Emerging Fervour

The Thomas Engel Hart line is something for the rebel rockstar at heart. Engel Hart uses a mix of traditional and innovative patternmaking techniques, rock references and a range of fabric and materials. Admittedly, we don’t write a lot about menswear, even though fashion is just as important to you fashionisto’s as it is to us. Shame on us, but we promise to write something for the boys more often.

Back to Engel Hart. Currently, he’s living and working in Paris but he was actually born in Manhattan, where he later went on to the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Take a peek at his latest AW10 collection:

Check out the Thomas Engel Hart website. In the UK, pieces are available at London’s Dover Street Market and also in Japan and the US (details on website).

I came across KidViskous a few months ago while looking for a present for a friend. Tiffany Lee is the brain behind KidViskous jewellery label. She is right now into her fourth collection, which is just as quirky as collection 1, 2 and 3. The thing I love most is the Lee designs on a whim and doesn’t conform to any trends, making her pieces timeless.

Check out Collection 4

Something else that’s quite interesting about KV is their support of emerging photographers models, which is exactly what we like hearing at Emerging Fervour! Tiffany also works as a freelance fashion writer, blogger and editor – check out her blog.

Her past and present collection pieces are on sale through the KidViskous website www.kidviskous.com

I came across Joe Challita not too long ago and couldn’t help but do a write up on him and his creations. They’re just so beautiful!

A law graduate, Challita’s true passion is fashion and so in 2004 he gave it all up to pursue a career in fashion design. In 2007 he graduated from East Sydney College with a fashion degree and has been based in Beirut ever since (he was raised in Australia).

Through his Lebanese heritage and culture, Challita worked with beautiful fabrics to create his Vintage Nouveau style. And taking a chance to follow his Haute Couture dream, Challita appeared on Mission Fashion – a reality TV show based in Beirut with a mission to select a top model and top fashion designer. One thing led to another, and Challita received an invitation to train at the Elie Saab Fashion House in 2007. Challita has been in Beirut since, pursuing his dreams to dress the women of the world!

Check out these Challita Couture pieces

Nina Stotler founded Von Kottwitz jewellery in 2004. Growing up in Berlin, she was influenced by her surroundings, in particular the Bauhaus movement with its innovative and restrained aesthetic. Jason Dickerson partnered with Von Kottwitz in 2008 as creative director and has put his sleep and modern twist to the brand, taking it from strength to strength.

The Meridien Collection

^ The Capstone $225

^ The Vortex $300

^ The Coil $275

The Factory Collection

The Industry Collection

You can buy on the Von Kottwitz site through Paypal.

K.Brat, launched in 2007 is Keren Brat’s womenswear and accessories fashion label, based in London..

In 2005 after graduating from the London College of Fashion, Keren went on to study Fashion design and technology at the University of the Arts. Brat has worked with London based designers Louis De-Gama and Aluma Klein gaining lots of experience to fulfill her dream of launching her own collection.

Keren’s designs as you can see below, are inspired by cultural studies of tribal customs and art forms world-wide. Together combining her two greatest passions; Fashion and Anthropology.

In addition to her collections K.Brat takes on commissions from private clients, designing custom-made garments and accessories for special events.

Check out Brat’s site at www.kbrat.co.uk

I just had to do a follow up from last week, where I introduced Anita Quansah London and her amazing accessories. Anita designs jewellery, headpieces, fashion and textiles – you name it! She’s certainly a busy lady but we love how you can hear her passion for the craft in the answers below. Enjoy!

Tell us a bit about how it all started. Why fashion, when did you realise you wanted to become a designer?

