GFW 09 – Birmingham University
09-06-2009
Judy Zhang opened the show with her futuristic looks, that included an entirely white collection with silver accents that used technical fabrics to incorporate, mini lights into the garments, to me, aside from good fashion, this is what GFW is about, experimentation and showing off what you can do and for me this collection did just that. Students often shy away from technical fabrics, as they are not seen as 'cool', but actually it levels the playing field and shows that you can think outside the box.

On which note, Jaime Russon also deserves a mention for a collection that gave 'travelling' a new meaning. This collection showed plenty of see through items that incorporated pouches filled with other belongings and clothing. It was a clever concept and the storage sections, subsequently created interesting silhouettes as they added shape and dimension. On the more commercial side there was a chic little, plastic mac, that I would quite happily wear..

There were several other sports luxe collections, Stacey Haynes and Mink Halstead both produced sports influenced looks, with slouchy tailoring, soft drapery and body con combinations.
.jpg)
But the one everyone left talking about was definitely Marios Antoniou. It has been really hard to find brilliant menswear this week, but even a mens designer friend of mine, was impressed! There were gorgeous felt wool coats with excellently executed, quilted panels, chic tailoring and a pair of trousers with the most awesome pleat detail that covered the whole of the inside leg. In brown tones and peach accents this was a brilliant menswear collection, new, creative and cool, something very hard to do!

Words: Rivkie Baum
Photography by Gabriel Coreuera Zubillaga







