London Fashion Week’s New Faces

The Internet has definitely helped a lot of young and talented designers out there getting noticed. Having your own site is a great idea, but joining interesting sites such as free global business directory Not Just A Label (NJAL) can give an extra hand.

I already mentioned the site in a previous post, so I won't be focusing on it, but on the fact that three designers who are registered on NJAL will be showcasing their collections at London Fashion Week (LFW).

The lucky ones are Mary Katrantzou, Jaiden rVA James and Romina Karamanea, but the list of designers who will be showing during different events at LFW such as On|Off and Vauxhall Fashion Scout is longer and also features Scott Ramsay Kyle, Horace, J.Smith Esquire, Kalikas Armour, Kangst, Kling By Kling and Soar.

Taking inspiration from Constructivism and the 70s, Mary Katrantzou designed for her previous collections quite striking dresses with trompe l'oeil prints of oversized jewels.

The latest menswear collection by Rasharn de Vera Agyemang & Jaiden James's label Jaiden rVa James featured highly wearable designs in contrasting colours and patterns inspired by the Mod culture and Spain.

Romina Karamanea's most recent collection fuses instead avant-garde, Cubism and the Bauhaus movement and fosuses on shapes and silhouettes.

One of the not to miss events at LFW is usually the Central Saint Martins (CSM) MA Show and on NJAL the institution is represented by a strong group of graduates – over 170, apparently the largest group of designers from one institute on the site.

Since it was launched NJAL provided an ever-growing directory of designers and industry contacts, becoming a useful and in some cases vital resource for designers, media and retailers. The site also offers tools such as job listings and a Fashion School directory and has basically become a platform for young talents, working closely with important partners such as Central Saint Martins, the London College of Fashion and the British Fashion Council.

“Young designers recognise the responsibility in creating sustainable fashion," Stefan Siegel, founder of NJAL, commented in a recent press release. "By applying artisan craftsmanship they are known to create products that have classic values with longer lasting qualities and we hope that consumers and buyers will soon recognise this as a new opportunity. Authentic luxury will continue to grow and prosper, resulting in one of the greatest creative opportunities in decades.”