British Designers @ FashionCapital – Biography’s

   

AVSH ALOM GUR

Avsh Alom Gur is a London based fashion designer who graduated with a distinction from the MA fashion course at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. After receiving his MA, Gur was recruited to work for Donna Karan as an evening wear designer for its mainline womenswear collection. He has since also engaged in freelance consultancy projects for leading fashion houses such as Roberto Cavalli, Chloe and Nicole Farhi. His latest collaboration was as the Creative Director for one of the most British Iconic label, Ossie Clark, leading its revival.

Avsh Alom Gur turned his attention to his own fashion label, launched in 2005, to much acclaim and has successfully presented catwalk shows at London Fashion Week for the past eleven seasons. He received Top Shop and the British Fashion Council’s “New Generation Award” for up-and-coming designers for three seasons.

Avsh Alom Gur designs and creates unique collections that challenge glamour and established definitions of beauty. His designs combine Eastern and Western elements with urban street graffiti and underground grunge. Poverty and luxury blend in his designs including in his evening dresses, ponchos and twisted baby-dolls. Gur takes inspiration from ethnic arts and crafts, in particular the dress of the Bedouin tribes. With its generous use of fabric to create space between the garment and the body, Avsh Alom Gur garments often show the use of transparent hand-dyed and printed chiffons and delicate silks in harmony with rough tattered cottons. Garments, such as lavish wrap-arounds, also often incorporate exquisite jewelry such as hand-carved onyx and brass jewelry. These contrasts of fabric, texture and jewelry define collections of truly sophisticated creativity and unmistakable character that are both courageous and desirable.

BORA AKSU

BORA AKSU

London-based Turkish designer, Bora Aksu received his first acclaim when he graduated from the prestigious Central Saint Martins MA course in 2002. Quoted as “the star of the show” by broadsheets such as The Independent, The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian, Aksu’s collection attracted not just the press but Domenico Dolce and Stephano Gabbana who purchased pieces as inspirational items for themselves. This same collection also caught the attention of the ARG equation group where he won a sponsorship award from them, giving him the opportunity to make his debut off-schedule catwalk show at London Fashion Week, February 2003.

Once again, Aksu’s show received raving reviews and an impressive turnout. Suzy Menkes was in attendance and CNN introduced him as the rising new name. His show was also quoted as “one of the top five shows in London” by the Guardian. Aksu went on to received the Top Shop New Generation Award and was subsequently placed on the official London Fashion Week calendar for the following season. His Spring/Summer 04 collection drew inspiration from everyday objects such as stripy duvet covers, tea towels and granny underpants which he reworked into entirely new, feminine and wearable shapes. The collection created such a stir that it caught the attention of leading department stores including Liberty, Selfridges and Barneys.

Receiving the Top Shop New Generation Award for a second time, Aksu’s Autumn/Winter 04 collection entitled Disciples was a vision of nomadic but contemporary journey into fashion where he matched complex cutting with minimal seaming and juxtapose soft and stiff fabrics with delicate details.

For his Spring/Summer 05 Living Waters collection, Aksu was presented with the Top Shop New Generation Award for the third time. The 70s glamour inspired and romantic collection had Vogue quoting “The buzz around Top Shop-sponsored New Generation designer Bora Aksu is ever-growing and with this latest Biba-esque collection, it’s easy to see why. Multi-layered asymmetric chiffons in the season’s favourite mint flavour, lemon, oyster and orange floated effortlessly down the catwalk screaming ‘wear me and feel retro-fabulous’.”

With this collection, Aksu defined his style in London and Tori Amos bought up the entire collection for her Bee Keeper world tour.

With the support of a fourth Top Shop New Gen Award, Aksu presented his Autumn/Winter 05 Promised Land collection at London Fashion Week, prominently showing an accessories range on the catwalk.

Through the collaboration with the leading London contemporary dance company, the Cathy Marston Project, Aksu was inspired by the challenges he met with designing their costumes. Exploring the idea of movement, stage presence and maintenance of beauty, he channelled them as a theme for his Spring/Summer 07 show. Taking his collection further by collaborating with Converse, Aksu fused the everyday sneaker and its sporty elements with couture techniques to produce a collection that is fluid, casual, tailored, glamorous but nevertheless complex.

