Check out the GFF Designer Profile here with content created in partnership with Visualist App, the new productivity suite for fashion creatives, over at LondonFashionWeek.com. Six exciting emerging designers were selected to be featured on the platform that is for both trade and consumer audiences, enabling the Graduate Fashion Foundation to spotlight these incredible talents as they seek to establish themselves in the fashion industry and build their brands.
GFF partnered with Visualist and their team of creatives to produce this season’s digital designer content for LFW, including an innovative photoshoot and video creation for all six designers. The London Fashion Week shoot was unlikely any other. The team at Visualist met the cast and crew for the very first time on shoot day and instead of being physically on set, the six designers who are spread across the UK and Portugal, participated remotely via private livestream to be able to direct and guide the styling of their collections.
Visualist conceived the shoot and managed post-production 100% virtually. Their workflow was highly visual and collaborative with a steady stream of digital moodboarding, supplemented by robust discussion that took place over a medley of video calls and threaded messages.
The fully digital nature of London Fashion Week and governmental restrictions, encouraged the team to rethink the use of technology to stage a shoot innovatively and safely, whilst allowing meaningful participation by those not present 'IRL'. Although the semi-virtual nature of this shoot was prompted by COVID restrictions, the process also highlighted promising opportunities for the fashion industry to explore when it comes to digital collaboration and showcases.
Hena Begum:
‘Modestly’ was started by Hena Begum a Bengali Muslim born and raised in the UK. She takes inspiration from her own experiences as a modest wearer and creates womenswear that is unique and experimental. Hena launched her brand after graduating Fashion and Textiles course at The University of Portsmouth and won the Graduate Fashion David Band Textiles Award 2020.
Modestly explores traditional textile techniques and combines weaving with the use of laser cutting technology to create designs inspired by Islamic art and architecture. Combining feminine tailoring and a bright eye-catching colour palette, Modestly aims to create conversations through the collections and to showcase modestwear that is creative. Hena is passionate about having a positive impact on diversity in the fashion industry, wishing to start conversations through her work and create a space where there is representation for people of many backgrounds. Her work was featured on TheTelegraph.co.uk and in print within The Guardian Weekend.
Joshua Scott:
Avant-garde fashion print designer Joshua Scott, graduated from University of the Creative Arts Rochester with a BA (Hons) in Fashion Textile: Print and continues his part-time Masters in Printed Textiles for Fashion and Interiors whilst perusing his experimental brand.
Joshua’s prints are drawn from the tropical foliage found in the Palm House at Kew Gardens, whilst the signature garment silhouettes are inspired by succulents and cacti found in the Princess of Wales Conservatory. The garments reference a wide range of historical shapes ranging from restrictive royal court dress to exaggerated 1980’s sportswear.
Fun and playful the unapologetic collection is full to the brim with innovative sewing, print, and pattern cutting techniques. The standout feature being the creative use of ribbing and stuffing to mimic the forms of barrel cacti while also acting a dramatic structural element. Joshua used dye sublimation to add patterns to a dense faux fur which distorts and moves as you run your fingers through it plus added key detailing on a smaller scale my favourite through the spines added as piping. They feature an abstract print in foil on cotton twill which adds a subtle reflectivity in order to help the piping stand out from the already very bold prints.
Joshua sees the brand evolving with a parallel ready to wear sustainable line of everyday essentials which embrace fine art and print. Colourful and unapologetic work the brand will always carry a sense of fun with it.
Tyesha Camacho:
London based designer Tyesha Camacho founded ‘Camat by Tyesha’ as part her graduate collection whilst studying BA (Hons) Fashion Textile: Print at University of the Creative Arts Rochester. Since graduating in June 2020, Tyesha continues to build her brand. The 'REDEFINE' collection looks at art, graffiti, music, musicians, environment and social issues. With this collection, she wanted to redefine negative stereotypes especially those regarded within 'urban areas’, as well as start new and important conversations that were missing regarding social and political issues. Each outfit takes its name from music genres of Rap, Drill and Grime. The expression of the movements of this music can be seen in the print itself.
