleine where his new store and atelier are based.

The rules of the Chambre Syndicale dictate that Valli  who is famous for his sophisticated ball gowns sure to appear on this year’s red carpets at the Cannes film festival  be elected at least five times in order to gain permanent membership.

Dutch designer Iris van Herpen, who built her name with 3D-printed couture over past seasons, was also elected and will equally be showing as part of the official haute couture week that runs in Paris July 4-7.
Source: AFPrelaxnews

Munib Nawaz: On the attributes of women

Nawaz’s new line will celebrate attributes women that women cherish most such as strength, sensuality and elegance. PHOTO: PUBLICITY

He’s as crazy as they get in this line of business, with a wacky sense of humour and an even crazier sense of fashion presentation. But that doesn’t mean that Munib Nawaz makes outlandish clothes. Far from it. His signature look is a well tailored blazer and trousers and a well structured mutedsherwani: Clothing that defines the quintessential man.

Yet when he takes to the ramp, he will always spruce up the whole game with eccentric machinations like making models behave like Punjabi pehalwans ready for a kushti. And while he’s firmly entrenched himself with men’s wear, he’s now venturing with full force into the territory of women’s wear as well, a glimpse of which he offered at the vintage cars and fashion show held by the Pearl Continental a few days ago.

As I walk in, he’s bent over a piece of A4 paper, trying to sketch out a design locked in his head. “I’m trying to add Munib Nawazness to the designs submitted to me by my team,” he offers by way of explanation, as we chuckle over how his workers have no definition for plain embellishment-free clothing and call anything with work on it ‘pret’. “I want women to do away with gold eventually, that’s what my formal line will be about.”

Even though I criticise his formal line for having the same cliched designs, Nawaz smartly responds, “The market is so saturated that you cannot dictate the market or your client, no matter who you are. If a client is paying a lakh and asking for the same jora that Anushka Sharma wore in Band Baja Baraat, you’ve got to do it.” But to keep the creativity kicking, Nawaz does a line of funky kurtas every summer for women, and admits that although he hasn’t even promoted it very well, professional women have been coming to him for their corporate wear fixes.

Out of the ten kurtas that he had showcased at the PC, nine have been picked up swiftly by friends while he’s hanging onto the last one as a prototype. For casual clothing, pricing is key. And that is something Nawaz, a middle class urban professional himself, understands well. Hence, his categories are three-tiered: Rs2,500-5,500 for the casuals, 10 to 25 thousand for the luxury pret and higher for the heavier bridal lines.

“I am middle class,” says Nawaz with pride. “I represent the larger chunk of people, and my clients are like myself: Businessmen and self-made professionals.” He’s a huge fan of Richard Branson, and loves quoting from management books which he devours for inspiration and growth.

Nawaz hopes to formally launch his women’s brand, Attributes of a Woman by Munib Nawaz, before Ramadan this year. The line focuses on seven attributes of women that Nawaz’s team gleaned from an intense survey that asked women what attribute about themselves they celebrate most, such as strength, sensuality and elegance.

“I am targeting a particular kind of woman who hasn’t been tapped into yet: The woman who works and wants value for her time, money and her personality. You can’t dress or treat young working women, like yourself, in the same way you would a wannabe socialite,” says Nawaz. “We’re going after the attributes of this woman, and not her bank balance. For even if she earns a lakh per month she will not be donning an overworked jora, even at a wedding,” identifies Nawaz.

“The eventual goal, however, is to make it a stand-alone brand without the Munib Nawaz name, and truly celebrate the independent minded woman.” At the moment a kurta sporting a peacock made entirely out of ralli on its back, catches my attention for its inventive use of a regional craft. If Nawaz can truly tap into the mind of the urban professional woman, his women’s line may just have as much punch as his men’s.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2011.

Luther fundraiser to feature prom fashion show

BY RANDY ELLIS rellis@opubco.com

Luther High School girls will model prom dresses and hair styles from the '80s, '90s and current times during a fundraiser for the benefit of the Luther Community Service Center.

LUTHER -Prom dresses and hair styles from the 1980s, '90s and current times will be modeled by Luther High School senior girls Saturday, May 14, as part of a community fundraiser for the Luther Community Service Center.

Festivities will begin at 6 p.m. with a dessert party at the Luther Civic Center, 18120 Hogback Road. The event then will move to the Luther High School Auditorium, 18955 NE 178, for a silent auction, followed by the fashion show.
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance at the Community Service Center or at the door on the evening of the event.

The 14 students who will be modeling prom dresses have talked teachers and moms into loaning them the vintage prom dresses they will be modeling. They will wear their own prom dresses for the current fashion part of the show, said Tami McDaniels, who is helping coordinate activities.
The whole community is excited about the event, McDaniels said.
The school cafeteria lunch ladies are planning to do an '80s song to warm the crowd up for that part of the fashion show and local day care children will perform, she said.
Eight students from Francis Tuttle Technology Center have agreed to help the girls change hair styles to reflect the time periods of the prom dresses they will be modeling, she said.
Billie Jean McCoy, this year's Luther High School prom queen, has been instrumental in helping put the fundraiser together, McDaniels said.
McCoy, 19, said she, McDaniels and girls from her church were out shopping for prom dresses when the idea for the fundraiser came together.
“The Community Service Center means a whole lot to this community,” McCoy said.
The center distributes free food to about 150 families a month, she said. It also hands out free Christmas gifts and Easter baskets to Luther children and operates a store that provides free used clothing, furniture and household goods to low-income families.
“My family is one of the families that gets food there,” McCoy said, adding that she appreciates the opportunity to give something back.
The service center is supported by area Churches of Christ and has 20 to 30 regular workers — all volunteers.
Ruby Stahl, who spearheads volunteer efforts in the community, said the center hopes to raise $10,000 through the event. McDaniels said she expects 200 to 300 people to attend.