Working with the Artisan Armour group who produced items for epic films such as Troy, Alexander and King Arthur, Aksu finished his Autumn/Winter 07 collection with one-off leather and metallic sculptural body pieces.

With 10 shows under his belt, his collabrations and projects with various artists carries on. Bora also signed a contract with People Tree-Fair trade organization to design exclusive capsule collections to raise awareness on fair trade work shops.

 

EMMA COOK

 

 

 

GOAT

Ten years ago, the individual, understated luxury that designer Jane Lewis so craved to wear was nowhere to be found. And so, she decided to create her own. An eight-piece mini capsule collection later, and spurred on by such a resoundingly positive response from her friends, Goat was born.

Goat, so called because a few of those initial pieces were made from cashmere, was soon established as the go-to label for effortless chic. While the horn-buttoned cashmere cardigan became a Goat signature, the luxury woven pieces that now adorn everyone from Sienna Miller and Kirsten Dunst to Elle Macpherson and Gwyneth Paltrow have become equally synonymous with the brand.

Quintessentially quiet, Goat creates luxury stripped back to its absolute essence, using the very best materials and most subtle design details. Jane Lewis and her team pride themselves on always delivering the pieces you need right now.

A quiet glamour runs through Goat, from its mink collared sheepskin coat that looks as if it has stepped out of a 1950s couture salon to the more accessible Goat Library range which can boast the same fit and trimmings as the mainline collection.

‘The simplest things are the absolute hardest to achieve. To make luxury look this effortless is hard. We really look at every single detail,’  says Lewis. Little wonder then that Goat, a very British brand, is so firmly established with 50 stockists across the UK.

 

JEAN-PIERRE BRAGANZA

 

JEAN-PIERRE BRAGANZA

 Jean-Pierre Braganza represents a dark and unique aesthetic infused with the unexpected. Black, androgynous and sleek is the dominating look but unconventional colour, silhouette and detail make appearances that provide the potent edge that Braganza has become known for. He is obsessed with the shadowy corners of the imagination and the paradoxes within. Associated with a rock ‘n roll clientele, the brand remains uncompromisingly hard-edged with an ear to the London underground.

Jean-Pierre was born in London but grew up in Canada. He was always an Anglophile, and was influenced by British music such as The Smiths, The Expoited, Led Zeppelin and The Stone Roses as a teenager. He knew that he would someday return to London, and when he realized that fashion design was his calling he applied to Central Saint Martin’s College, knowing it’s reputation as the world’s best fashion college. He graduated in 2002.

Music plays a huge part in his inspiration; where others would name an individual as a muse, Jean-Pierre would name his favourite bands. A career highlight for Jean-Pierre was in 2008 when he was commissioned to create garments for the latest Nine Inch Nails video, with Trent Reznor being one of his heroes.

In fact, 2008 has been his most exciting year to date, starting with the Australian Wool Innovation-sponsored.

For Jean-Pierre the visual is connected to the intellectual, and his aesthetic is a language that speaks directly to his clients. While he references the sartorial, his detailing is completely modern, looking to dress and address a post-apocalyptic future. At the same time rigid and flowing, it is the sophisticated manipulation of shapes and fabrics into garments that are more than clothes but fragments of his soul.

His celebrity clients include The Kings of Leon, Joan Jett, Rufus Wainwright, Alison Goldfrapp, Placebo, Keith Richards, Nine Inch Nails and Estelle.

Le Ju Jewellery

 
 

LE JU JEWELLERY

LeJu has always sought to combine the best in contemporary jewellery design with sustainable components taken from nature, as well as ideas and manufacturing techniques garnered from South America fusing them with European fashion to create designs that are unique and full of colour.

