The future of fashion, despite being always under debate, somehow manages to fly under the radar most Fashion Weeks. Yet, for 19 seasons, Fashion Scout has been showcasing the latest creations of emerging designers in its bi-annual Ones to Watch show. This year, Fashion Scout sponsored a variety of shows and events at the iconic Freemasons Hall, Covent Garden with the Ones to Watch as one of the main attractions. Indeed, for many of us, the Fashion Scout Ones to Watch show is by far the most exciting show of Fashion Week, as it is usually the most innovative and the most unexpected.
For SS16, Fashion Scout’s chosen four Ones to Watch emerging designers include – Anita Hirlekar, JS Shin, Leaf Xia and Typical Freaks. Past award winners comprise many well-known young design favourites, including Eudon Choi, Kirsty Ward, Helen Lawrence and Phoebe English. All from vastly different backgrounds with well-defined points of view, each designer brought to the catwalk their unique perspectives for this SS2016 show.
This year’s winners were selected from a shortlist of 50 designers by a panel of acclaimed industry insiders, including Hilary Alexander OBE, Fashion Scout alumni Georgia Hardinge, Kendall Robbins of the British Council, Ones to Watch stylist Rebekah Roy and Martyn Roberts, Fashion Scout’s Founder and Director. This year’s winners show the international reach of Fashion Scout and an impressive depth of skill from a group of truly well-rounded designers.
Iceland-based designer Anita Hirlekar, who graduated from the Central Saint Martins MA Fashion Textiles programme in 2014, founded her luxury womenswear line last year. Hirlekar’s designs are edgy, innovative and intricately detailed with handcrafted elements. Scarcely a year into her own brand launch, she has already done a handbag collaboration with Bulgari and appeared in Vogue Italia.
JS SHIN
JS SHIN, which is the brainchild of London-based designer Joon-Sik Shin, is a womenswear label with a conceptual yet tailored polish. A graduate of the Fashion Design Technology Womenswear programme at London College of Fashion, Joon-Sik brings together immaculate skill and a solid background in Italian tailoring to create interesting designs.
Leaf Xia
Leaf Xia, originally from China, now bases her line in New York. A graduate of the Parsons School of Design in 2015, Leaf has a bold signature aesthetic with a heavy focus on bright colors, print and a well-defined silhouette. Her work showcases her skills in collage, exhibiting fun and unusual shapes.
Typical Freaks
Finally, Typical Freaks is anything but typical. The result of a collaboration between Seun Ade-Onojobi, a graduate of the Central Saint Martins MA programme, and Sonia Xiao, a graduate of London College of Fashion, this new line is eccentric yet covetable. With a distinctly humorous edge, Typical Freaks nonetheless demonstrates essential craftsmanship and solid design with hand-printed pieces and an overall cool vibe.
If this crop of young designers for the Fashion Scout 2016 Ones to Watch is anything to judge, the future of fashion is in good hands.
by Jessica Quillin
Images courtesy of Fashion Scout