The presence of a worldwide pandemic hasn’t stopped the fashion industry from thriving. Even in hard times, London’s SS21 Fashion Week has marched on with an exciting provisional line-up. Participants include the likes of Richard Quinn, Emilia Wickstead, Burberry and Matty Bovan. LFW will run from Thursday 17th September to Tuesday 22nd September. Digital activations will be found on LFW‘s official website and physical will be run according to government social distancing guidelines.
Here are some of the designers to look forward to.
~ Digital & Physical ~
Feng Chen Wang
Born in China, the London based designer studied MA Fashion Menswear at the highly regarded Royal College of Art, graduating in 2015. She describes her brand image as “future-modern, authentic and multi-dimensional” with a focus on technical outwear, producing unisex garments that are functional yet personal. Her most recent collections have taken inspiration from her family lineage and Chinese heritage: the concept of home for AW18 and the human connection for SS17.
Having been nominated for the 2016 LVMH, Feng‘s created eight collections showcasing at two seasons of London Fashion Week. For her first standalone catwalk, she presented the development of her brand’s journey. Her star-studded resume includes collaborations with iconic brands Levi’s and Converse.
Osman Yousefzada
UK born with Afghan heritage, Yousefzada’s passion was inspired by his mother’s dress-making business in Birmingham. Following his dreams, he decided to study Fashion Design at Central Saint Martins. Yousefzada was nominated in 2007 for Designer of the Year. Following this, at the Fashion in Motions show, contemporary dancers modelled Yousefzada‘s designs, suggesting how they could move on the human form. In 2008, he launched his eponymous label, successfully creating luxury womenswear that plays with both art and fashion underlining social commentary.
~ Digital ~
Luna Del Pinal
Designers – Gabriela Luna and Corina del Pinal formed ‘Luna Del Pinal’ after a trip to Guatemala where they learned one of the oldest weaving techniques in the world. After graduating Istituto Marangoni and Royal College of Arts, they worked for notable fashion houses: Christopher Kane, Gareth Pugh and JW Anderson, to name a few. Luna and Pinal wanted to explore backstrap weaving, a textile technique of Guatemalan history. The brand is centred around the idea of slow fashion, seeking to support indigenous craftsmanship through the employment of local artists; their aim is to create contemporary designs that contribute positively to local communities. Upon launching the brand at Paris Fashion Week AW16, Luna Del Pinal has gained recognition for their handmade style.
Kaushik Velendra
Kaushik Velendra is a fashion forward luxury menswear label aimed at innovating traditional tailoring through fabrication and construction practice. Indian-born Founder and Designer – Kaushik Velendra graduated from Central Saint Martins‘ MA Fashion degree, showcasing his work at London Fashion Week in 2019. This year, he was shortlisted for the LVMH Prize prior to Covid-19’s lockdown. During this time, Velendra created 10 shoulder moulds by himself, shooting these within guidelines and on a closed set. Continuing his success, Kaushik has garnered positive responses from media and the industry:
“Key to the collection is the juxtaposition of traditional Indian embroidery, with the incorporation of space-agey fabrications…Velendra’s seamless hybridisation of sportswear and tailoring charts new territory on the map of glamorous contemporary menswear.”
LVMH PRIZE
~ Physical ~
Amanda Wakeley
British heritage meets luxury brand , conveys the spirit of and is named after its Founder and Creative Director – Amanda Wakeley. Their designs are best known for their sleek silhouettes, flawless fit and sports-luxe details. From ready-to-wear to bespoke accessories and bridal dresses, Amanda Wakeley is created for women who want effortless chic. Launched in 1990, Wakeley‘s sleek aesthetic struck a chord with many, namely the late Princess of Wales and Queen Rania of Jordan. In more recent times, idols such as Michelle Obama, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johansson and the Duchesses of Cambridge and Sussex have all worn her designs. Wakeley’s long-standing efforts and contribution to British fashion led to her being awarded an OBE in 2010.
Sharon Wauchob
London based designer – Sharon Wauchob attended Central Saint Martins, proceeding to work at Louis Vuitton for 4 years from 1997-2001. Through this experience, her skills were honed and creativity developed – two key aspects that became crucial to her brand. Since 2003, Wauchob has shown at Paris Fashion Week, being one of the few British designers to achieve this.
Judging by the range of talent, from seasoned to new, LFW SS21‘s anticipated to be extra exhilarating, bringing together creatives through integrating physical and digital.
Words By Louise Worthington
Fashion Editor – Charis Crawford Corri
Disclaimer- all images used within this article have been sourced from the individual designers’ and PRs’ official websites and social media. Ragged Culture Publishing Ltd. does not own the copyright to the images within this article. All rights reserved.