Designers from both Britain and around the world came together for London Fashion Week 2014 to showcase a runway of creations ranging from the simple to the angelic
Out of the depths of London Fashion Week of September 2014, a multi-designer show emerged, featuring a glittering line-up of British and international designers preparing us for the spring and summer seasons.
The show, named Fashion International, was held at The Whitehall Suite, Royal Horseguards Hotel, and showcased a range of designers from diverse backgrounds. This included a collection which came about following the Gaza conflict, with proceeds going towards the welfare of Palestinians. In addition, a compilation from an exemplary designer was presented – the first deaf designer I have come across – who worked with digital printed fabric designs. Each producer had a vision which contributed towards their creations – each faction told its own story in beautiful blends of fabrics, colours and cuts.
We bore witness to beautiful stone and jewel-embellished jackets, shorts and dresses. Furthermore, to put the proverbial cherry on the cake, angelic evening gowns and show-stopping pieces made the evening memorable, giving us a hint of what’s to come and preparing us to add some sparkle to our wardrobes.
Here are a few of the pieces which stood out starkly against the competition:
Embellished Shorts
Delna Poonawalla’s ‘Kaleidoscope Karma’ ensemble displayed geometric prints and fluid silhouettes with leather-trimming, presenting a soft, dreamy collection. Many pieces, such as the cute cut short, were beautifully embellished with beads, sequins and embroidery. The soft colour palette of pastels reflected the ambience of spring.
The Crochet Butterfly
Valdini Angels’ ‘Be Unique’ line presented a delightful assortment of elegant designs in various handmade motifs and shapes. The collection featured neutral-coloured pieces overlain with crochet motifs containing small jewelled elements. In contrast, we also saw bright and vibrant prints, creating beautiful silhouettes. My favourite piece of the assemblage was the large butterfly-like crochet theme on the dress. It was simple but bold.
The Flag of Pain and Hope
‘Gaza: The right to humanity’ by Wajahat Mirza was inspired by the Gaza movement and the Palestinian flag. The black in this selection represented mourning, white for peace, green for hope, and the red for bloodshed. This was manifested in fluid evening gowns, georgettes and soft tones of velvet. Each piece was beautifully draped, formulating sophisticated, stunning and eye-catching pieces.
Floral Prints
Sharon M Osborne brought the ‘silent perspective’ as a deaf sign-language user. Her influence was her interpretation of the world as she sees it. Her garments were created using the finest bespoke digitally-printed designs and laser-cut leather. Osborne’s collection was based on florals and pastels, with items that reminded me of the 1960s. The shorts were pretty and playful, and the unique combination of Silk Crêpe de Chine and leathers created a very interesting medley of crisp textures and shapes.
The Elusive Jewel
The Daniel Syiem ‘Amaranthine-Everlasting Style’ series was natural and organic, using natural dyes and organic weaved materials with simple designs. The light colours combined with vibrant statement pieces exhibited something authentic. The collection included clean-cut blazers, as well as a bold terracotta-colour jumpsuit. A unique piece of this array, which I found spectacular, was the basic long earring that formed a continuous necklace.
Colour Blocks
Lenie Boya’s ‘Voyage’ formation featured refined minimalism with asymmetrical cuts and primary colours; blue, off-white, red and black. Inspired by Picasso, the designer’s ingenuity was to create wearable art fragments. The collection was chic with a splash of colour on black, making each dress unique. The final piece in this line-up was a black velvet dress with a tulip structure beginning across the chest and framing the face of the model.
Exotic
Omar Mansoor’s display was a dazzle of bright colours – red, turquoise and gold. The collection was a mix of fun and demure. It featured semi-precious stones, including turquoise, alongside hand-woven, crochet-decorated, flowing gowns in pure silk, crepe and chiffon.
Omar Mansoor told us that Mata Hari, a Dutch dancer and spy, was his key inspiration for the line, hence the mixture of styles. His preferred item, he asserted, was the last piece on the runway. The dress has a pure silk lining and a turquoise-coloured tulle overlay, with hand applique. It is a wonderful piece which can be worn for a multitude of occasions. The collection was expressive of a confident and playful, but elegant, individual.
Each designer brought show-stoppers within their creations, with fusions of designs, fabrics, patterns and shapes. The show was an innovative interpretation of fashion and design from across the world, as well as the combined perspectives of people from different walks of life.
Image from: Omar Mansoor's 'Mata Hari' Collection