Founded by Lenny Trines and Juan Munoz, LeJu is the inspiration of designer, Lenny Trines, who became inspired by nature’s elements to design jewellery whilst travelling through South America. During this time Lenny spent 8 weeks in the Amazonian rain forest, exploring and visiting different villages. It was here that Lenny discovered her true desire: to create jewellery using natural materials, and the colours, shapes and energy echoed in the rain forest.

Juan Munoz is the business side of LeJu and is responsible for the global management of the company. He works with LeJu’s ever-growing list of worldwide buyers, manages the accounts, and carefully selects which trade shows LeJu will participate in. Juan came to England in 1990, and earned a degree in Business Information Technology from the University of Westminster. He worked as a telecoms engineer for 4 years and then set off to rediscover his home continent of South America for in search for unique products that he could take back to Europe.

LeJu designs each collection in our London workshop. This allows us to maintain the highest standards in quality and ensure that each piece of jewellery remains a supreme example of craftsmanship.

LeJu is fast becoming a leader in ethical and sustainable jewellery world and their stylish designs are already garnering the attention of fashion editors, celebrities, and consumers who demand their accessories make a positive difference to the planet.

 

LOUISE AMSTRUP

 

Clare Hornsby left United in 2006 where she was a partner. She has held a variety of senior positions running retail accounts in top London ad agencies, following her first job at Harrods and a degree in retail marketing.  Clare is married, lives in London and has two children and three step-children.

PPQ

PPQ

In London, 1992, Amy Molyneaux and Percy Parker launched fashion label PPQ creating the inimitable style that continues to set the beat for London’s fashion drum today.

From the early days there were zeitgeist design moves; PPQ spearheaded the drainpipe jean revolution dressing music maker’s including Amy Winehouse and Peter Doherty. The label’s signature smocks and modern cocktail dresses soon became fashion insider staples. Fashion’s best kept secret inevitably rolled off tongues and on to London Fashion Week’s official show calendar to continued success.

Today, the design duo craft cutting-edge collections in strong shapes and bold prints incorporating elaborate fabrics in a spectrum of directional colours.

Loyal PPQ fans include some of today’s hottest style icons and artists including Kirsten Dunst, Sienna Miller, Rihanna, Lily Allen, Naomie Harris, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Daisy Lowe, Alexa Chung and Peaches Geldof.

Marrying music with style, PPQ also run a record label, 1-2-3-4 Records, launching acts including Whitey, The Bishops, The White Sport, Trafalgar, Objects and Cosmetique. 1-2-3-4 Records hosts an annual festival in Shoreditch, London, which fast became a UK summer festival highlight.

 

Emerging Designers

AKONG LONDON

 

JOLITA

 

 JOLITA JEWELLERY 

Jolita Jewellery – an independent jewellery label from London offers unique one-of-a-kind pieces for men and women. Based in Pimlico, London the company was established in summer 2008 by brother and sister (Algis Abromaitis and Jolita Abromaityte) and currently operates under their management.

Jolita Jewellery offers one-of-a-kind and limited edition pieces that are meticulously crafted with great focus on design. We value our customers’ desire of setting themselves apart hence only a handful of our designs are handcrafted in imited numbers. A mix of semi-precious and precious stones, Swarovski crystals, old coins, charms, cultured pearls, recycled and other materials incorporate a powerful message of individuality, strength and beauty.

All Jolita Jewellery pieces are designed and handmade in London. The designer’s passion for unique style and unusual composition is reflected in each piece where not one is the same as the other.

 Currently Jolita Jewellery offers 5 collections: Bijou Delux is a selection of bold statement necklaces and bracelets for women. Blue Bird Boho Chic is a range of romantic necklaces and lariats. Noir is a very feminine line, consisting of delicate necklaces, made on fine aged sterling silver and gold filled chains. Each piece is adorned with dinky charms found during countless trips to vintage markets. Gentlemen’s Club comprises of one-of-a-kind and limited edition pieces, made using both new and reclaimed components. Although these pieces are made for men, some of them can also be shared with a significant other

 HEMYCA

 

 

SAFFRON KNIGHT

Saffron is a devoted, dynamic fashionista who rejects all the tiresome trappings of the Diva. She thrives on the energy clash of harnessing two opposing world’s into a single concept.

Saffron has not only crafted a distinctive array of garments but she herself has also designed and had printed, to exacting standards the fabric used for each one. Saffron researched into her dual heritage of Jamaican and British culture to create the prints in this unique and exciting body of work.

She delved into the infamous ‘Dancehall culture’ of Jamaica’s music scene and also explored traditional dance themes, such as jazz, flamenco and ballroom to make a fascinating contrast.

Saffron has hand drawn all the prints before using CAD (Photoshop & Illustrator) to digitally transfer the prints to the fabric. She was keen to maintain the personal link between the artist’s hand drawn initial design and the resultant printed fabric.

The garments follow through with the fluidity of the ‘movement through dance’ theme of the fabric and the pairing result in an exceptional vision of tangible energy.

ZOE BOOMER

 

ZOE BOOMER

Northern Irish designer Zoe Boomer moved to London in 2002 to pursue her love of fashion and currently creates her collections from her studio in Putney. The Zoe Boomer label was launched in 2006, and has already gained a loyal following.

Zoe designs garments that she loves to wear, garments that can effortlessly transform from daytime chic to evening glamour. Using the best silks and silk-chiffons the brand manages to successfully manipulate fabrics to create clothing that combines romance, style, luxury and elegance.

A graduate of the London College of Fashion, Zoe is always looking for new and energising ways to approach the fashion industry.  She took her recent collection to the streets of London during the city’s prestigious fashion week and staged four guerrilla-style fashion shows at some of the city’s most celebrated locations, with the grand-finale taking place in the Turbine Hall at the famous Tate Modern.

With clients in the UK, Ireland, LA and Australia, demand for the brand is steadily increasing!

 

BE INSPIRED

 

SANDRA HUTTON-MILLER – BE INSPIRED

Sandra Hutton-Miller is an established interior designer who has tastefully refurbished a range of properties from offices to executive homes in London and throughout the UK.

More recently, she had a vision of synergising her love of interior design and natural aptitude for fashion, and in 2009 founded Be Inspired.

The vision for Be Inspired was to create a sophisticated, luxurious and stylish range of high end accessories for both men and women while building a brand that would become internationally synonymous with design, style and quality.

Sandra’s passion for design and fashion was influenced by the great tailoring and amazing fashion designs of the nineteen 30’s and 40’s together with the sheer elegance, beauty and sophistication of the Art Deco Movement.

Her natural creativity, drive and determination, enhanced by her innate sense of style, fun and love of music and dance will fuel the success of Be Inspired.

 

SEEMAS HEART & SOUL 

 

Hailing from Jaipur, Rajisthan, and raised in England, the jewellery and accessories designer channelled the beauty of her homeland with a series of delicately embroidered chiffon capelets, in an array of vibrant colours to rival an Indian sunset.

VJERA VILICNIK

VJERA VILICNIK

 The Croatian born, London-based designer, finds her inspiration in this wonderful and awkward city where dreams get twisted and come true. Educated in Italian school of design, Vjera complimented her experience with the prestigious French school of haute couture embroidery, Ecole Lesage, in Paris.

Her projects include work for Julia Smith, WGSN, Max Mara, Tom Ford, Abercrombie&Fitch, Meeting, Roksanda Ilincic and Basso&Brooke.

The unique combination of contemporary cut, unpredictable use of colour, and the dying art of hand couture embroidery makes her collections unique yet timeless.

Philosophy

Hand crafted, meticulously finished and soul stitched.

Using the skills of hand crafting each piece is made, and each is a personal dedication. Every piece has a story, and becomes a friend on the journey of its creation.

Vjera Vilicnik believes in quality over quantity, in hand crafting, and in being honest in her designs.

Each creation is meticulously finished, and there are no cracks, no hidden horrors – the label is fully committed to offering a unique and long lasting piece to its customers.

If she could choose who to dress it would be a quiet librarian, a woman from the park that feeds pigeons dressed in beautiful clothes, a woman who sings to her children and dances the night away to loud music.

