The British Fashion Council (BFC) has carefully curated 120 emerging and established accessories, jewellery and ready-to-wear designer brands to show their autumn/winter 2012 collections at the leading designer showcase, The Exhibition at London Fashion Week. The Exhibition will showcase 22 new designers for February 2012 and will be open to all UK, International media and buyers. Registration is available on site at Seamans Hall from 17th – 21st February, 10am – 7pm (closing at 6pm on the 21st).
The Exhibition at London Fashion Week is based at Somerset House, now situated over 2 floors instead of 4, it sees a newly curated style with a focus on creating a more tailored and visually merchandised feel to the showcase. New exhibitors this season include footwear designers, Alain Quilici; New York based Alejandro Ingelmo; Julian Hakes London and Kat Maconie. Other newcomers include NEWGEN designers Huishan Zhang and Lucas Nascimento.
The Terrace Space at Somerset House will host a selection of
accessories; new designers showing in this space include accessory
designer Emma J Shipley and milliner Bernstock Speirs.
The Exhibition will have merchandised feature areas for each of the returning BFC showcasing initiatives; NEWGEN, sponsored by Topshop will feature some of London’s most innovative designers; Estethica, sponsored by Monsoon, gives a platform for eco-sustainable design; Headonism, showcases new British milliners supported by Ascot Racecourse; the BFC/Elle Talent Launch Pad and The Navy Board Room Collective, comprising of NEWGEN alumni, will be located on the first floor.
NEWGEN sponsored by Topshop now situated in the East Wing will showcase some of the UK’s finest emerging talents. This season marks the 10th anniversary of Topshsop’s sponsorship of NEWGEN and this London Fashion Week kick starts the celebration of their continuous backing of the scheme. New designers for this season include Simone Rocha who’s collections have generated great press recognition and have gained her prestigious stockists throughout the world. Lucas Nascimento, a graduate from the London College of Fashion who has spent the last three seasons showing at Rio Fashion Week and Huishan Zhang, a Chinese born London based designer who has found inspiration and direction in his own national identity creating a brand where Eastern heritage meets Western influence.
Brand new fine jewellery initiative ‘BFC Rock Vault’ sponsored by the International Palladium Board and curated by Stephen Webster supports showcases and promotes Britain’s most innovative fine jewellery talent. Housed in a structure located on the Terrace of Somerset House, overlooking the Thames, the designers will create their own unique installation within this dedicated area. This unique showcasing initiative has been developed by the BFC to nurture the creative fine jewellery talent based in London and give these designers the opportunity to further develop their businesses and exposure amongst both UK and International media and retailers. Designers featured within the Rock Vault are Alexandra Jefford, Fernando Jorge, Hannah Martin, Hillier, Husam El Odeh, Jo Hayes Ward, Jordan Askill, Melanie Georgacopoulos, Sophie Bille Brahe and Tomasz Donocik. These designers will also feature alongside five concepts created by Central Saint Martin’s students made from the precious metal Palladium. An event to launch this initiative will be held on Saturday, 18th February at the designated BFC Rock Vault space.
The BFC’s ethical initiative Estethica sponsored by Monsoon is showcasing 13 cutting edge designers this season. Over the past 6 years Estethica has supported over 100 designers, chosen for their design excellence and commitment to working in a sustainable way. All designers adhere to at least one of the key Estethica principles of fair trade and ethical practice in the production process; the inclusion of organic fibres and the use of up-cycled and recycled materials and fabrics. Designers showcasing this season include ready to wear designers Ada Zanditon, Dr Noki's - NHS, Henrietta Ludgate, Junky Styling, Makepiece, Monsoon, North Circular, Reclaim to Wear and Victim Fashion Street. Joining them are accessory designers Aiste Nesterovaite and Pachacuti; Jewellery designer Joanna Cave and Lingerie designer Charini.
Headonism is a BFC initiative curated by Stephen Jones, celebrating the new wave of emerging London milliners and is supported by Royal Ascot. It showcases emerging talent within an installation that will be located in the East Wing of Somerset House. It was launched during the BFC’s 25 year celebrations by Mayor of London Boris Johnson. Designers participating in Headonism this season are Charlie Le Mindu, J Smith Esquire, Noel Stewart and Piers Atkinson and new addition William Chambers.
The four recipients of the BFC/Elle Talent Launch Pad 2011/12 award, Claudia Catzeflis, Saloni, Sophie Hulme and Vassilisa will showcase their collections in a newly dedicated space in The Exhibition. The four winners were announced by Elle Magazine in September 2011 to receive support to develop their businesses and grow relationships with regional retailers; Anna (London, Essex, Norfolk), Cricket (Liverpool), Hervia Bazaar (Manchester), Square (Bath). February 2012 is the second season for these designers to exhibit at London Fashion Week.
Four prominent multi brand showrooms will be representing designers at The Exhibition at London Fashion Week, Showroom Belgium, Place Rouge, Trace Publicity and Rainbowwave. The Showroom Belgium will be a visiting showroom as part of the BFC International Fashion Showcase. The Flanders Fashion Institute will present a selection of emerging fashion talent from Belgium including: A.Knackfuss, Cedric Jacquemyn, OMSK and WOLF by Sofie Claes and an installation created by Ra at The Exhibition during London Fashion Week. Trace Publicity will be returning for a second season bringing seven designers including Teatum Jones, Georging Hardinge and Fashion Fringe winner Fyodor Golan. Place Rouge will be joining for their third season with brands such as A Friend by A.F Vandevost, AVHASH by Anne-Valerie Hash and Jean Pierre Braganza. Rainbowwave will be supporting emerging talent with a showroom fully dedicated to designer Camilla Skovgaard.
For February 2012, the BFC has launched another brand new initiative ‘FASH/ON FILM’ sponsored by River Island. This new scheme aims to support and develop relationships between fashion designers and film makers, providing a showcasing opportunity at London Fashion Week. To celebrate the launch of this new initiative River Island will produce a short film showcasing their new Design Forum collection designed by Royal College of Art graduate Julian J Smith. It will premiere during London Fashion Week at the first BFC Fash/On Film festival sponsored by River Island in the Canon Cinema in the Courtyard Showspace and the Canon Screening room in the Embankment Galleries, Somerset House. To view the full schedule for the Fash/On Film showcase please visit: www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/digitalschedule
February 2012 sees the addition of a 3rd showspace space, the ‘Embankment Gallery Showspace’ at Somerset House. Situated in the embankment galleries, the former exhibition space will now be the venue for catwalk shows, presentations and events throughout the duration of London Fashion Week. The Showspace will host 11 designers’ shows this season, designers showing in the Embankment Gallery Showspace include Christian Blanken, Kinder Aggugini and Simone Rocha.
Caroline Rush, CEO of the BFC commented “This season sees a newly curated style of The Exhibition at Somerset House, this new layout and format will offer press and buyers a much more tailored and edited selection of British talent, this will help to bring more focus to the designers participating in the Exhibition. February sees the welcome return of seasoned exhibitors plus exciting and brand new designers providing visitors with the best possible talent in the UK fashion industry.”
Opening Hours of The Exhibition
The Exhibition at London Fashion Week will be open from 10am-7pm 17th-20th February and 10am-6pm Tuesday 21st February. Menswear Day is Wednesday 22nd February and NEWGEN MEN and Fashion East installations will be open from 12pm-5pm in the East Wing.
Press releases on this seasons initiatives are available at www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/press
For press enquiries for contact:
Ellie Wilson or Will Rowley, British Fashion Council +44 (0) 20 7759 1986/1968
ellie.wilson@britishfashioncouncil.com / will.rowley@britishfashioncouncil.com
Designers wishing to apply to be part of The Exhibition contact:
exhibition@britishfashioncouncil.com