Emerging Fervour

It has definitely been far too long since I posted an update on how I’m getting on at ESMOD. Things have been going really good actually and after some much needed sleep and the completion of a pattern-making project, I can let you guys know what I’m working on right now.

For the past week, I have been working on a project for my design class where I have to create a collection comprising of around 35 products for SS11. We had to choose an inspirational designer and choose a theme and base our collection on the chosen theme keeping the spirit of the designer in mind. Seeing as I’m presenting at the end of next week, I will divulge more information around then – ahhh waiting is half the fun! But I can tell you that the chosen designer is someone that I have written about on here more than 3 times – the theme might be obvious to some based on these sketches…

I recently came across emerging designer, Flik Hall and instantaneously fell in love with her designs. Her SS11 Collection instantly caught my eye, and seeing as we’re almost coming into summer now – take a look at her SS11 collection titled Mannequin Parade.

Australian designer Kelly Love is the brains behind her label ‘Kelly Love, obviously, which was created to pay tribute to feminism, old world glamour and love in the purest form.

From Japan to London, Kelly has worked pretty hard to get to where she is now. The lucky lady had work placements with Akira Isogawa, Charlie Brown and Fleur Wood and also worked for the Baccini and Hill label after her studies.

Kelly has been based in London since 2008…REPRESENTING!!!

AW2011 – Song of the Rainbird is a collection of 60′s inspired pieces linking muses of fallen rock stars and beautiful birds in cages.

You can’t make out the beautiful colour palette in these shots that Kelly sent us but the gorgeous palette sees French navy, black, white and dusky grey with details of dark fuchsia and olive. Loving this collection, sexy is always good!

www.kellylove.com

At just 21, the Australian designer, Elliot Ward-Fear has gained some amazing attention after he showcased works from his graduating collection as part of the Powerhouse Museum’s Young Designers Exhibition 2010 and as an industry award winner both domestically and internationally.

His collection AW 2011 shots feature a theme incorporating our much-loved 60′s – I love the ‘bob’ hairdo below… this collection definitely shows a softer side to his signature sharp style.

Fabric choices include luxurious boiled wool, duchess satin, and, to add an edgier reflection, a shiny PVC. Colour scale is delicious with icy lavendars and pinks mixing with carmel and cream tones…. Macaroons anyone?

Creamy dreamy curves ↘

Peekaboo faux-fur jumpsuit ↘

↖ These colours work so well… the colour palette is genius ↘

School-girl pleating ↘

Elliot’s accessories have been featured in local editorials, and items from his latest collection are likely to follow at the rate things are going.

www.elliotwardfear.com

Imagine you’re an emerging designer, working hard to get your name out there…showcasing products that you’ve worked hard on…then imagine a big conglomerate stealing one of your ideas and passing it off as their own. You’d be pretty pissed right? Even I’m pissed off… I can’t imagine how this designer feels…

She Draws designed a telephone necklace…check it out…

And now look at a copy that Claire’s Accessories have ‘designed’ and are selling for a mere £2.

Of this blatant theft, She Draws says ‘My feelings were very mixed since it is a completely direct design copy which features my very own hand writing. I promptly went to the store this afternoon and purchased the necklace (which happened to be in the sale for a mere £2 to add as insult to injury!) to get a better idea of what has gone on.

So something is happening in Lebanon if you haven’t heard. Currently, we have no government and it’s all going to shit at the moment. There have been a few incidences with different civil groups following the collapse of the Government, which have meant road closures and seeing masked men with guns running around. Surprisingly, I’m not that frightened because I know as with most things that happen in Lebanon – it will blow over and things will be back to some sort of normality sooner or later.

Before the Christmas break, the first years had an exam focusing on creating a pleated straight skirt with a buttoning tab. It sounds pretty easy right? Hmmm, it actually took us around 2 weeks to complete. Here are the 3 main steps…

1. Work the fabric on the dummy

2. Cut the fabric and create patterns

3. Cut the final material from the patterns (9 pieces all together) and add buttons and add button holes

Here is a shot of me and some of the girls with our skirts….

A picture says a thousand words…so here is Mandy Wu from Singapore…loving these pieces.

You can check out her site at www.mandywu.com

Born and bred in Perthshire, Scotland, designer Zoe Watt studied Fashion at the University of Middlesex before embarking upon a Masters degree at Central St. Martins, London.

As with most of our designers that we feature on Emerging Fervour, Zoe Watt is rarely influenced by passing trends, and she combines the simple lines and forms found in geometry with everyday garments. I love how quirky Brass’ fabric choices are – things that you wouldn’t think match go surprisingly well together, which goes to show what a fantastic designer Watt is.

www.brasslabel.com

German-born Erika Hendrix has always had an interest in design. Initially interning at an interior design firm, Erika began designing and sewing shirts for her creative outlet. In 2005, she decided to create her own fashion label in order to sell her shirts across stores around Germany. Since then the label has expanded to accessories, jewellery, dresses, skirts and shorts – which are all handmade by Erika.

Earlier this year in May, Erika Hendrix decided to reinvent herself with her new label, Asuyeta – meaning ‘chosen’. This new direction came to her while learning about her Cherokee roots. She was mostly fascinated by the history, culture, clothes and of course their language, which you can see in her latest collection.

www.asuyeta.com

Mint Siren is a London-based luxury lingerie brand, designed and created by Swedish designer Josefine Wing. Swedish design is so hot as it’s always so different – and it shows with Wing who is taking lingerie onto another level. Check out the latest collection – unfortunately it’s too late to get your Christmas orders in now as deadline was the 15th December but if you’re happy to wait for this then get your orders in now!

There’s an interview from Fashion Zest with Josefine – to read the rest of the interview check out www.fashionzest.com

On how Josefine got into fahsion design…

“I was interested in making clothing from an early age. With a grandmother who had been a dressmaker and and aunt who was an arts and crafts teacher I was introduced to making clothing when quite young. I would make my own little creations and even sell some to friends at school. However, it took me until I was 22, when creating a small clothing label with a friend in America, to realized that it was something I would like to do for a living. I returned to Europe and enrolled at fashion design school in 2002.”