Vjera Vilicnik loves making clothes. It is so simple – making them the best they can be done. A perfect day? A day with feathers, beads, crystals, threads.

 

Creation is what pushes the label forward – a constant quest for more beautiful, more intricate garments.

 

 

NINA BON BINA

Nina Bon Bina is a fresh and playful new brand. Our understated luxe philosphy is achieved by using rich ethnic inspired prints, laundered cottons and sumptuous silks with beautifully simple shapes and silouettes.Garments are sprinkled with pretty laces, embroideries and embellishments adding to each style’s charm and ensuring each piece becomes a wardrobe gem.

http://ninabonbina.bigcartel.com/

 

 

VENOM COUTURE

Each Vangil handbag is handcrafted with an intricately arranged combination of stone and beadwork.  Within the line, the styles vary and the handbags can be used across occasions with the ‘Agate pouch’ being ideal for adding that essential understated sparkle to one’s outfit for nights out or evening parties and the ‘Pearl clutch’ serving well for weddings and the more conservative events.  The ‘Moonstone pouch’ which for me was definitely an eye catcher, comfortably drops from the wrist and the unique detail which differentiates these bags to a lot of the other one’s out there is the wristlet. Formed of the same stones that are used on the handbag, the design allows for a bracelet like effect which adorns the wrist while the pouch dangles just beneath.  The bags really shimmer as they catch the light and they are certainly statement bags which combine fashionable practicality with attention to detail.

 

ISY & PEEPS

Isy & Peeps is an emerging fast fashion womenswear brand founded by womenswear buyer and designer Israel Imarni.

Israel Imarni’s (Isy) intuition for emerging trends , 12 years sourcing, fashion management and design experience coupled with Pierre Imarni’s (Peeps) immersion in youth culture through media and music provides the perfect duo to deliver. fast and affordable fashion.

 

JOLABY

Jolaby was established in 2004 by designer Jo Lackenby. With an innate sense of style, and a gift for turning the prosaic into something truly special, designing has always been a deep passion for Lackenby.

From a very young age, all she desired was to create exciting and inspiring clothing collections. After studying textiles at college and university, and graduating with an array of niche skills, particularly in embroidery, Lackenby started her avant-garde label, Jolaby.

Her first collection of beautifully crafted handmade leather handbags and accessories were available from Leeds’ prestigious Corn Exchange, and Jolaby soon earned a national reputation for quality and individuality.

After such a rapturous reception, Jolaby became available online, and soon Lackenby opened her own innovative boutique, Dare, in Huddersfield.

Also a gifted clothes designer, Lackenby began offering her collections of dresses, jackets and shawls in 2007 and received an incredible response from customers all over the UK.

“I wanted to create a collection that pushed the boundaries of fashion, creating unusual pieces that people would treasure forever,” says Lackenby.

“With this concept in mind, I founded my label, Jolaby, where all items are multi-wearable and transeasonal, only available in extremely limited numbers, and of the highest quality. Our customers tell us time and again how pleased they are that they found us.

“My designs offer people the chance to be a real individual. We love fashion, and we are proud to be different.”

 

CHRISTIAN BLANKEN

Christian Blanken is a UK based designer who was born in the Netherlands and grew up in the Far East and later the UK.

He graduated in 1990 with an MA (Honours) in Fashion Design from Central Saint Martins School of Art, having initially studied Art and Art History together with Fashion Design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Arnhem, The Netherlands.

After six years of honing his skills working in New York with a number of US based global brands, Christian returned to the UK in 1998 and has since worked with some of the most iconic and successful names in UK, Italian and European fashion. He is well regarded within the industry, not only for his creative skills, but his commercial instincts also.

In partnership with one of Europe’s largest clothing manufacturers, Christian re-established his own label for Fall/Winter 2008 with complete Mens and Womens collections.

A great deal of research goes into every collection and particular attention is paid to fabric research, tailoring, fit, trim and detailing, while the signature of both the Mens and Womenswear collections is a strong and defined silhouette, a linear, almost severe purity of line, a certain utilitarian quality within the detailing of garments, as well as a limited but sometimes intense use of colour.

