London College of Fashion BA, The Designers to Watch 2015
The London College of Fashion BA show illustrates the exciting new talent London has to offer. We caught up with some of their bright young things.
What are your favourite materials to work with?
My design aesthetic isn’t extremely outrageous. I used to be really simple in the way I selected materials and designs however during my current design project I am collaborating with a textiles student and womenswear student and I think the use of textiles has really pushed me to think about all the materials out there that could be used to elevate my designs.
What are your design essentials when working?
Caramel Brownie, Coffee and Music.
Who are you excited about at London Collections Men?
I am a big lover E. Tautz and Topman Design.
Aside from LC:M, which cultural events are you looking forward to in London in the next few months?
All the graduate exhibitions and shows. It’s interesting to see what talent London is producing and seeing who might be the next people to watch.
What's next for you?
To show at LCF BA 15 and to enjoy my time in London whilst I can still afford it. And find a job!
Marianne Tse-Laurence: Fashion Design and Development
Could you tell us a bit about your background and why you went into fashion?
I was born and bred in the Northern Seaside town of Fleetwood. It’s a very small town so the access to fashion was very limited, I started going to the nearest city Manchester when I was about 14 and loved the metropolitan atmosphere of the city. I did textiles A-level, then a foundation in art and design before coming to London to do Fashion.
What are your favourite materials to work with?
I like quiet raw natural materials like linens and denims.
As a new designer, what have been the biggest challenges so far?
This year has been a massive learning curve, the biggest challenge is the amount of self pressure you put on yourself but it’s definitely worth the work.
Who are you excited about at London Collections Men?
Agi & Sam, Craig Green, Margaret Howell.
Wearable tech: for or against?
For, fashion should be forward thinking.
Bora Nam: Fashion design technology: Womenswear
What is your design inspiration?
It’s called the alternative community, where the young neglected ones start train-hopping and looking for a better place to call home. It’s emotional and hopeful and unique reflecting the young minds at its best. And this is what I like to look at in youth.
As a new designer, what have been the biggest challenges so far?
Collaborating has been the biggest challenge for me. Managing every single timeline for every aspect was not easy. But I’m rather glad I had a chance to do it now. I must say it was eye-opening to consider and design so many other things like prints and embroidery than just construction and 3D developing.
Is London a good place to be working as a young designer? Why?
It will always be challenge for you. We, young designers, are always hungry for challenges, aren’t we? At least I am. And London won’t let you forget who you are as a designer because London will never let you get lost in the commercial mass production where you have to give up on your designs.
Maria Giannakopoulou: Fashion Textiles: Embroidery
Could you tell us about your journey into fashion?
I was born in Athens, Greece and I was raised there until I came to London about 3 years ago. I have always been interested in fashion from a young age but my passion for textiles and especially embroidery blossomed when I was 17 and first started taking textiles classes in my Foundation course at Doukas School.
What are your favourite materials to work with?
I really enjoy manipulating and creating 3D structures that can inspire me further on at my embroidery designs. The material that I most enjoy using is plaster gauze in combination with plastic and gold leaves.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
The best advice I have ever been given is to never give up no matter what and keep pursuing your goals. I think in the fashion industry is one of the key values you need to have.
Fanni Varga: Fashion Design Technology: Womenswear
What are your favourite materials to work with?
I like to work with light weight fabrics or anything that I found interesting and inspires me.
What is your design inspiration?
The concept of my project is called “Clumsy Sexiness” and most of my research came from lingerie pieces. I wanted to create a sexy and pretty mood done in a bad way that makes it both knowingly humorous and uncomfortably sexy simultaneously. Beauty is usually considered good and true, so then can ugly, a copy, not be truly good? Elements of the garments are only imitations, fake copies of the actual garment, such as bras or tights made by bonding and fusing.
What are your design essentials when working?
It depends on the project but in general I like to mix feminine and masculine elements. Doing something odd.
As a new designer, what have been the biggest challenges so far?
Designing to a given body size.
Is London a good place to be working as a young designer? Why?
Definitely is. This city is full of opportunities and people are really open-minded.
Who are you excited about at London Collections Men?
Hot guys
Aside from LC:M, which cultural events are you looking forward to in London in the next few months?
Festivals, and I would like to see the Alexander McQueen exhibition.
Photographer: James Rees
Creative Direction: Rob Phillips
Hair: Ezana Ové
Beauty: Kirsty Gaston
By India Doyle
