'Making Connections' E/P Project

Sunday 11 May 2008

The Project

The project as a whole succeeded in what I assume to have been one of its main goals ― getting Londoners and New Yorkers to learn the differences between their two fashion cultures. Although I am unsure how much worldly wisdom we journalists were able to impart to the Parsons students (perhaps our part will be better played through Segue), I definitely feel more comfortable in my understanding of New York as a fashion industry.

I believe that the project will naturally improve as it proceeds next year, mostly because there will be a model to work from. One hindrance that I noted this year was that many people at Parsons were unaware of the collaboration, or of what our UCCA course is all about. If we can send across some copies of Segue with what I’m sure will be a great collection of designer profiles, perhaps we can better publicise our abilities and get Parsons students excited about being part of the project. As a personal criticism, I think it would have been beneficial if myself or other UCCA students had arranged a group social activity (a.k.a. fabulous party), so that we had the opportunity to get to know the Parsons students away from what was obviously a very stressful school event for them.

The Experience

The recent visit to New York has made what seemed impossible, possible. I am now even more excited about the forthcoming Sex and the City movie. Why? Because now I’m prepared to scream “I’ve been there” at every other scene.

My addiction to a certain four ladies aside, I found New York to be a rare city because it is so like its representations on TV. Furthermore, I found New York fashion to live up to its stereotypes. Students that I encountered at Parsons are impressively aware of their competition, their potential place in the industry, and what it takes to get where they want to go. The fact that when questioned, any student could price their garment and describe its potential position in Barney’s, was all I needed to know that New York’s reputation as the commercial fashion capital is well-grounded. What I did not expect however, was for this commercial awareness to be accompanied by such an exceptional design process that entwined broad creative inspirations with refreshingly intelligent design.

The most striking examples of this included inspiration being taken from such diverse sources as the two tragedies of Frida Kahlo, or footage from surveillance cameras, and immaculately cut designs that had multifunctional capacities. The latter of these appeared as a theme amongst the few collections I was fortunate enough to see and brought a welcome element of sustainable design philosophy, demonstrating that fashion can be commercially driven and eco-friendly.

I always believe that experiencing a different culture is a great learning experience, and although I have visited New York before, this time I feel like I really understand it. Furthermore, the opportunity I’ve had to become acquainted with New York means that if such a dream-like occurrence of having the chance to work there arises, I am so ready for it.

Sunday 6 April 2008

Visting London?

Sleep

• The Hoxton Urban Lodge – the travelers holy grail ― a luxury hotel with budget prices set in one of London’s current hottest areas. http://www.hoxtonhotels.com/

Eat

• Leon – super healthy, well-priced fast-food alternative that has sprung up in several handy central locations (like Carnaby Street, a stone’s throw from Topshop) making it perfect for shopping sustenance. http://www.leonrestaurants.co.uk/

• Bistrotheque is super cool with everything from slick dining to regular cabaret sessions. http://www.bistrotheque.com

• Sketch ― a wonderfully eclectic and visually stunning dining, drinking and art experience in Mayfair. http://www.sketch.uk.com

See

• The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) always has an exciting exhibition or thought provoking piece cinema on offer. http://www.ica.org.uk/

• Barbican ― so far this year the Barbican’s art gallery has indulged sex and aliens. If that isn’t enticing enough, it’s an architectural landmark with regular installments of theatre, dance, film and music. http://www.barbican.org.uk/

• Borough Market ― London’s oldest food market has a charming atmosphere, plenty of treats to sample and a nice riverside location. http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk

Drink

• Mahiki ― sexy tropical chic but be prepared for the £10 drink. http://www.mahiki.com/

• Koko is set in an old theatre with an eventful history and has live acts, a great variety of club nights, and is surrounded by the cool bars of Camden. http://www.koko.uk.com

• Ember bar in Farringdon is stylish but affordable and open late with DJ sets all night. Perfect if you’re warming up for nearby Fabric. 99-100 Turnmill Street.

Shop

• Dover Street Market – any London fashion lover will cite the multi-storey brainchild of Rei Kawakubo as a must see – even if you can’t afford anything. http://www.doverstreetmarket.com

• COS – who’d have thought H&M’s sister store could produce well-executed, conceptually exciting, garments in luscious fabrics? Wearable forever fashion at totally affordable prices. http://www.cosstores.com/

• Brick Lane - look out for sample sales hidden through unmarked doors, 24 hr bagel shops and the market on Sundays.

