Saturday 17th of February 2018 Fashions Finest kicked of day one opening its doors to its Showroom featuring Nasra Mamoun Jewellery, VRS, Hoh Pabissi, Yeagob, Ziaz, Berkshire Beauty, ChicP, Alpaca Samaka, Wearable Arts Collective, SNA Fur, Elvira Graham Knitwear, Saraden Designs, Timna Weber, and Sheree Robinson Knitwear.
On the first runway show of the day, British Helen Howe Atelier timelessly classic tailored ready to wear pieces with a modern and occasionally opulent twist left viewers excited.
Sustainable label Alpaca Samka showcased their luxury collection of
garments, hand-made from alpaca fibre on the catwalk and the showroom with their accessories on the showroom. Visitors wear smitten with their ready to wear of relaxed cool dressy casuals warm natural hues like that of Khaki and sage green.
Following on were Tijana T who intrigued with striking flowing to structured dresses. Ujjwala Bhadu collection brought warmth, fun and a sense of sunshine to the catwalk with her bright and bold collection. Exciting unique and unusual dresses came from the Wearable Art Collective. Croation designer Olya Sookie closed the show surprising guests with two familiar faces on the catwalk; TV personality Gillian McKeith stunned in a playful teal-coloured dress and her ethereal looking daughter Afton McKeith who confidently strut down the runway in a cream bodysuit. She says of her collection:
“My love for dance and mysticism has inspired me to create a conceptual fashion collection for an alternative group of people with extreme self-expression. Name Nephilim has contributed to aesthetic significance of the collection itself. Although Nephilim has more meanings, I have chosen for its representation of Gods offspring, half angels, and half warriors.”
In the afternoon Jenny Holloway, CEO of Fashion Enter/ Fashion Capital delivered a presentation on what exactly an ethical factory is in Fashions Finest series of Let’s Talk Fashion Business industry talks. Touching on themes as sustainability, company structure, compliance and quality control the floor then was opened up for a Q & A.
Spanish label Yeagob opened up the last show for Fashions Finest with an exciting menswear collection.
Santiago Rico says of his brand: “Yeagob can be described as classic male tailoring with a modern twist. Adjectives such as sobriety, elegance, minimalism, and cleanliness define my brand.”
Clean cuts and fresh patterns were introduced by US label VRS who addressed the bold cosmopolitan woman with her collection.
Modest womenswear brand Ziaz proved that modest mustn’t mean boring and can translate seemingly within the western world.
Mena Odi Collection convinced with a muted palette of patterns of ready to wear womenswear.
Beresta sent their models in floating in, in feminine and flirty dresses with a French flair that can the wearer through everyday occasions from the coffee shop to an evening dinner without being over or undresses.
Excited gasped were heard at the entrance of Caroline Perino’s collection. Unconventional, colourful and expressive; every single piece enticed and mesmerised with its skillful amalgation of colours and textiles.
Flowing floor-sweeping evening dresses infused with Asian esthetics were on the runway by Voga Atelier.
On Sunday17th of February 2018 Fashions welcomed visitors to runway shows by Peter Twiss London, Revival London, Afton McKeith, Timna Weber, Niki Moyo and Joy Scott London.
Peter Twiss’ a sustainable label uses bespoke fabrics including his very own silk fur and silk boucle. Shirred silk fabric in each jacket makes them very robust, and a true investment. Peter also loves to combine up-cycled denim with his silk styles.
Ethical brand Revival London sent models in looks made from reconstructed denim.
Afton McKeith launched her ready-to-wear t-shirt collection on Fashions Finest runway in aid of charity and are now on sale via www.AftonMcKeith.com.
Timna Weber’s collection ‘Unfinished’ includes a series of hand-dyed and knitted jumpers, dresses, and trousers. Each piece is made of natural, high-quality materials, merging in compelling assemblages of colors and shapes. Timna proposes a new design system, where she offers garments that are easily transformable.
Niki Moyo
Tahra Nketia’s pieces impressed with opulent, embellished and heavily beading and choice of fabrics and stunning designs.
Elements of deconstruction and fresh new patterns inform NIki Moyo’s collection, who understands and applies various cuts for garments. The line is heavily influenced by the culture of the region, fusing Western and African aesthetics.
The show closed with Joy Scott London.
The afternoon continued with Fashions Finest series of Let’s Talk Fashion Business industry talk delivered by J.T.Lyons. Bringing his 10 years of experience in starting running and exciting businesses from construction, import/export, fitness, consultancy and finance, JT came with some knowledge how to acquire funding. One of the biggest stumbling blocks for many new designers his insights were informative and invaluable.
The event finished on a high with Britain’s Top Designer Award season 6. Caroline Perino, Giebultowski, Milanda, Vaseghia, Francesca R. Palumbo, Omid Taherkahni, Rolle by Rolle, Antonia Nae and Helen Howe Atelier were amongst the 9 designers who battled for the title.
Head judge Bernard Connolly emphasized: “The standard of these designers is outstanding! It was really hard and a tight one between two. We wish we could have given two. We had heated debates on who should win.”
Host Laura Naylor called on Deborah St Louis to announce the finalists and award the winning designer. Antonia Nae came third place, Rolle by Rolle in second place with Vaseghia winning the Britain’s Top Designer Award. The designer tearfully confessed: “I can’t believe it! I never ever win anything I apply or go for! This is such an honour!”
