Loredana Novotni - "Sacred" hand crafted concepts.

Loredana Loredana

"Sacred" couture collection - MA degree

Loredana Novotni's conceptual capsule collection "Sacred" focuses upon hand-crafted knit and crochet techniques to create innovative textures, with an emphasis upon a structured silhouette.  Each intricately hand-crafted piece in the collection took Novotni a month to complete.  The results are stunning.

Loredana Novotni has always loved to draw since she was a young child.  With no thoughts of becoming a fashion designer, Loredana simply loved to make dresses for dolls.  When she was 7 years old her mother and grandmother taught her to knit and crochet.  These hand-crafted techniques became an integral part of Novotni's design style, "I like to work with textiles, I like to discover new textures, new ways to do things."

Novotni sees fashion as an art form.  Art that can be touched.  Interacted with.  Novotni explains "Design should have soul and should touch the five senses of a person.  Each design must be as unique as the artist."

Loredana Novotni has recently started to work with concept stores in her home country, Romania. Her future ambitions include expanding her brand into other countries and the opportunity for "various collaborations with other designers and known artists"

I wish her every success for the future.

Loredana Loredana

"Sacred" couture collection - MA degree

Loredana Loredana

"Sacred" couture collection - MA degree

Ekaterina Kukhareva - Undercover Queen

Ekaterina Kukhareva
Spring Summer 2010 - Undercover Queen

As we come to the end of an Autumn Winter season dominated by chunky cable knits, oversized boyfriend cardigans and sloppy 'grunge' inspired jumpers - all of which I have succumbed to with open arms - it is so refreshing to come across Ekaterina Kukhareva's Spring Summer collection - Undercover Queen.

This high-end, sexy-chic knitwear collection takes it's inspiration from a mythological Egypt, ancient Queen Cleopatra and the techniques used by designers Herve Leger and Azzedine Alaia.

Each beautifully hand-crafted piece in the collection can take Kukhareva up to seven days to construct, including two days to make the fabric.  Traditional techniques of macrame, fringing and crochet have been used with opulent embellishment to create timeless pieces for strong, sensual, modern women.

See the complete range at www.kukhareva.com

Ekaterina Kukhareva
Spring Summer 2010 - Undercover Queen

Ekaterina Kukhareva
Spring Summer 2010 - Undercover Queen

Ekaterina Kukhareva
Spring Summer 2010 - Undercover Queen

Ekaterina Kukhareva
Spring Summer 2010 - Undercover Queen

Ekaterina Kukhareva
Spring Summer 2010 - Undercover Queen

He is superman - Yang Du

Yang Du
Spring Summer 2011
NEWGEN at London Fashion Week
Image by Re-Design for Life

Yang Du's spring summer 2011 collection - He is superman - is inspired by the toys and games of her childhood.  The expressive emotions of Superman, Batman and Astroboy play leading roles in the stories Du creates through each design within the collection.  Inspiration is also drawn from the Korean Toy Museum and it's collection of retro and stuck-together 'mutant' toys.

The collection is a riot of bold colour, surreal images and over-sized shapes constructed in panelled jersey, patchwork and digital prints.  All is brought together to create humorous yet sexy designs.  It's no wonder fans of her designs include Marina (and the Diamonds), Paloma Faith and Daisy Lowe.

There is a real sense of fun about Yang's work that I love.  I was also bowled over by her creative exuberance and serious professionalism.  A real inspiration.  I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot more of Yang Du and her surreal take on fashion.

Image by permission of Yang Du

Image by permission of Yang Du

Image by permission of Yang Du

Inspiration - Winter 2010

I know. I know. What do I mean? -Winter 2010!! We've hardly had a hint of Spring 2010 I hear you cry. And there I was - only two weeks ago - spouting off my resolution for slowing down fashion. How can I possibly be slowing down when I'm practically leap-frogging the SS10 season to find myself falling head-over-heels for looks that have barely left the 'Pre-Fall 2010' catwalks. I simply couldn't resist.

Preen Pre-Fall 2010

This has to be my number 1 collection. That hard-edged, Forties glamour. Strong yet sensual. Don't mess with me attitude. I just love it! These outfits look even more amazing set against those distressed plaster walls and bare floor-boards. (Reminds me of my local pub). I could happily take each of these outfits to wear as they are, which could cause a bit of stir down at my local.

