Amelia’s Magazine | Min Wu: Ones to Watch S/S 2015 London Fashion Week Preview

Min Wu by Karolina Burdon
Min Wu A/W 2014 by Karolina Burdon.

I’ve been keeping an eye on Chinese born London College of Fashion alumni Min Wu for some seasons now, ever since I picked out her work at the 2013 LCF MA graduate show, held at the illustrious Royal Opera House. She’s already done a few presentations with Fashion Scout but this season she will be on the catwalk as one of Fashion Scout’s Ones to Watch. I caught up with her for a quick sneak preview of what to expect this season.

Min Wu AW 2014
Min Wu A/W 2014.

What or who are the biggest influences on your approach to fashion?
My approach has developed with my life experience, alongside the article that I have read or the exhibitions that I have been. I like to keep moving forward.

Where do you get inspiration for your subtle colour combinations from?
I get inspired by photographs and paintings, then use drawings to translate my ideas into my own language. I try many different combinations until I find the best one.


Min Wu S/S 2015 preview
Min Wu S/S 2015 preview
Min Wu S/S 2015 preview.

What can we expect from your new season collection?
I used some light jelly fabric which kind of looks yummy.


You are adept with merging the high tech with the traditional, have you ever encountered any issues with this approach?
Issues aways appears when you try to do something interesting, but up until now I have handled it well. Both high tech and traditional techniques come at a high cost, but I have been trying very hard to work this out.


You’ve been presenting at LFW for a few seasons now, what have you learnt over that period?
Definitely, it is such a precious experience to work with a team members, and I am constantly learning about how to catch the attention of press and also make buyers and customers happy. I am still learning.

Categories ,Chinese, ,Fashion Scout, ,Karolina Burdon, ,London College of Fashion, ,Min Wu, ,Ones To Watch, ,Royal Opera House

Similar Posts:






Amelia’s Magazine | LCF MA Fashion Show 2013, Menswear: London Fashion Week Catwalk Review

LCF MA Na Di AW2013 by Jane Young
Na Di by Jane Young.

It says something about the current climate that four of ten designers at the much lauded LCF MA showcase at the Royal Opera House were showing menswear. In honour of this I’ve decided to split my review appropriately in two. First up, the menswear:

LCF MA Na Di fashion AW 2013-0038
LCF MA Na Di fashion AW 2013-0038
LCF MA Na Di fashion AW 2013-0038
LCF MA Na Di fashion AW 2013-0038
Na Di toyed with our current obsession for all things 90s, applying garish clashing prints to boxy single breasted jackets and matching crop trousers. High peaked baseball caps complimented the theme in a collection bound to have the menswear stylists salivating.

LCF MA octo cheung fashion AW 2013-0102
LCF MA octo cheung fashion AW 2013-0102
For Octo Cheung knitwear was the predominant obsession, with relaxed multi hued jumpers worn over shirts and cravats. This was accessorised with interesting eyewear, fit for a suitably geeky occupation: mending small parts or inspecting tiny specimens.

LCF MA fashion antonia lloyd AW 2013-0148
LCF MA fashion antonia lloyd AW 2013-0148
LCF MA fashion antonia lloyd AW 2013-0148
Tourquoise, fushia and red coloured shorts suits were paired with prints, close fitting jumpers and matching rucksacks in a bright collection by Antonia Lloyd. We first spotted Antonia Lloyd in her graduate showcase back in 2010, read the review here.

LCF MA fashion xin sun AW 2013-0195
LCF MA fashion xin sun AW 2013-0195
LCF MA fashion xin sun AW 2013-0195
LCF MA fashion xin sun AW 2013-0195
Xin Sun took to the outback for her fedora topped collection that looked most at home on a long haired model, his locks swinging in time with his wide legged tie-fronted trousers. Boxy utilitarian coats were paired with cosy oatmeal jumpers and big boots by Underground Shoes.

Categories ,Antonia Lloyd, ,Jane Young, ,LCF, ,London College of Fashion, ,ma, ,menswear, ,Na Di, ,Octo Cheung, ,Royal Opera House, ,Underground Shoes, ,Xin Sun

Similar Posts:






Amelia’s Magazine | LCF MA Fashion Show 2013, Womenswear: London Fashion Week Catwalk Review

Yi Xie by Jacqueline Valencia
Yi Xie by Jacqueline Valencia.