Her genderless, wearable design’s call for equality and promotes diversity whilst incorporating her love for bold clashing prints and oversized silhouettes. They feature concealed closures, piping detailing and detachable elements as well as embracing an asymmetric line. Tyesha aims for her brand to encourage others to experiment with personal style and wear what they want without fear of caring what others think. The collection has been featured within The Blacklist Magazine, and upon the Converse London Instagram profile.
Christopher Reid:
Scottish Designer Christopher Reid’s collection of corsetry, looks to 18th century silhouettes and the films of Hammer Horror as a way to reimagine the historical with anachronistic fantasy. Created whilst studying BA (Hons) Fashion at Edinburgh College of Art, the collection inspired by Gothic horror movies of decades past, imbues their Scottish hometown’s folklore to create a ribbon trimmed body of references which act as the foundation for their own reality.
The brands signature piece is the Corset, made bespoke to client specifications. Reid found that for something so synonymous with the female form, the conical shape makes for a unisex garment with the lacing at the shoulders and back lending itself to being an easily adaptable piece for all body types. The brand aims to empower people to express their gender and sexuality however they may choose, with Reid confronting the binaries that persist within fashion in a subversive, feminine manner. Reid encourages the wearer to become both the nightgown-clad siren and axe wielding murderess of their own world. Embracing a warped femininity that roots itself in their forever muse; Courtney Love, to encourage the personal expression of gender and sexuality.
The fabrications address sustainability with the reclamation of materials. Reid collects antique lace trims, vintage curtains, upholstery tablecloths and even doll’s clothing to rework into the collection. The garments are investment pieces that are to be treasured as well as enjoyed by the wearer. Their corsetry work has been featured in Dazed and Confused, Hunger and Mission Magazine to name but a few.
Sophie Parnaby:
Yorkshire based, double GFF Award winning designer Sophie Parnaby, graduated in June 2020 with a BA (Hons) Fashion Design & Technology from Manchester Metropolitan University and currently continues to build her luxury clothing and accessories brand from her studio.
Innovatively harnessing the environmental benefits of 3D print technology, the eponymous label was founded upon the creation of new methods which revive waste plastics into intricately embellished pieces. The result of the brands’ futuristic methodology is beautifully structural clothing and accessories which appear as if covered with fragments of jet-black glass. With a closer look the pieces within the ‘Future Mythologies’ collection inspired by biomimicry is delicately coated with feather-like forms, wrapping around the curves of the body and organically merging into powerful silhouettes.
Implementing zero waste methods alongside using a combination of responsible deadstock material sourcing and recycled bio plastics means all pieces are created with minimal environmental impact, as well as supporting and prioritising local sellers and businesses where possible.
Sarah Louise Koessler
Half French and half British designer Sarah-Louise Koessler grew up in France, in a small town in the region of Alsace. At the age of 18 she made the move to the UK to complete her BA (Hons) Fashion Design with Business studies at the University of Brighton. Since graduating in June 2020, she is currently based in Portugal working on her eponymous brand.
‘SLK Sarah-Louise Designs’ aims to create show pieces that make the wearer feel empowered, confident and special. Her recent collection “This, Madame, is Versailles” is a high impact Couture luxury evening womenswear collection. SLK explores conceptual and architectural silhouettes, an avant-garde take on classic Haute Couture, using innovative fabrics with technical craftsmanship features to fashion stylised moulded, structured designs inspired by the mirrored polished stainless steel of Jeff Koons’ sculptures. Sarah-Louise sees her dresses as wearable art. Bold, dramatic, modern and colourful, for fashion conscious, playful and rebellious women. Currently developing two aspects to her business including handbags, accessories and a diffusion ready to wear line using fabric remnants from her collection to reduce waste, alongside her bespoke eveningwear and couture pieces. Her work has been featured in titles such as Tomorrow Magazine, Malvie Magazine and the cover of Feroce Magazine, as well as being worn by influencer Marta Sierra.
Catch up on the LFW film and Behind The Scenes footage here: