The prestigious showcasing initiative announces its latest designers.
Esti wears checked navy and white shirt and long skirt by RICHARD MALONE. (Photograph: Piczo)
Non-profit programme Fashion East announced the designers for their forthcoming London Fashion Week show season today. Now in its 15th year (and it’s 12th with headline sponsorship from Topshop), the programme helps designers not just with the LFW showcasing event, but also with direct sponsorship, business mentoring and inclusion in a leading Paris showroom. Alumni of the initiative include such huge British names as Gareth Pugh, House of Holland, Marques’Almeida and Simone Rocha. This year, Fashion East will be supporting four designers (instead of the usual three): last year’s names Caitlin Price and Richard Malone will continue to receive support, whilst AV Robertson and Mimi Wade were the two newcomer designers for this season.
Lulu Kennedy, Director of Fashion East, said of the announcement, “the new applicants were especially strong this season, with Amie Robertson even being recommended to us by Katie Grand and Katie Hillier. The selection process was getting impossible, until panel member Mandi Lennard suggested we award four designers instead of our usual three. I am more excited than ever to reveal the talent we have chosen – it’s the most brilliant lineup yet!” With four designers this innovative, we couldn’t agree more.
Caitlin Price
Mimi wears dress by MIMI WADE. (Photograph: Masha Mel)