I love fashion and all things beautiful. I guess this passion for design and creativity stems from my early childhood, watching my grandmother a seamstress teaching and making the most beautiful clothes from very interesting and embroidered textiles. Her Passion for creativity, her energy and her determination is what drove me to start experimenting at a very young age. I guess also being brought up around women and watching their different styles evolve also had an impact on me. Also after years of selling my Luxury handmade couture fabrics to renowned fashion designers, I wanted to create a fashion line that people could not only learn about the intricate techniques used and see the true value of it, but also fall in love and own a piece of  true wearable art. Then in 2004 Anita Quansah London the fashion line was launched. Since then, the line has proven very successful, sold out in the Laden Showroom London which was the first ever boutique that stocked the line, then from then, I went on to sell on Asos online which too was very successful And now I am designing a range of neckpieces to accompany the fashion line.

This London based accessories designer, fashion blogger, and style addict has come to my attention because of her amazing blog Girl Can’t Talk (content & design wise)! But then it got even better as we’ve realised there is more to Kathy than just blogging!

Her collection of handmade, avant garde fashion accessories are incredible. From feathers to real human hair they will turn any top or dress you have into a statement piece. Maybe not everyday wear (although why not?), with a price tag under £50 (the human hair one is even under £25) for lovingly, handmade accessories there is no excuse not to have at least one of those in your wardrobe.

Limited Edition – Coque Feather, Leather, Stud and Chain bib

Human Hair and Leather Strap Necklace

Coque feather collar

You can buy her pieces at Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/Kathycoleman

And make sure you check out her blog: girl-cant-talk.com

Another Facebook recommendation, this time by Emma from London a la Mode and as exciting as Minna from yesterday.

Charlotte Tailors launched her label this year in February and looking at her collection, we’ll be sticking around for the next one! Strong tailoring, bold silhouettes and sculptured shapes provide canvases for dashes of colour, textures and prints. Charlotte’s vision subtly emphasises the female form, juxtaposing androgynous tones with effortless elegance.

I love the way her Autumn/Winter 2010 collection is described on her site:

Trashy grannies, penguins, old soap operas, movies and the eccentric within provide fuel for the fire in this bold yet elegant collection.

You can lay your hands on these by checking out www.coggles.com or www.youngbritishdesigners.com where here collection will be sold in future (sadly, nothing there yet and www.youngbritishdesigners.com will have to launch first in September).

In the meantime make sure to check out her website and blog.

Here is another eco warrior we stumbled across. Actually it was through a status update on Facebook, posted by Nicola from Beautiful Soul, raving about her new lovely dress. I just love how social media is bringing people together and we’ve found some amazing, talented people through it. But back to the eco warrior!!

Minna Hepburn, a Finnish designer, launched her label in 2008. Inspired by her love for vintage clothing, each piece is hand embellished and made from sustainable, organic, recycled and locally produced textiles. Environmentally friendly production techniques including local manufacturing and zero waste pattern cutting techniques are used for every garment.  Minna is always looking into any new ways to minimise the impact to the environment.

Her classic collection is so feminine, cute and playful that you instantly fall in love. But a love that develops over time as you keep treasuring this beautifully crafted garment.

However, if this classic collection is a bit too sweet for you, Minna’s Autumn/Winter 10 is darker, sleek and sexy with still a hint of playfulness and my personal favourite!!

We are always on the look out of emerging, talented people and got all excited when an email from Anita Quansah London arrived. Checking our her collection which consists of eclectic, expressive one-off pieces we were blown away.

Her clothing and neckpieces fuse together timeless sophistication with great originality using recycled and vintage materials! Each piece is handmade in UK using vintage fabrics fused with reclaimed textiles, incorporating mixed metals, silver, gold, gunmetal and the introduction of colourful elements such as pearls, beads, rhinestones, ribbons and fringing giving the collection a sense of modernity with a hint of the past.

They are just amazing but let the products speak for themselves!!

All pieces within the collection are currently available for purchase at My Sugarland boutique in London, www.notjustalabel.com and www.shrimptoncouture.com (and hopefully at Emerging Fervour one day!!).

You can view more of Anita Quansah London designs on www.anitaquansah.com and www.flickr.com/photos/tags/anitaquansahlondon.