Over the next few years our aim is to expand the collections in scope and breadth every season and, at the same time, attempt to stay true to an overriding philosophy of making impeccable, beautifully made, timeless pieces that can weather the cyclical and, sometimes, disposable nature of fashion and be enjoyed again and again.

 

 

LOUIS MARIETTE

Louis Mariette was born in Malawi, with Mauritian origins, grew up in Botswana and Swaziland where nature was his playground and would spend many an hour exploring endless species of flora and fauna with a passion for colour and sparkle. He would collect semi precious stones, seedpods, cactus flowers, and beads and trimmings from local tribes. He was mesmerised by bird feathers, such as an explosion of iridescent colours from a lilac breasted roller as it darted after prey. Louis also recognised the incredible palette of colours and textures to be found in beetles, butterflies and dragonflies – a dazzling assault on his senses. Such depths of curiosity and inspiration are brought to life through his designs today.

Louis’ talent, charisma and joie de vivre have captured the imagination of designers, photographers, stylists and creative directors. His creations are worn by an eclectic clientele and glamorous celebrities such as Jerry Hall, Alek Wek, Jodie Kidd, Sophie Dahl, Lisa Butcher and Isabell Kristensen.

Louis Mariette is also much in demand by leading companies such as the Platinum Guild, Harrods, Swarovski, Boucheron, Links, Air Partner Learjets, Jaguar, The Dorchester and Cliveden House. He has been awarded by the Tanzanite Foundation for his accessories.

 

S M WALKER

Stephanie Macdonald-Walker is the Designer maker and creator of SMWalker

From graduating University in 2010, Stephanie went on to exhibit her work at The New Designer’s Exhibition in London, where she became a Licentiate member of the ‘Society of Designer Craftsmen’ for her unique craftsmanship when working with Leather.
From this Stephanie then went onto exhibit her work at the ‘Candid Arts Gallery’ in Islington to where she exhibited a collection of Hand manipulated Leather clutch bags.

Stephanie had much publicity from online magazines such as ‘www.yshlondon.co.uk who did an article on Stephanie and commented ‘definitely proved to be an ingenious use of bespoke leather’

In 2011 SMWalker will be showcasing one of the leather collars at the Stainless gallery in New Delhi, India.  
The A/W collection will be showcased at the Rising stars of 2011 exhibition, held at the New Ashgate Gallery in Surrey from 8th April-May.

The leather collars are also on loan at the Eco luxe show during London Fashion week.

SMWalker’s future plans are to design and create more wearable abstract neck pieces followed by unique seasonal collections of clutch bags and purses.

 

PETER TWISS

Peter Twiss is a Brighton based designer who spent much of his childhood in Assam, North East India.

Peter draws on inspirations from his childhood roots which are reflected in his collections and provides him with his unique signature style.

Having had tailored clothing made for him as a child in India, Peter decided that the fashion industry was his true calling. He has studied at Central St Martins and the Surrey Institute of Art and Design and gained work experience with Betty Jackson and Sarah Arnett and as a freelance designer for various London Boutiques before setting up his own label.

Peter’s love of his homeland in North East India is clear, not only through the influence it has on his designs but also though his charity work. He has helped raise fund to improve education and medical facilities along with bringing water and electricity supplied to a small rural village in Nagaland. He returns to Nagaland a year where he has a studio and manufacturing base.

Peter explains how his homeland inspires his collection “I find it so much easier to be creative and realise silhouette’s when I get out of the zone of the developed world and closer to nature.”

 

 

PLUS…

 

LALL LONDON

 

 STEFANIE ENGLAND

 

BELLES OF LONDON

 

CECI

 

JAN KNIBBS

 

CLOTH MAGPIE

 

MILO & SAINT

 

FIFI VENUS

 

EMMA EWER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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CONTACT

British Designers@FashionCapital – 14/15 Milsom Place – Bath – BA1 1BZ.

Tel:      01225 489 009

 http://www.milsomplace.co.uk/shopping.php