:: Dispatches from London Fashion Week ::

During London Fashion Week, Somerset House is not the only place wear fashion mavens congregate.
Just a stones throw away from that iconic venue, at the Strand Hotel, an event is taking place bringing together lesser known and emerging, but in many ways, equally talented designers, under the banner ‘Fashion Mavericks‘.
Here, the people pulling the event together”…not only live by the bible that is Vogue and worship the fashion Gods à la Anna Wintour, Mr Lagerfeld, Gareth Pugh but they have the talent skill and eye for detail to see, hear and put into practice what they know oh so very well.” In order to “…show off all that is stylish, eclectic, distinct and unique.”

This eclectic mix features a number of outstanding designers from diverse backgrounds, drawing from their heritage and building on their talent to use fashion as their chosen medium of expression, to find success in the marketplace.

Here are just a few worth venturing off the beaten path for.

Sara Shimasué

Sara Shimasué is a Stockholm-born, Swedish/Japanese designer.

What drew us to her at the Fashion Mavericks exhibition was one exquisite skirt, with a three-dimensional diamond pattern.

The fabric was folded like origami paper and steamed intensely to create this gorgeously unique effect– fluid yet strong.

This outstanding combination of tradition, engineering and beauty makes us want to see even more from the young designer!

Saffron Knight

This Is Worldtown was able to catch Saffron Knight’s first solo show, for Autumn/Winter 2010.

Knight draws on her dual heritage– Jamaican and British– in the “Princesses of the Knight” collection she debuted and in the fabric she designed and handprinted, which feature prominently in her collection.
The catwalk show, set to Herbaliser’s ‘Sensual Woman’, contained a lot of ambitious construction, and movement. The pieces ranged from dresses, rompers, tailcoat jackets and fitted pants, employing patchwork techniques that had a modern hippie quality. At times though, the shocking red wigs distracted from the raw design details.
Check it out for yourself.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Renaissance of our Roots (RooR)

RooR produces contemporary clothing made of beautiful fabrics from the continent of Africa, seeking to evoke a unique cultural fashion experience.
The friends who started the line, share an African heritage. They use the unique fabrics in unconventional ways, and have achieved stunning results.
Lately African-inspired fabrics and patterns are among the new must-have items.
RooR seems to sidestep the trendiness and honour their heritage in an authentic and accessible way.

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Two lines being exhibited at the the event were from Indian designers, who have made a name for themselves in their native country, but are working to break through in Britain, Europe and beyond.

Morphe by Amit Aggrawal

The details on his pieces, from the pleating and ruching to the sequins and beading, only further complimented the flowy fabrics and flattering shapes to make this an easy collection to fit in to any woman’s wardrobe.

Umesh Vashisht

The designer’s approach for this collection is a combination of modern silhouettes and styles, with a romantic palette of greys and rose. The signature pieces, a party frock– complete with tulle and flowers– rocks sweet and edgy.