London College of Fashion womenswear designers showed a series of polished collections, most of which were accessoried with amazing footwear that I was able to ogle as the models climbed the reflective steps onto the raised catwalk at the Royal Opera House.

LCF MA fashion AW 2013-Maddalena Mangialavori
LCF MA fashion AW 2013-Maddalena Mangialavori
LCF MA fashion AW 2013-Maddalena Mangialavori
Maddalena Mangialavori applied raffia fringing to loose fitting dresses, and pretty ruffs to bodices worn with A-line and pencil skirts. Lop-sided low-brimmed hats collapsed over one eye, lending a jaunty air to muted colours in a variety of different textures.

LCF MA fashion AW 2013 Nadia Scullion
LCF MA fashion AW 2013 Nadia Scullion
Nadia Scullion played with ice cream shades; pastel blues and lemon yellow layered together to create a collection of clean lines that were broken with raggy edged socks and collars. A darker coat decorated with a baby blue waist trim was one of the pieces that caught my eye.

LCF MA fashion AW 2013-Min Wu
LCF MA fashion AW 2013-Min Wu
LCF MA fashion AW 2013-Min Wu
LCF MA fashion AW 2013-Min Wu
Min Wu‘s beautiful collection took the concept of tie-dye to a new level; jelly coloured panels fading into creamy white furls of fabric that lay flat against the waist or swung nonchalantly from the neck. Plastic soled shoes worked brilliantly with these gorgeous garments.

LCF MA fashion AW 2013-Sian Davies
LCF MA fashion AW 2013-Sian Davies
Sian Davies worked in blocky oatmeal shades; tight latex paired with over-sized tops.

LCF MA fashion AW 2013-Yi Xie
LCF MA fashion AW 2013-Yi Xie
LCF MA fashion AW 2013-Yi Xie
yi xie
LFW Yi Xie by Angela Lamb
Yi Xie by Angela Lamb.

I absolutely adored the work of Yi Xie, as did my instagram feed when I shared a photo of her intricate pleated trouser suit, luscious flames of orange licking against the vibrating blues on shoulder, waist and calves. I can see her undulating body con dresses selling really well.

LCF MA fashion AW 2013-Keiko Nishiyama
LCF MA fashion AW 2013-Keiko Nishiyama
LCF MA fashion AW 2013-Keiko Nishiyama
LCF-MA_by_Gaarte
Keiko Nishiyama by Gaarte.

Last and by no means least came possibly my favourite collection of all: Keiko Nishiyama covered blowsy shirts and bib fronted dresses with stunning engineered floral prints that made the digital revolution all her own: fields of flowers on a white ground were styled with matching patterned tights and peasant shoes with exaggerated up-turned toes. Just delightful!

LCF MA fashion AW 2013-Keiko Nishiyama
LCF MA fashion AW 2013-Keiko Nishiyama
All photography by Amelia Gregory.

Categories ,2013, ,Angela Lamb, ,bodycon, ,Digital Prints, ,floral, ,Gaarte, ,graduate, ,Jacqueline Valencia, ,Keiko Nishiyama, ,London College of Fashion, ,London Fashion Week, ,Maddalena Mangialavori, ,Min Wu, ,Nadia Scullion, ,review, ,Royal Opera House, ,Sian Davies, ,Womenswear, ,Yi Xie

Similar Posts:






Amelia’s Magazine | Christmas Gift Ideas 2011: Eco-friendly, Ethical and Crafty Gifts

Christmas-gifts-by-Sinead-O-Leary
Christmas gifts by Sinead O’Leary.

Just in time for a last minute eco Christmas round up before the Royal Mail goes totally pear shaped….

Marks & Spencers baking set
Firstly, I am a bit in love with Kirsty Allsopp, either that or I am just really bloody jealous – how did she get to the position where she has managed to forge an entire career out of learning to craft? That’s like my ideal job. And her own entire range at Marks & Spencer? If you fancy yourself a bit of Kirsty why not take a peek at some of the gift packages she’s put together. They’re a bit girly for me, so I’m gunning for this Marks & Spencer baking set, currently on special offer for £15. With all the things you need to make festive treats over Christmas in a pretty red and white heart tin. Get in.

