Afropolitans - Friday Late V&A event

On last Friday of June I had a pleasure to participate in another of monthly event organised by V&A museum. This time it was an evening exploring African photography, fashion, style and identity in celebration of the exhibition Figures & Fictions: Contemporary South African Photography.  This event looked back to image-makers who captured the excitement, optimism and sense of freedom of post-independence African nations from the 1960s, and forward to a new generation of Afropolitans, global tastemakers whose sensibilities are rooted in their African identities. 

AS there were a lot of workshops and installations going on at the same time and plenty of people wanted to see them, after a long wait I managed to get to see a fashion show - The Rise of African Fashion.

Minna Salami (Founder of MsAfropolitan), assisted by creative director Ola Shobowale, presented a special, for one night only fashion show. We experienced the rise of an Afropolitan fashion aesthetic with outfits specially styled for the evening by top African designers such as Duro Olowu, Tiffany Amber, Jewel by Lisa, KemKem Studio, Eki Orleans and many more. Accompanied by a Kora instrumental by Jally Kebba Susso.

Audience 

Designers 

Here are my favourite pieces from the show:

Stunning dress

Gorgeous inspired by 20s outfit

  

Amazing pattern and colours of the dress

Brilliant hat

Great colourful and vibrant collections definitely show the rise of an African Fashion aesthetics. Congratulations!!!   

Inside Hussein Chalayan studio

It was a quiet day in the Hussein Chalayan studio, the place I am currently spending my summer assisting. So I decided to take some cheeky pictures for all those nosey people!

This seasons collections is coming together well, with a great team putting it all together!

Check it out at this years Paris Fashion week as well as previous collections on thier website:

www.husseinchalayan.com

It's not the biggest studio but it's certainly an energetic environment to work in.

Apart from when these pictures were taken.

Vice Magazine - Forgotten Sneaker Brands

Currently I am working in a design house in Old st. Only to find that a fashaion magazine, Vice, is situated in the building next so me. Being curious about the style and content of their magazine I decided to do a bit of research online.

Now I am thinking ....... why haven't I discovered this magazine before!

It's a randomm mix of everything with a strenuous link of 'fashion' keeping everyhting running together.

Favorite article in particluar is about forgotten sneaker brands. Click on the link to take you there:

http://vicestyle.com/en/news/today/post/forgotten-sneaker-brands

HPR Autumn/Winter 2011 Soho press event.

One of Londons biggest fashion PR companies, HPR London, launched thier clients new A/W 2011 collections at their HQ last week in Soho.

Above and below are some scene pictures from the event. Their clients collections consisted of names like Paul and Joe, Beautiful Bottoms and Liz black, beautiful arranged and displayed in their viewing room.

We were allowed full access to handling and photographing the pieces, below are some of may favourite pieces. Personally I have a strong love for fashion print so here are a few items and new design encounters I discovered at HPR press launch.

Eugene.Lin is the designer of the two garments below. The print that has been used is absolutely   stunning, my camera did not do it justice! Digitally printed, using inspiration from texture then manipulted into a degrade. This is a fantastic example of two differnt techniques and styles in printing have been merged through the use of digital printing technology.

www.eugene-lin.com

Paul and Joe are also of HPR client list, launching a fantastic range for this coming winter. With nordic inspired knitwear to fur lined hoods. Check out their website for more details : www.paulandjoe.com

However this print below is some beautifully simple it just to feature on my blog. I have always been a sucker for butterflies and this block print would have certainly been a keeper.

Liz Black was a new designer, personally, for me to come across. I know my blogging partner, Magda, has recently styled with her clothes. But it was a first for me to come up close and personal with the garments. Main fabric used was neo-prime, with hand painted print surface decoration. Potential inspiration, Jackson Pollock? I loved the technique as neo-prime is rarely used with any form of printing, but please check out the website for her latest look book:

www.lizblacknet

Of course there were many other fantastic designers there so I have a list of my personal favourites who's website you should certainly visit:

www.nougatlondon.co.uk

www.beautifulbottoms.co.uk

www.nakkna.com

www.ambersakai.com

www.hprlondon.com

New designs of Liz Black at H.PR London press day

Last week I went to see some more of amazing pieces, presented by great H.PR London at their Christmas press day. Once I got the invitation I couldn't wait to see more pieces of my favourite collection of Liz Black. 

Here they are:

long shirt (cotton, silk organza)

panda dress (neoprene)

 Fabulous circle bow dress (neoprene)

two pieces dress abstract print

 cups coat (sensuede) 

For those who are not yet familiar with amazing Liz Black some information underneath:

Liz Black is a celebrated graduate of the acclaimed Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design in London.  Her degree collection, “Arty Society”, featuring geometric and circular shapes inspired by the Orphist artist Sonia Delaunay and beautiful prints inspired by the work of abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock, was selected to open the College Show, and was presented at the BA Press Show to rave reviews, receiving great press coverage from both print and online publications such as F.Tape, Pop Magazine, Fashionista, H Magazine, the BBC and many others.

Liz has been described by Vogue Italia as "a designer to watch out for"; by Fashion156 as the author's "personal womenswear highlight"; and by Amelia's Magazine as "inventive".  She also won Ysh London's "Best in Show" competition and AKDK's e-Creative "Best Emerging Fashion Designer" award in 2010.

Having gained significant experience of the London and New York fashion scenes with Emilio de la Morena, Diane von Furstenberg and Elisa Palomino, Liz decided to create her own label in 2010.  Her first ready-to-wear collection is for Autumn/Winter 2011/12.

The Liz Black woman is sophisticated and cosmopolitan.  She is a daring yet elegant dresser; an intellectual and empowered woman, with a busy lifestyle who demands innovative designs of the highest quality.

The Liz Black label reflects conceptual creativity and a focus on wearable statement pieces with timeless appeal; a minimalist and elegant aesthetic with an emphasis on structural shapes; impeccably tailored and chic pieces that complement the feminine silhouette for the modern fashionista.

There are some more outfits from Liz Black a/w 2011 look book

1.Circle bodysuit, 2.Bodysuit with belt, 3.Coat with belt

 4.Suit jacket with belt, suit trousers, 5.Bubble skirt attached to front circle dress, 6.Little Black Dress, 7.Bubble dress attached to high neck dress

8.Little white dress, 9.Half moon dress, 10. Circle bow dress, 11.Bow dress

12.Cups coat, 13.Long amazon dress, 14.Fitted shirt, trousers, 15. Mini amazon dress

 16. Long skirt, circle - knee trousers, 17. Front circle top, side circles skirt,

18.Waistcoat, shorts, arm warmers, 19. Hooded coat

www.lizblack.net