Designer Profiles: Raffles Fashion Design Students

Australian Fashion Week officially kicks off today, and while we're looking forward to seeing what some of our favourite Australian designers have been working on for this coming summer, we're really excited about some of the new talent getting exposure this year. One of the exhibitions showcasing the up and coming fashion innovators in Australasia is the Raffles RAFW International Showcase, a platform for students from the college's esteemed fashion program. We've got a sneak peak of the six incredible designers who will be showcasing their collections this week.

Peggy Hartanto
My name is Peggy Hartanto, Indonesia
I would describe my design aesthetic as works of art that make the wearer feels confident and reflects who they are.
My design muse is No one in particular
one celebrity you would like to dress is Emma Watson, She has strong personality and that what my brand aesthetic is.
In five years I would like tosee my brand marketed Internationally. Become a stronger, more mature and independent designer.

Crystal Tsoi
My name is Crystal Tsoi. Born and raised Hongkong
I would describe my design aesthetic as Looking at forms and shape , draw inspiration from Bauhaus, attention to functionality and feminity.
My design muse is the man-kind.
one celebrity you would like to dress is a lot but definetly alexa chung, love how she dress effordlessly stylish.
In five years I would like to have my label set up plus some good interning experience in Europe.

 Del
My name is Del (Chen Zhi gang),from China
I would describe my design aesthetic as a natural causal style for everyday.
My design muse is my parents as they are outstanding tailors.
one celebrity you would like to dress is No one in particular.
In five years I would like to become a famous designer dressing everyone in the world and having my own label.

Winson Tan
My name is Winson Tan, Malaysia
I would describe my design aesthetic as Edgy, minimalistic, architectural.
My design muse is Everyday women who live and breathe fashion.
one celebrity you would like to dress is Kylie Minogue. Huge fan of her music and bigger one of her personal fashion style.
In five years I would like a wider recognition of my works, and an established Ready-To-Wear label locally and abroad.

Erin Loh
My name is Erin Loh, from Singapore.
I would describe my design aesthetic as visual storyteller.
My design muse is No one in paticular.
one celebrity you would like to dress is Zoey Deschanel, shes got the most quirky personality onscreen and off, and I think that a person’s character powers over all plain surface beauty.
In five years I would like to be in a better place, with a more mature mind with a distinctly unqiue design identity.

Byron McGilvray
My name is Byron McGilvray, and im from Northern NSW so the country is in my heart, and I draw much passion and energy from the natural environment.
I would describe my design aesthetic as Innovative , technological, conceptual, clean, symbolic, and spiritually inspired.
My design muse is unknown.
one celebrity you would like to dress is only one [celebrity] is hard to choose, but at present I would like Karin Dreijer Andersson from the knife to were one of my optical fiber pieces. I think that with her quirky yet very forward personal influence on music and culture, she would be the perfect person to wear one of my looks. The other would be Bjork for the same reason.
In five years I would like to have established a strong and reputable fashion label.

Raffles RAFW International Showcase will be held at Midday on Friday, 6 May.

Angela Moore Fashion Show Bigger Than Ever for 2011

 

It's one of Newport's best summertime events, and organizers of the 12th Annual Angela Moore Fashion Show and Champagne Breakfast will return to the Tennis Hall of Fame with tennis stars, fashion stars, and social stars.

The fashion show is one of Tennis Week's hottest events and has perennially sold out. “After years hosting sold-out shows, we are delighted to announce this will be our biggest event ever," said Angela Moore, adding that the guest seating will double this year and a new century tent can seat another 450 people. “We are thrilled to be the kickoff event to the long awaited Andre Agassi induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame!”

From runway fashion to grass court fashion

In addition to Moore's design, attendees will see fashion from Lilly Pulitzer, Manuel Canovas, Christopher Blue, Julie Brown, Jack Rogers, Dolce Vita shoes, Moyna bags, Onigo hats and other surprise designers.  The collections will include a mix of fun swimwear, fabulous cocktail dresses, plus colorful accessories, beaded sandals, stunning bags and the latest in cashmere wraps. Fila will also present new tennis looks.

                      

This year, the fashion show will include 2011 Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Peachy Kellmeyer, Bud Collins and other ATP World Tour stars.  Rhode Island locals will recognize Miss Rhode Island 2009 Ashley Bickford, NBC 10 sports anchor Frank Carpano, plus Newport Mayor Steve Waluk and other well-known Newporters.

Angela Moore Fashion Show, 2011 Campbell's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships. July 7, 8:30am-11am, International Tennis Hall of Fame. Tickets are $80 and include a seated fashion show, champagne breakfast, full day of viewing courtside tennis, a $15 Angela Moore gift certificate and a Swarovski surprise. Make your reservations early as this event is anticipated to sell out. To purchase tickets, call Marguerite Jones at 324-4057