Candy Wrapper Stars
On a purely decorative from how about these? I love these candy wrapper stars from Re-Found – they’re the kind of thing that I would make out of my rubbish in that alternate Kirsty Allsopp world where I have lots of spare time… handily these ones come ready made.

Sparkling Silver T Light Holder Nigel Eco Store
One of the best place to hunt for interesting eco goodies is Nigel’s Eco Store, which is a veritable treasure trove of environmentally aware goodies, including this pretty silvered tea light holder, made from recycled glass.

Tara Starlet Patchwork Pooch
Tara Starlet Patchwork Pooch
Tara Starlet, an ethical fashion designer who is featured in Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration, has put together this adorable Patchwork Pooch kit from leftover fabrics, vintage buttons and recycled ribbons: so adorable, and the perfect project to keep crafty types happy over Christmas.

Culture beyond oil
Lastly, I couldn’t go without mentioning Culture Beyond Oil, a publication put together by my friends at Platform and perfect for the environmentalist and art enthusiast in your life: as recommended by me in a recent interview about arts and activism with Sierra Club online. Not If But When: Culture Beyond Oil is a long hard look at the way that oil funding has infiltrated our art institutions, with contributions from a range of top artists including Banksy and Matthew Herbert. This line of investigation could not come at a better time, as proved by an article in the Guardian only today which confirms that four of the UK’s biggest cultural organisations – the British Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the Royal Opera House and Tate – have announced they are to renew sponsorship deals with BP worth £10m despite protests from environmental campaigners. Here’s to more positive news on that front in 2012.

Categories ,ACOFI, ,Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration, ,Baking Set, ,banksy, ,BP, ,British Museum, ,craft, ,Culture Beyond Oil, ,diy, ,ecodesign, ,ethical, ,Kirsty Allsopp, ,Kit, ,Marks & Spencer, ,Matthew Herbert, ,national portrait gallery, ,Nigel’s Eco Store, ,oil, ,Patchwork Pooch, ,platform, ,Re-Found, ,Royal Opera House, ,Sinead O’Leary, ,Tara Starlet, ,Tate, ,Upcycled

Similar Posts:






Amelia’s Magazine | Christmas Gift Ideas 2011: Eco-friendly, Ethical and Crafty Gifts

Christmas-gifts-by-Sinead-O-Leary
Christmas gifts by Sinead O’Leary.

Just in time for a last minute eco Christmas round up before the Royal Mail goes totally pear shaped….

Marks & Spencers baking set
Firstly, I am a bit in love with Kirsty Allsopp, either that or I am just really bloody jealous – how did she get to the position where she has managed to forge an entire career out of learning to craft? That’s like my ideal job. And her own entire range at Marks & Spencer? If you fancy yourself a bit of Kirsty why not take a peek at some of the gift packages she’s put together. They’re a bit girly for me, so I’m gunning for this Marks & Spencer baking set, currently on special offer for £15. With all the things you need to make festive treats over Christmas in a pretty red and white heart tin. Get in.

Candy Wrapper Stars
On a purely decorative from how about these? I love these candy wrapper stars from Re-Found – they’re the kind of thing that I would make out of my rubbish in that alternate Kirsty Allsopp world where I have lots of spare time… handily these ones come ready made.

Sparkling Silver T Light Holder Nigel Eco Store
One of the best place to hunt for interesting eco goodies is Nigel’s Eco Store, which is a veritable treasure trove of environmentally aware goodies, including this pretty silvered tea light holder, made from recycled glass.

Tara Starlet Patchwork Pooch
Tara Starlet Patchwork Pooch
Tara Starlet, an ethical fashion designer who is featured in Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration, has put together this adorable Patchwork Pooch kit from leftover fabrics, vintage buttons and recycled ribbons: so adorable, and the perfect project to keep crafty types happy over Christmas.

