Army surplus gets a sophisticated edge . Christopher Raeburn - SS13

Christopher Raeburn
Spring Summer 2013

Photo by Fillipo Flor - Go Runway.com

Readers of this blog will know that I have been a fan of Christopher Raeburn's work since seeing his collection of outwear and parkas in 2008, which was created from up-cycled army parachutes and military jackets.  I have always admired his thoughtful creativity and meticulous attention to detail.

But!  Wow!  His SS13 catwalk show - at London Fashion Week today - marks a transition for his work.  Raeburn has created a sleek collection of wearable pieces with a sophisticated urban edge.  He has managed to do this without losing his signature utilitarian style.

Stand out pieces in the collection were iridescent nylon shirt dresses, lace patterned parkas and hooded bomber jackets, grosgrain taped seams and camouflage inspired prints.

Christopher Raeburn
Spring Summer 2013

Photo by Fillipo Flor - Go Runway.com

Christopher Raeburn
Spring Summer 2013

Photo by Fillipo Flor - Go Runway.com

Christopher Raeburn
Spring Summer 2013

Photo by Fillipo Flor - Go Runway.com

Christopher Raeburn
Spring Summer 2013

Photo by Fillipo Flor - Go Runway.com

Huishan Zhang - Label of the Month

Huishan Zhang
Autumn Winter 2012 Collection
Photograph by Victoria Tang

As London Fashion Week approaches, I have been checking out the New Generation designers who will be showing their Spring Summer '13 collections there at the end of next week.

Huishan Zhang, a Central St. Martins graduate, immediately captured my attention with his elegant and contemporary designs.  Influenced by Chinese culture and tradition, Zhang creates elegant pieces with a  modern twist by layering and fusing shapes, pattern and colour.  The "sexy and feminine" cheongsam dress is re-created throughout Zhang's collections to create his signature style of "Chinese tradition meets Western influence and modernity"

Huishan Zhang is my Label of the Month. 

I will come back to you soon with a review of his Spring Summer '13 collection.  

Huishan Zhang
Autumn Winter 2012 Collection
Photograph by Victoria Tang

Huishan Zhang
Autumn Winter 2012 Collection
Photograph by Victoria Tang

Huishan Zhang
Autumn Winter 2012 Collection
Photograph by Victoria Tang

Huishan Zhang
Autumn Winter 2012 Collection
Photograph by Victoria Tang