LCF BA(hons) Fashion Design Technology Womenswear by Fanni Varga.
London College of Fashion took over Shoreditch this week to present their graduating collections for 2015. The former Nicholls and Clarke Building has been commandeered (until tomorrow) and for the first time all graduates from LCF are showcasing their work together.
Monday night saw the top twenty graduating fashion design students present their work at a lavish catwalk show. I only know it was lavish because I saw it being streamed at the George & Dragon boozer an hour or so later; I couldn’t get in the actual venue because it was massively oversubscribed. Amelia, toting visible pregnant belly, managed to score a seat inside, but I settled for a prime spot just outside the entrance and photographed the models as they emerged in groups from a purpose built marquee. It had all the glamour of a school sports day, but you can’t beat early evening summer light for pictures and there was much less of a scrum.
As per usual, the standard was exceptionally high, but I’ve picked a few of my favourites:
Natalie Ballout
Natalie Ballout opened the show with an army of peace sign-touting models. Netting, knitwear and rope made up these complex creations with punk influences.
All photography by Matt Bramford
Oilam (Louisa) Pang
Oilam (Louisa) Pang was first up representing menswear. Traditional tailoring was mixed with sportwear influences in a polished collection that wouldn’t look out of place at this weekend’s upcoming London Collections: Men showcase.
Chunyin Marc Mok
Chunyin’s sculptural pieces looked 2D with paper-like fabrics constructed in intriuging, non-conformist shapes, but it will be his futuristic foam footwear that his graduating collection will be remembered for:
Isobel R. Cook, Giverney Volrath and Jay Biscarra
Isobel R. Cook and Jay Biscarra’s collections were shown together, I assume, because they were strikingly similar in inspiration and reference. With hints of tribal designs and an exotic jungle palette, both men and women wore laser cut armour-like creations and thick wool coats. Giverney Volrath produced the striking laser-cut embellishments.
Fanni Varga
Distressed fabrics and obscure seams in unusual places made Fanni Varga’s collection ethereal and futuristic – a theme that ran through many of the graduate’s work.
Jinwoong Bang
One of my favourite menswear collection’s was by Jinwoong Bang. White in colour with lots of sportswear influences, the collection was incredibly slick. Burst of orange, including sports stripes and cropped jackets, made the collection cohesive.
Kenji Lau
Kenji Lau continued the warrior and protest theme initiated by Natalie Ballout’s show opener. Models with Middle Eastern headwear covering eyes carried enormous flags, with textiles by Angela Domale. Garments were heavy, covering the models’ bodies, and featured unfinished edges and many tassles.
Marianne Tse-Laurence
Marianne Tse-Laurence’s menswear was in stark contrast to the aforementioned collections for gents. Arctic explorer types wore furs and thick overcoats in cold winter colours, teamed with long frayed skirts.
Geneviève Pinette and Lisaveta Haponenka
A welcome relief from the dark, heavier collections – Geneviève Pinette’s future disco attire was a firm favourite. Vibrantly coloured dresses had rigid inserts that toyed with the models’ silhouettes; dark tights had haphazard attachments and metallic strips with textiles by Lisaveta Haponenka.
Dan He
The penultimate collection in the show, Dan He’s was a real stand-out. Exaggerated silhouettes, including bell-shaped skirts, oversized circular jackets and wide-legged trousers, all appeared in the same cream/peach tone. Jordan Byron Britton’s millinery topped off the collection perfectly.
Catherine Wang and Camila Lopes
Closing the show, Catherine Wang presented striking hand-painted (I think) dresses in various shapes. Shoestring straps held them up as they draped down models and tied the dresses in different places, creating dreamy, swirling shapes with textiles by Camila Lopes.
The exhibition runs until tomorrow – more details here.
Categories ,Blossom Street, ,Catherine Wang, ,catwalk, ,Chunyin Marc Mok, ,Dan He, ,Fanni Varga, ,fashion, ,Geneviève Pinette, ,graduate, ,Isobel R. Cook, ,Jay Biscarra, ,Jinwoong Bang, ,knitwear, ,LCFBA15, ,london, ,London College of Fashion, ,Maria Giannakopoulou, ,Marianne Tse-Laurence, ,menswear, ,Natalie Ballout, ,Oilam (Louisa) Pang, ,review, ,shoreditch, ,Womenswear
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