Culture beyond oil
Lastly, I couldn’t go without mentioning Culture Beyond Oil, a publication put together by my friends at Platform and perfect for the environmentalist and art enthusiast in your life: as recommended by me in a recent interview about arts and activism with Sierra Club online. Not If But When: Culture Beyond Oil is a long hard look at the way that oil funding has infiltrated our art institutions, with contributions from a range of top artists including Banksy and Matthew Herbert. This line of investigation could not come at a better time, as proved by an article in the Guardian only today which confirms that four of the UK’s biggest cultural organisations – the British Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the Royal Opera House and Tate – have announced they are to renew sponsorship deals with BP worth £10m despite protests from environmental campaigners. Here’s to more positive news on that front in 2012.

Categories ,ACOFI, ,Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration, ,Baking Set, ,banksy, ,BP, ,British Museum, ,craft, ,Culture Beyond Oil, ,diy, ,ecodesign, ,ethical, ,Kirsty Allsopp, ,Kit, ,Marks & Spencer, ,Matthew Herbert, ,national portrait gallery, ,Nigel’s Eco Store, ,oil, ,Patchwork Pooch, ,platform, ,Re-Found, ,Royal Opera House, ,Sinead O’Leary, ,Tara Starlet, ,Tate, ,Upcycled

Similar Posts:






Amelia’s Magazine | London International Mime Festival: Where Performance Art meets Circus and Narrative

mime-festival-ockhams-razor
Ockham’s Razor by Rosalie Hoskins

I’ll admit it. I’ve never been to much performance art or modern dance before. But let’s just say that my circumstances have somewhat changed of late and at the moment I am enjoying being introduced to new types of creativity.

So, website what’s with this Mime Festival stuff? Well, if you thought that mime was all men in black pretending to grope a wall be ready to have your definition of mime challenged. It seems that mime nowadays is more a combination of contemporary dance and circus. It’s about story telling from an abstracted and expressionistic perspective. In a play you’ve got the constraints of character and storyline – well this modern form of mime is much more like creating a painting over time and space.

I went to my first mime festival performance with a completely open mind, but entirely unsure of what to expect. It’s good to be challenged! Staged in the sadly blighted ICA (threats of closure have been bandied about in the press) this was a truly bizarre tale from Russian troupe BlackSkyWhite – USSR Was Here. In what was to prove a staple the pre-show explanatory notes made absolutely no sense at all, so I just about managed to glean the idea that the ‘storyline’ was based on the brutal history of Russia.

mime-festival-blackskywhite
Blackskywhite by Rosalie Hoskins

The murky blackness of the stage was pierced by the coloured forms of two strange characters who occasionally merged and then separated, interacting in dysfunctional ways. The music and lighting (lighting, I was to learn, is THE key element in mime. God knows how these performers would survive without coloured gels) evoked the kind of freakshow mania I imagine you might have encountered in fairgrounds of yore, the type that could slowly induce madness, in me at least. I really couldn’t figure out how many people were performing, but thought that I counted at least three. Not until the end of the show did I discover that there were actually only two performers, so able to radically change their demeanour as to convince me of their multitude. Double headed? Wherein I presumed the dummy head was the one hanging sideways? Why yes. I was fooled. Clever puppetry such as a curiously adult head on a baby left me wondering where the full person was hidden. With the aid of cunning wide legged pants the two performers were able to mutate, wibbling into shortened gnome figures. Features so altered by elastic bands and hairnets completed my confusion. Despite this discombobulation I have to confess that half way through I was starting to think “When will this nightmare end?” It was not without some relief that an hour later the swirling red and green lights finally came to a halt. Clever for sure, but for a performance artist novice like me watching Blackskywhite was at times more of an arduous task to finish than an enjoyable experience. I think I may have started in at the deep end.

Ockhams Razor-The-Mill-2
Ockhams Razor-The-Mill-3
Ockhams Razor-The-Mill-4

Next up on my Mime Festival week smorgasbord was a trip to the Linbury Studio Theatre at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden (get me), where it appears that there is an even split between people who dress up to the nines for their every operatastic outing, and those who slump along in their civvies. A background in circus was immediately obvious as the wonderfully named Ockham’s Razor performers sat perched deathly still atop giant bobbins as the audience filed in and dry ice swirled around. The centrepiece of this imaginative set was a vast wheel suspended centre stage and this excellent video put together by the troupe describes how the set informed the subsequent narrative of the performance. The five nimble performers scrambled with undue ease (and superb upper body strength) up ladders and along ropes in elegant procession, all the while making sure the wheel was turned. Until it all went intentionally wrong and the rapidly unwinding spools caused a dramatic panic. Yes, the premise of the ‘story’ was slim – the wheel of work goes round and round – but it was a great deal of fun to watch (one of the blokes was well fit which is always nice) and I grinned through the whole show. Plus I felt very pleased with myself for taking sneaky iphone pics which I then put together with my favourite panorama stitch application. Love that thing.

