Emerging Fervour

I’ve mentioned Sisi Mizi on a few occasions but as I’ve bumped into them again at Blickfang a couple of weeks ago and as I’m now the proud owner of a second pair of their fabulous trousers, I just have to share my love for Sisi Mizi! It all happened last year in Hamburg, when I stumbled across their shop and one quick glance and I was head over heels in love!

Me with the lovely Vanessa at Blickfang wearing a jumpsuit from the current collection, I ♥

Sisi Mizi was founded in 2008 by Vanessa Henning in Hamburg for the urban women. It’s spot on! With a name like ‘Hosen für Heldinnen’ (Trousers for heroine’s), they are urban, cool and comfortable. They are nothing like I’ve known before and I want to live in them… I am actually doing that as we’ve become inseparable…

Thatcher by Alisse Thatcher is a beautiful RTW collection, which includes seamless dresses, skirts, leggings, tops, sweaters and shapewear. Alisse has always described her style as innovative and strives to create something distinct – to design from a new angle whilst creating something useful as you can see in the shots below taken from her latest collection.

With almost 10 years of industry experience, Alisse decided to launch the Thatcher collection – which isn’t based on trend, but rather on instinct, colour and the female silhouette. Each season brings in new shapes, rich colour palettes and architectural inspired techniques.

Check out these pieces from the Thatcher collection…

www.thatcherbyalissethatcher.com

The C’est Jol! AW collection of necklaces and cuffs, by designer Alison Dawson is absolutely beautiful. Based in Toronto, Canada – Alison explores the sculptural and aesthetic qualities in materials such as cords, piping and tapes, which provide the basis for her concept and design inspiration.

Check out a couple of pieces from her latest collection.

Oooooooh these are so up my street. All pieces come with 18kt gold accents…they are just oozing sumptuousness.

For more info on products, check out the C’est Jol! site www.cestjoli.com

How truly British does this label sound? Created by 2 friends who started collaborating after meeting in their final year of fashion design at the University of Central England in 2005, Matthew Cunnington and John Sanderson show us a twist to the classic British style – and to the black dress.

Check out this collection – Mourning Weeds

Since Graduation Matthew has gone onto complete the M.A. Fashion Design and Enterprise course at the University of Westminster, London. John has gained valuable experience working with two leading Fashion Designers in London.

Cunnington & Sanderson’s signature style is using a lot of experimental draping, folding and cutting. Fabric is used as a medium to sculpt onto the body…something that we’re learning how to do right now at ESMOD.

Check out the rest of the collection on the website www.cunningtonandsanderson.com

I came across designer Lucy Jay a few days ago, and just had to write about her amazing silk scarves, which she creates from her South-East London-based studio.

Following the debut collection that was launched in April, the bold and bright silk jersey scarves in the range take a more grown up and assertive approach as personal inspirations are combined with a rich and intricate aesthetic. Check out some of her amazing prints…

Amy Scarf

Adam Scarf

To see the rest of her collection or to shop go to www.lucy-jay.com

A couple years ago while interning for a boutique retailer, I came across Rebekah Price, a fabulous jewellery designer. I remember the day – Rebekah came in to our store to show her latest pieces to all the staff. We were able to play dress-up with all the magnificent necklaces, bracelets and earrings. I only wished I could have had some of them in my own jewellery box.

Rebekah Price not only shares my name but she also lives and designs in Toronto, Canada. After studying at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology, Rebekah developed her own fashion philosophy that comes across in her designs – “Feel beautiful anytime – from carpool to runway – and all the time – and never feel restricted by ‘time and place’”. I love this idea of adding something extra to your everyday style and not needing to wait for those special occasions.

Mjölk was created by menswear designer and Denmark Designskole (DKDS) graduate Lars Stoten. Recenty the label has gone from strength to strength, mainly due to the move from Melbourne to New York, not to mention the fabulous designs.

Of the SS11 collection below, Stoten has balanced this collection with vibrant shades coupled with romantic patterns. The cuts are fitted with some boxy cuts and oversized pieces that make this collection a pretty distinctive one. Not only are the clothes beautifully designed, but the footwear is the icing on the cake with a series of hand-cobbled Italian made footwear.

Photography by Russ and Reyn. To find out more, check out the website for more details www.mjolkhomme.com

Yesterday I went to Lara Khoury’s SS11 collection showcase Grow on you and opening of her boutique in Beirut’s Rue Gouraud, Gemmayze (opposite Le Chef restaurant). A beautiful location and with candles and soft lights scattered around the room the mood of the night was just perfect – just as I expected.

Her SS11 collection draws inspiration from French sculptor Arman, the sculptural gesture of accumulation is at the center of the collection. She also showcased some beautiful pieces of jewelry which was a collaboration with Malaika Najem – no shots of these but take my word for it!

Some images from last night, taken by my fellow ESMOD partner in crime – Jad Khalil…

Lara and I…

www.larakhoury.com

A couple of weeks back I wrote about my first experiences at ESMOD and regretfully posted that awful figurine sketch – which I’m now completely ashamed of! My sketches have now progressed a little further and they now look less like action figures and more like figurines;)

I handed in my first project yesterday for my Modelism (pattern-making) class. It was for a skirt which we had to de-stitch and reconstruct again. I bought it for about £5 from a thrift store – I couldn’t trust myself with one of my own!

Here it is before…

The deconstruction phase…

Showing you the finished skirt would bring great shame on my future label haha! Besides I didn’t manage to take any after shots, but in this case saying my dog ate my homework would be an understatement but this is what I’m here for, to make mistakes and learn from them!

I love looking at shoes, all types of shoes, but having the courage to wear such eccentric creations on my feet is another story. Check out this fabulous footwear designer Snezana Krejic, hailing from Bosnia and Herzegovina (ex Yugoslavia).

After graduating from the Polytechnic College in Belgrade with a degree in the design of leather products. Focusing on hat design at first, she gradually progressed onto footwear design after working in a footwear factory in Bosnia. It seems that this is her true calling as you can clearly see.

Check these wicked pieces from Krejic’s collection!

Another favourite footwear designer of ours is Tetsuya Uenobe – check out our post on him and also an interview we had with Uenobe.

You can check out the rest of the collection at www.krejic.com