Balenciaga Pre-Fall 2010

Amazing bold colour. Futuristic tropical floral prints. Ingenious draping effects. All brought together with creative genius to produce a collection with impact. Although, I'll probably give the bright yellow leggings a miss.

Missoni Pre-Fall 2010

I've mentioned before that I don't really do knitwear. This collection could be the one to convert me. I just love the layers of textures and colours that have been wrapped and draped to create each outfit. What's even more appealing is that each item can be wrapped and draped in more than one way to create different looks from one outfit. Multi-functional dressing at it's most creative.

Giles Pre-Fall 2010

Another of my favourites. Why? -Because of the creative direction - shown in an old porcelain factory. The styling - vivid coloured wigs and tool accessories. And, because it's Giles - one of my favourite British designers. Never afraid to take risks. I have to say I'm not loving the Laboutins. I just don't understand what all the fuss is. But I am loving the paper-clip prints. Stunning with a quirky edge on that floor length dress.

Baby it's cold outside

Curl up, cocoon and keep warm...

Images by Humanoid

Dutch design company Humanoid use fabrics that envelop the body in comfortable luxury. Their designs are created using draped fabrics that gently hug the silhouette of the body for a relaxed fit. Elegant clothes with an edge. Their clothes are a pleasure to wear. Perfect for cold winter days like today.

I Love Lowie

Last night after a few festive drinks at my local pub I walked home surrounded by a flurry of dancing snowflakes. How exciting. How magical. How uncomfortable it became as the freezing wind bit into my cheeks, nipped my ears and pinched it's frosty grasp around my thumbs, which were peeping out through holes in my gloves. The snowflakes' dance had lost it's magic.

As I am writing this I am watching another snowflake dance outside my window. It's cold out there. It's time to invest in some winter warmers to cocoon myself. I need look no further than Lowie who produce hand knitted and hand crocheted clothing and accessories using traditional hand crafted techniques. The result is a colourful, modern and ethically produced range, which is perfect for snuggling into on cold winter days. Ideal for Christmas gifts too.

If you're around London's Covent Garden, check out their Pop-Up shop on Neal Street. For those who are not in London, or if you can't face going out into the cold, you can see the collection on I Love Lowie website.

Images by I Love Lowie

Future Fashion at the V&A

Last week I immersed myself in the world of decorative arts at the Victoria and Albert museum. I was searching for print design inspiration for a textile course I have coming up in December. More about that in a later post.

While I was at the V&A I took the opportunity to have a look at 'Future Fashion Now' an exhibition showing work by the 2008 fashion graduates from the Royal College of Art. The exhibition presents concept, technique, form and detail by displaying student's sketchbooks, inspiration images, experimental mock-up designs and finished outfits.

Here are a few of my favourites. All displays were behind glass so please excuse any odd reflections on the photos.

Designs by Lea Carreno

Bold grafics and unexpected colour combinations.

Wool, viscose and copper.

Inspired by avant-garde designs of 1920's & 30's.

Designs by Lea Carreno

Juxtaposing fine and heavy guage knits to create interesting buoyancy and movement.

Left: Wool, silk and viscose

Right: Wool, viscose and leather

Design by Timothy Lee

A creative solution to making fabric stand away from the body.

Invisible strips of fused wool form an under-structure to produce controlled folds.

Jacket: Leather

Dress: wool, viscose and neoprene

Design by Timothy Lee

Stiff neoprene becomes the integral part of the coat's streamlined collar.

Exaggerated shoulders are heavily padded.

Coat: wool, silk and neoprene

Dress: viscose and neoprene

Design by Abbie Shaw

Fused fabric and wadding give structure to this boxy dress.

The card model reveals how the pattern was constructed.

Dress: wool

Neckpiece: acrylic and cotton

Design by Hiekki Salonen

The coat's silhouette was created by experimenting with traditional tailoring techniques.

The fringe and raw edges reveal the coat's previous life as a blanket.

Fabric: wool and silk

Designs by Hiekki Salonen

Gilet: cotton and silk

Dress: silk and faux pearls