As the fashion pack descend on the capital, we go behind the scenes of London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2014 with Caroline Rush, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council, and designer J JS Lee
ith a show schedule boasting more than 70 designers, London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2014
original to bring to LFW each season, which is what has established London as a leading global fashion capital,” said Ms Rush. “Each season from the moment London
promises to be one of the biggest and most star-studded yet. Showcasing some of the world’s most exciting design talent, it will hold 58 catwalk shows and 18 presentations in just fi ve days - between Friday 14th
– Tuesday 18th
February 2014. With £100 million worth of estimated
orders placed during London Fashion Week (LFW) each season, more than 5,000 visitors – including buyers, TV crews, journalists and photographers – are also expected. So what’s all the excitement about? “London is internationally renowned as a
creative capital and global style destination,” said Caroline Rush, CEO of the British Fashion Council (BFC). “T e unique combination of emerging stars, established designers and international brands that show and base their businesses here sets the city apart as a leading fashion capital. “London’s outstanding creative colleges
including Central St Martins and the Royal College of Art play key roles in nurturing and developing emerging talent. T is, coupled with ongoing designer support in the early stages of their business, allows designers in London to transform creativity into commercial success,” she added. Cementing the capital’s stellar reputation as a global leader of innovation and creativity, the show schedule mixes leading new labels with some of the biggest names in fashion. Established designers Anya Hindmarch, Burberry, L’Wren Scott, Paul Smith, Tom Ford and Vivienne Westwood will all return this season, in addition to hotly anticipated collections by Christopher Kane, Erdem, Jonathan Saunders, Marios Schwab, Mary Katrantzou, Meadham Kirchhoff and Richard Nicoll. A/W14 will also see the return of Mother of Pearl and Joseph celebrate its 25th anniversary with a presentation on the LFW schedule. “All of the designers on the schedule, from the emerging to the established, have something
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Fashion Week opens the daily events take over, providing daily highlights - however the collections are the real highlights,” she added. One such schedule favourite is London-based designer and former Central Saint Martins student J JS Lee, who has become a popular LFW regular thanks to her chic, modernist tailoring. Returning to the line up for A/W14, Jackie Lee said: “London is so focused on young talent and presents very exciting creative challenges, it supports and showcases young emerging designers and I feel London is the best city to see what is fresh and new. “T ere aren’t the same opportunities available that London off ers [in Paris and New York]; I feel London doesn’t hesitate to support new talented designers.” Giving a hint of what to expect from her
show on the fi rst day of this season’s schedule, she added: “I had a very instinctive feeling for A/W14, I wanted to go camping and felt inspired by nature, I had a longing although never did it, to retreat to a cabin in a beautiful forest with my dog and be inspired within my own world and sanctuary to get spiritual healing and inspiration.” In addition to the packed show schedule,
more than 100 designers will also be showing their collections in the Designer Showrooms at Somerset House, the offi cial venue for London Fashion Week, and in showrooms around the capital. Somerset House will also exhibit the best of British accessories, jewellery and shoes, including the BFC’s jewellery initiative, Rock Vault, and millinery showcase, Headonism, in its East and South Wings. While the West Wing will house collections by the NEWGEN and Fashion Forward winners and the sustainable fashion Estethica showcase. With its strong reputation internationally as a launch pad for young talent, the BFC’s landmark scheme NEWGEN - which off ers designers fi nancial support and opportunities to present their A/W14 collections at LFW
London’s Calling W
– will be another key draw for editors and buyers. Previous NEWGEN winners include Alexander McQueen, Erdem, Roksanda Ilincic and Jonathan Saunders. “T e British Fashion Council provides the
strongest talent identifi cation and support schemes in the world,” said Caroline Rush. “T ese schemes off er business and mentoring support as well as, in many cases, showcasing opportunities both here in the UK and overseas.” Sarah Mower MBE, BFC Ambassador for Emerging Talent and chair of the NEWGEN selection committee, added: “For the NEWGEN committee, it’s endlessly rewarding and thrilling to be able to see the trajectory of growth of our NEWGEN designers, from maybe occupying one rail as newcomers to selling to the world. Everyone who enters NEWGEN knows this scheme, with all its unique benefi ts, can set them on the same road as Christopher Kane, Nicholas Kirkwood, Mary Katrantzou or J.W. Anderson - in other words, to be top names in international fashion.”
London Fashion Week A/W14 will run from Friday 14th February – Tuesday 18th February 2014 at Somerset House. For catwalk schedules and more information visit
www.londonfashionweek.co.uk
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