Ockhams Razor-The-Mill-1

Last up was possibly the most interesting piece of mime – a piece called Rankefod performed by a single lady, of indeterminate age, but certainly not in the first flush of youth. (I’ve since discovered that she is in fact over 50. Quite staggering considering what she is able to achieve physically.)

mime-festival-kitt-johnson
Kitt Johnson by Rosalie Hoskins

Kitt Johnson is apparently an ex athlete and her command of her body was quite enthralling: an hour spent in her company at the ICA went a lot faster than the first time around. Starting alone in the centre of the spartan stage for many moments she made use of just a few jutting back muscles and flicks of her legs to evoke the early stages of evolution, as interpreted through her body. At first I thought she was wearing just a pair of hotpants, but I then deduced that her plaited hair was actually conjoined with some cave woman-esque shorts. Despite her naked breasts there was nothing remotely sexual about her presence, which through sometimes barely perceptible movements gradually became more animalistic. Described as a “loner” on her website, Kitt Johnson was something of a revelation. I might yet be a convert to this performance art marlarkey.

Categories ,Blackskywhite, ,Circus, ,ica, ,Kitt Johnson, ,London International Mime Festival, ,Mime, ,Ockham’s Razor, ,Performance Art, ,Rosalie Hoskins, ,Royal Opera House, ,theatre

Similar Posts:






Amelia’s Magazine | Deloitte Ignite 2011 at the Royal Opera House: Festival Review

Red Dancer by Claire Kearns

Red Dancer by Claire Kearns

Mike Figgis held the creative reins at the festival this year. One of the names he had invited along was someone I was keen to see – Hans Ulrich Obrist, diagnosis the director of the Serpentine Gallery and art mastermind. When we arrived at the epicentre of the festival, the Paul Hamlyn Hall, Hans and Mike were in deep conversation about Mike’s career, and his thoughts on Hollywood. Mike spoke bitterly about what he saw as the corruption of mainstream cinema and wasn’t abashed to name and shame, as he slammed Michael Bay and likened Steven Spielberg to Adolf Hitler. A poor shot from Figgis I thought.

Paul Hamlyn Hall by Amelia Gregory

Paul Hamlyn Hall by Amelia Gregory

It was independent film maker Emily James and her two guests, who almost managed to stir the reserved crowd. Emily is an American film-maker who was at the festival to present her film Just Do It. It was actually reviewed by Amelia for this blog back in July 2011 – a great review, which you should go and read here. The film charts three years in the environmental activism scene, focussing on protest groups such as Climate Camp and Plane Stupid. Emily follows a number of activists with her camera, as they show up at places like power stations, bank headquarters, and with no exceptions, films the direct action that takes place. Emily’s documentary provides a refreshing change from the mainstream media’s representation of the activity of these groups, which is often negative and has a habit of portraying the activists as trouble-makers.

The star of the film is Marina Pepper, a passionate ex-journalist who now devotes her life to rallying. In the film she dwells on what she does, and asks, ‘will this really make any difference?’. Cue long pause. She admits that it probably won’t, but she has attached herself to this fight, and will see it through. Marina was one of Emily’s guests, alongside Leo Murray who works with Plane Stupid, who were the group behind the closures of Stansted and Manchester airports a few years ago. It was a shame that feisty Marina faced a timid crowd when she tried to initiate a discussion about the Dale Farm issue. ‘Who here doesn’t like travellers?‘ she bellowed into the crowd. I felt a small achievement was made when Marina did manage to rouse the inner activists with some of the crowd members. She reminded us all that the environmentalist’s bane, oil company BP were the sponsors of the Royal Opera House.