• Spitalfields market has stalls with vintage fashion, independent designers, quirky home wares and buckets of atmosphere. (Sunday is the biggest day). http://www.spitalfields.co.uk

• B Store boutique on Saville Row has garnered a reputation for stocking fresh and interesting designers http://www.bstorelondon.com/

• Liberty may not be as big or extensively stocked as Selfridges or Harvey Nichols but the historical building makes it a gorgeous place to shop. http://www.liberty.co.uk/

• Beyond Retro ― a vintage store that always has plenty to rummage through. www.beyondretro.com

• Magma has the best selection of fashion and design magazines in London. www.magmabooks.com

• Butler & Wilson is a treasure trove of all things bright and sparkly including one-of-a-kind bags. http://www.butlerandwilson.co.uk

• Browns is a designer boutique with a knack for selecting the most eye-catching pieces. http://www.brownsfashion.com

Wednesday 12 March 2008

Bite Me

Cliché as it is to quote Old Blue Eyes, it’s surely true that many a fashion designer has spied the financial success of designers showing in New York and cried, “I want to be a part of it”. There is little about New York that screams struggling designer or insufficient commercial profit. If you’re looking for money, New York is where it is.

The tricks turned to make this fashionable wallet bulge are the simplest in the book ― the mastered art of making clothes desirable, sellable, wearable. Yet nowhere has this down to a perfectly cut T like the Big Apple. In the current economic state of the flailing dollar, New York flexes its commercial muscles to capitalise on retail sales.

On the catwalks, the pulse of New York is sleek, chic and effortless, but I struggle to believe that Derek Lam, Marchesa, Calvin Klein or even Marc Jacobs, who form part of the core of this apple, are what make it so juicy. What gets me excited about New York fashion is when I hear about Consignment Stores or playful ‘Dropping’ escapades which come across as anti-establishment in the most thrilling way.

Catwalk coverage makes me feel like I’m watching New York with blinkers on, guided towards established brands and struggling to see beyond financial foreplay and celebrity rife front rows. There is no denying that New York produces some of the most beautiful, coveted garments in the world, but I’m betting that behind the fashion staples lies something a little fruitier.

Sunday 24 February 2008

Playing to Our Strengths

England has always managed to breed eccentrics – from George III to Amy Winehouse – there is something in our culture that allows the inner oddball to flourish. It is this climate that has translated to the catwalk and made the London fashion scene the eclectic and exciting jungle of new talent that it is today, where any personality, no matter how unusual, can be expressed through clothing.

This open minded approach to fashion has been cultivated with the help of Fashion East which, under the directorship of Lulu Kennedy, has launched such names as Louise Gray, Marios Schwab, Roksanda Ilincic and Gareth Pugh. In addition to this, designers like Christopher Kane in particular, have helped draw focus back to London by proving that the fresh, sometimes unconventional, and formerly unknown, can be most breathtaking.

London is exciting because it is a city where new things happen. As a fashion capital, it is constantly building on a reputation of welcoming quirky new designers with open arms before supplying them with a platform to showcase their wonders to the world. Other fashion capitals boast their own merits, but nowhere breaks a quirky young thing like London.

http://www.fashioneast.co.uk

Tuesday 29 January 2008

An Introduction

It was a long-standing adoration of fashion that drew me to the FJN course, though admittedly now it is journalism that has become my first love. I write because it allows me to express the thoughts I never quite manage to articulate in conversation ― when I write I'm at wittiest and most intelligent, or so I like to think. However, fashion will always have the sort of hold over me that, one day, will leave me with the window cleaning bills for removing several inches of drool from the glossy exteriors of designer shops my bank manager prohibits me from entering. The designers that keep me salivating most on a regular basis are Nicholas Ghesquiere and Christopher Bailey.

I draw inspiration from news stories, art exhibitions, books I've read, and anything topical I can relate to fashion, always trying to make connections between fashion and other aspects of culture and life. I've been fortunate enough to travel widely and last year completed work experience at a couple of publications in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I've also indulged my interest in travel recently by working with Wallpaper* City Guides. Having briefly been to New York once before I'm really excited about developing connections with everyone at Parsons and discovering more about the life and style of a fabulous city.

Thursday 24 January 2008

Other E/P Project Members' Blogs

'Making Connections' E/P Project - Nicky Ashwell