It was a thought-provoking and intelligent part of the day. I felt I’d been given a lot of information that honestly, I hadn’t really been prepared for. Amelia’s Magazine has blogged extensively about activism, and specifically about groups such as Climate Camp. After coming home from the festival, and preparing to write this review, I took some time out to read these previous articles. One article which particularly stood out for me was by Adam S – his account of when over 1000 protestors stood their ground at the Ratcliffe-On-Soar power station. If like me, your not familiar with the good work of these people, go read one of Amelia’s fantastic and energetic articles here.

Dress Display by Amelia Gregory

Dress Display by Amelia Gregory

Alber Elbaz, the creative director at Lanvin, delivered Saturday’s highlight. No-one in Camp Deloitte had anticipated that Alber’s talk would bring in the masses. Due to an impromptu room change (Alber preferred the opulence and beauty of the intimate Crush Cinema Room) not everyone could fit in, and so he agreed to do the talk twice. He instantly won us over when he interrupted co-host Alice Rawsthorn as she mentioned his short lived career at YSL to add that yes, he had been fired. What touched me was the story of how he found his purpose at Lanvin. He had heard from a friend in New York, who was going to see her ‘arsehole husband‘ to sign their divorce. She messaged him, ‘Alber, I’m wearing Lanvin and I feel so protected‘. The idea that he could create this feeling from something as fine as silk is what propels him today.

Dress by Claire Kearns

Dress by Claire Kearns

The cinema room showing interviews from the likes of David Lynch and John Berger were interesting, but I found it difficult to concentrate with people constantly coming and going. I enjoyed it much more in the main hall, sat at a table and engaged with the speakers. This was the playground to several dancers who were performing for both 8 hour days – the young girl in red, continuously twirling on a raised block became a point of conversation for visitors and speakers.

Peter Blake by Amelia Gregory

Peter Blake by Amelia Gregory

On Sunday I enjoyed a cosy afternoon with national treasures, artist Peter Blake, and newsreader Jon Snow. Peter studied at the RCA, and is best known for the album artwork for the Beatle’s Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Peter was genuinely lovely. I felt like I could listen to him and his stories for hours. He was honest to admit that his printed work has made him more financially secure in the last two years than he has ever been before.

Jon Snow and Mike Figgis by Amelia Gregory

Jon Snow and Mike Figgis by Amelia Gregory

Jon Snow was last on the bill. He brilliantly handled a question from the audience about the representation of Palestine in the news. He pondered whether the situation would be as bad as it is now if they had covered the story properly – probably not, he said honestly. He also spoke about the fall of print, and the rise of online media, ‘We’re travelling into the golden age of journalism…democratised information‘, he said after admitting that he frequently goes an entire day without touching a newspaper. He finished with an emotive speech, that highlighted how highly individual we have all become, and how we desperately need something that we have lost, a sense of community. He received a huge applause.

Red Dancer on Podium by Amelia Gregory

Red Dancer on Podium by Amelia Gregory

Only one word can describe the finale, and that is ‘spectacle’. Mike transformed from curator to director, of a sort of hotchpotch avant-garde orchestra. The People Band took one side of the stage, and the Opera House orchestra on the other. They were joined by saxophonist Peter King, Rosey Chan on the piano, the weird but wonderful Feral Choir, and the magnificent flamenco dancer Eva Yerbabuena. She crept on to the centre of the floor dressed all in black, and gave a stand out performance.

I felt like I’d been on an a funny sort of emotional rollercoaster with Mike Figgis this weekend – laughing with him, but quickly annoyed with his eye rolls and name calling. At the end, I saw someone congratulate and thank him. He was speechless, and it was at this point that I liked him best, and I thought, well done Mike, well done Deloitte. I’ll be back next year.

Categories ,Alber Elbaz, ,Alice Rawsthorn, ,Beatle’s Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, ,Climate Camp, ,Crush Cinema Room, ,Deloitte Ignite, ,Emily James, ,Hans Ulrich Obrist, ,Jon Snow, ,Lanvin, ,Marina Pepper, ,Mike Figgis, ,Peter Blake, ,Plane Stupid, ,Ratcliffe On Soar, ,rca, ,Royal Opera House

Similar Posts: