Neon luxury British trainer brand launches Kick Starter campaign; garnering support

New brand of luxury British trainer - Neon -  is now officially launched with a Kick Starter campaign.  The brand had a soft launch at the Scoop International fair in London in January this year, and now fashionistas and trend leaders can head to the on-line campaign (by clicking HERE) to pledge and reserve their own pair of NEONs before the trainers go on retail sale in October.   

A select number of NEONs, in all of the colours of the debut collection, are on offer, as well as the limited edition,  gold ‘Magic Dust’ NEONs (these will also be available on the website from launch but for a limited time only.)  Finally, the campaign will also incorporate the opportunity to order men’s NEONs in 3 key colours, again not something that will retail in October.

Neon caught my eye at Scoop because of its stylish design for a trainer, and also unique colour concept that the entire shoe, including the wedge, is a single block colour using sumptuous leathers throughout.  Very much on trend, its autumn/winter collection features a range of rich colours as well as metallic options.  You're spoiled for choice.

Stylish design aside, these luxury trainers are also manufactured here in the UK, each pair is made to order and the Kick Starter campaign is the first step to getting production  under way.  The Northampton-based, family-run factory that manufactures NEONs is one of the oldest shoe factories in the UK, dating back to 1908.  On the NEON website you can follow how trainers are produced by true artisans and are a tribute to quality UK manufacturing.

Head designer and managing director at NEON, Sarah-Jayne Newey, comments: “The time is almost here to launch the ‘Our Girl Rules The City’ debut collection to the public and we’re very excited.  We’ve had excellent feedback so far and we’re confident that our luxury, British, one-colour trainers will be a huge success across the board.
“We decided to start with a Kick Starter campaign as a way to get production going with one big push.  All of our trainers are made to order in our Northampton factory and it’s important for us to start production off with a big order and really get the factory going with NEON.  We’ve had fantastic support so far and the campaign is also another way for us to give back to our supporters.  The campaign will see our debut collection available at a lower than retail cost, as well as a limited edition  skin on offer and a limited edition menswear option.”  

The debut collection will launch on the NEON website  in mid-October.   

Master weaver demonstrates the making of Jan Kath's Erased Heritage Rug at Decorex

Jan Kath's Erased Heritage rug designs demonstrate a unique combination of classical Italian and traditional oriental ornamental rug features with distressed effects.  At first glance, one would think the rugs are ancient and have faded in parts.  In fact, the faded effect is its unique design feature that makes the rugs appear at once aged and yet contemporary.

By using the highest quality of materials, such as Tibetan Highland wool, fine Chinese silk, cashmere and nettle fibres, the rugs are hand-made by highly skilled weavers using a traditional high density hand-knotting technique - from 100 to 450 knots per square inch. No two rugs are the same.

On hand to meticulously demonstrate such technique is a seasoned master weaver from India at the Decorex show currently held at London's Syon Park until September 24.   He is making in front of your eyes Jan Kath's Erased Heritage Tabriz Canal Arial rug using the hand-knotted technique.

Jan Kath, along with Michaela Schleypen whose work is inspired by nature), are two world-renowned rug designers represented by FRONT London which has a 200 sq. metre showroom in Mayfair.

Photos by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect.

Eley Kishimoto launches first wallpaper collection at Decorex, London

Most people associate the name Eley Kishimoto (founded by Mark Eley and Wakako Kishimoto in 1992) as a British fashion label that specialises in print.

Known internationally for their wide range of work - from fashion and interiors to architectural and design collaborations across different disciplines - the dynamic label has now launched its first hand-printed wallpaper collection, currently on show at the presitigious Decorex luxury interior trade fair (Sept. 21 - 24) at London's Syon Park.


It is a fantastical world of colour, pop, fun and exciting patterns. the new wallpaper collection (comprising 12 designs) builds on the success of the designers' previous offering of bespoke furniture, soft furnishings and homewares.

Their stand in Decorex is covered in the La La Lyon Col 35 design taken from a fabric they had used two years' ago for a fashion range.  This is a bold design representing a modern take on a traditional damask pattern.

The new collection - screen-prinrted in the designers' Brixton studio - is the latest incarnation of a continually evolving design aesthetic; re-working of seminal prints from the studio's archive that unifies existing designs with both garments and walls, resulting in a visceral exploration of surface decoration.  The collection also celebrates a desire to create exquisite, handcrafted artifacts in a world of fast, digital production.
The new wallpaper collection is available to buy online at Eley Kishimoto's website.  

Eley Kishimoto -  the "Patron Saints of Print" - have done it again.

Photos by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect.

Japanese Water-Well Concept inspired towel brand's booth design at 100% Design show

Lucia Carpio, Content Editor of My Fashion Connect, trying out the traditional custom of washing hands
at an ancient shrine in Kyoto, Japan.

When visiting and worshiping at a shrine in Japan, it is traditional to wash one’s hands and mouth with water from a well on the premise to purify oneself.  I had this experience on a recent trip to Kyoto, the ancient capital of feudal Japan.

And it was at the 100% Design show at London's Earl's Court held a couple of days ago that I got to experience this traditional custom again.

Japanese towel company Imabari had created a serene exhibition space that engaged visitors in the unique hand-washing tradition.

The main concept of the booth was based on a “pile” of stacking wood frames that one often finds in a traditional Japanese building.  The wood frames in the Imabari's booth were stacked in such a way that the structure resembled the Japanese written character for a water-well.  

And built into these wood frames were unique watering “basins” for visitors to experience the Japanese traditional custom of washing hands.  Visitors then had the opportunity to dry out their hands using Imabari’s cotton towels, and experience first hand the towel’s water-absorbing quality and lush cotton texture.

The booth concept was created by the branding project's creative director Kashiwa Sato (responsible for the international branding of such names as Honda, Uniqlo and Seven Eleven Japan) in collaboration with architect Shigeru Kubota who designed the Imabari Towel shop in Tokyo, utilising Japanese architectural aesthetics.

On exhibit at the booth in 100% Design were different ranges of white towels woven in subtle designs.  According to a spokesman, Imabari’s minimalistic approach to producing these towels were based on the three elements of texture, materials and weaving.

Imabari Towels are often in white and never in strong colours and patterns so as not to distract the user from their high quality.  The Imabari towels have been produced since 1894 and is today run by the Shikoku Towel Industrial Association.  The region where the towels are produced situated in the Ehime prefecture on the island of Shikoku, is served by the subsoil water of Soja River which runs from the Takanawa Mountain Range with underground water coming from the sacred Mount Ishizuchi.  By using water of such fine quality, the fabrics produced are both delicate and soft to touch.  

This is the Imabari logo at left and the choice of colours have been chosen to represent Japanese aesthetics.   Red is associated with energy, passion, advancement, power, motion, impact and Japan.  Blue is the colour of safety, ease, trust, history, tradition, freshness and tranquility,  while White is the colour for pureness, cleanliness, innocence, healing, sincerity, softness, and affection.

No doubt  we would be seeing this logo again soon, as Imabari products are continuously promoted in the UK.  While this was Imabari’s third overseas exhibition (after Helsinki, Finland in 2009 and Milan, Italy from 2011-2013), the brand plans to participate in future exhibitions in the UK such as the Birmingham Spring Fair in February 2015, and to explore retail shops in London.

Photos by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect.

Grand designs “clouded” over exhibition hubs – in an energised way - at 100% Design in London

A visit to the 100% Design exhibition at London’s Earls Court a couple of days ago provided not just design trend inspiration but also an intriguing experience.  I found this cloud-like structure that was hovering above the Kitchens & Bathrooms Hub at the 100% Design show in Earls Court, London. 

The Foam Dome was created on commission by vPPR Architects, according to show director William Knight.

The giodesic dome,  playful yet inspiring for the space below it, was covered in white mesh and would periodically emit foam from soap, water and air, to comprise a breathing membrane.  It was sponsored by Turkishceramics  thus it hovered over white ceramic products from the brand to reinforce the spa aesthetic.

According to Director of vPPR Architects, Jessica Reynolds, the Foam Dome was designed around the idea of cleanliness, referencing an indulgent, purifying spa experience. 

Also featured along the Turkishceramics white products were fluffy white cotton towels by Imabari Towel Japan to complement the spa experience.  Nearby the Imabori stand provided a unique Japanese experience.  

Elsewhere at this 20th anniversary 100% Design,  international architecture and design practice NBBJ showcased iAlter at the Workplace Hub, an outsized installation suspended from the ceiling that responds to the people walking under it.  

The structure was made up of hundreds of cardboard tubes, and the shape of this formation would change to different shapes.  While it hovered above like a cloud, it felt like the tubes were raining down as the shape changed into different formations.  As explained by the studio's principal David Lewis, this interactive installation was inspired by the simplicity of kinetic sculpture and the complexity of computer-generated design algorithms,  and it flexes in response to the flow of people and gently encourages serendipitous encounters, he said.

It would be interesting to see how many workplaces out there would afford this kind of height to provide stimulation to the work force.  But show director William Knight said design in the workspace is a key area that has seen a growing demand in recent years,  He offered that an office is no longer just a place where people work, it is also a hub where we exchange ideas and inspire each other.

NBBJ is currently designing innovative workspaces for clients that include Samsung, Amazon and Google.

All photos by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect.

Fashion Illustrators hard at work during London fashion shows.

Nowadays with the latest technology and gadgets, almost everyone can call himself or herself a photographer.

A scene from a recent fashion show during London Fashion Week

The just-concluded London Fashion Week created plenty of occasions for all willing souls to capture every fashion moment with their modern devices.

However not everyone can qualify as a fashion illustrator, except for a few.  Spotted at the  Jamie We Huang fashion show was prize-winning illustrator Vivien Chan.  

Vivien, a Kingston University Illustration Animation BA(Hons) student, was earlier this year the runner-up at London's Victoria & Albert Museum Illustration Awards. Vivien had submitted three drawings based on fashion shows she attended during Fashion Scout shows last Spring.  As it was in that previous season, this September Vivien was once again given access to the catwalk and backstage of the Fashion Scout shows to create her own drawings, some of which are seen in the pictures above.

Vivien's recent work and projects are featured in her own blog.

Also busily creating sketches was celebrated illustrator Sue Dray, Course Leader BA (Hons) Fashion Illustration at London College of Fashion.

Miss Dray, in a grey sleeveless dress and sporting a black fascinator on her head, was spotted at the Hema Kaul catwalk show held at the Freemasons’ Hall near London's Covent Garden. 

A celebrity herself, Miss Dray's work can be seen in her own website.

Meanwhile designer and illustrator David Longshaw was on hand to give a live demonstration of his sketching skills on one of his garments at the trendy ME London hotel at the Strand.    

David also used the opportunity to launch his latest book “Eleanor and the Squirrel”.   A graduate of St Martin’s BA (Hons), RCA (MA), David was winner of the inaugural BFC/ELLE Talent Launch Pad.

All photos by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect.

Canon and Stella McCartney unveil limited edition camera bag collaboration

Canon and Stella McCartney have unveiled the limited edition Linda camera bag, named after Stella’s mother and specially designed for the Canon EOS 100D White.  The special design collaboration between Canon and Stella McCartney was presented last night at the launch of the 2014 London Stella McCartney Green Carpet Collection during London Fashion Week at a certified sustainable event co-hosted by Livia Firth, Natalie Massenet, Stella McCartney and Anna Wintour. The limited edition camera bag was presented alongside the designer’s exclusive sustainable evening capsule collection. 

True to Stella McCartney’s vegetarian philosophy, the Linda camera bag is said to be completely cruelty free, crafted with an innovative Eco Alter Nappa leather alternative which uses natural vegetable oil coating that is less harmful to the environment. The box shaped bag in a colour combination of matte neutral tones and metallic finish has been custom designed to house the Canon EOS 100D White, the world’s smallest DSLR camera. The chic EOS 100D is the perfect camera for those looking to explore the world of photography, whatever their skill level. 

The camera bag also doubles as a sophisticated everyday handbag featuring an adjustable strap to be worn either over the shoulder or as a handheld tote.

A limited run of 1,000 bags will be produced and will only be available as a special package with the EOS 100D White. Within the UK, the package will be available from Harrods and Selfridges for £1,200.

Stella McCartney said, “Growing up with a mother and a sister who are photographers, I have fond memories of them pulling out cameras from their bags snapping and capturing moments. It was a no brainer to create a bag for this brilliant Canon camera, because it was really exciting to design something fashionable and stylish that encourages people to take photographs.”

Susie Donaldson, Marketing Director at Canon UK and Ireland said, “Photography and fashion have always gone hand-in-hand, with beautiful, evocative imagery at the heart of Fashion Week.”

Moda in Pelle fashion shoes for PPQ catwalk show at LFW

Here are pictures from the fashion show on Friday where fashion footwear brand Moda in Pelle, made its catwalk debut during this season’s London Fashion Week, alongside established designer, PPQ.  

The capsule collection of high shine, snakeskin leather heels and sandals with bold, reflective embellishments, in a number of fresh and futuristic shades, were designed exclusively to complement PPQ’s ‘Space Safari’ show.  

These styles will form part of Moda in Pelle’s Spring Summer 2015 collection and will be available online and from next week.

MODA IN PELLE LONDON FASHION WEEK debut alongside PPQ tomorrow.

Luxury footwear brand, Moda in Pelle, is taking its first step into the high-end fashion arena, by appearing at this September’s London Fashion Week (LFW) in collaboration with established LFW designer brand, PPQ.

High Shine snakeskin leather stiletto from Moda in Pelle's capsule collection which will take centre stage, alongside British fashion brand PPQ, on Friday September 12th - the opening day of London Fashion Week.  

Moda in Pelle will make its catwalk debut alongside established PPQ, with a selection of high shine snakeskin leather heels, sandals and boots - designed exclusively to complement the show’s fresh and futuristic style.

The collaboration between Moda in Pelle and PPQ signals exciting developments in the growth of the 40 year old British shoe brand, which, in the last year alone, has grown its retail portfolio with the opening of 24 new concessions.

Moda in Pelle’s LFW SS15 collection will be available online and in stores nationwide in early 2015.

Amy Molyneaux founder of PPQ commented: “The collection we are showing at LFW is a clean and beautiful version of the PPQ girl with fresh shades, high shine and lots of reflection throughout. Accessories are futuristic and modern and the Moda in Pelle collection finishes off the designs perfectly.”

Commenting on the collaboration, Laura Fisher at Moda in Pelle said: “Our passion for detail, quality and handmade design is evident throughout this capsule collection of snakeskin, holographic leather shoes with heavy embellishments. It’s been a valuable experience for our designers to work with Amy, as it’s enabled them to integrate their own creative ideas with Amy’s experience and come up with an extremely eye catching collection. We are confident the designs will be a huge success when we launch them as part of the SS15 collection.”

Clarks and Orla Kiely collaboration takes on 60s and 70s spin

Model wears Orla Dotty.

After a successful collaboration for Spring/Summer 2014, British shoemakers since 1825 Clarks is once again collaborating with designer Orla Kiely for Autumn/Winter 2014 now available in store and on-line.  

With a contemporary spin on 60s and 70s design, the capsule collection spans six styles.

Love the rich autumnal shades, brogue detailing, soft leathers, and pony hair.  Part retro, part timeless.  

Orla Daphne boots.

Orla Dixie boots.

Orla Dora

Note the chunky block heels and use of square buckles and bold round buttons.

Meanwhile Westfield UK Launches Latest Fashion Project - ‘AW14: The Talking Points’ is all about shoes.

Above, winning styles from smart to casual broques - from Clarks's AW2014 collection. Note the combination of leather with tweedy fabrics.  Iconic classics refreshed into contemporary styles.
Product Photos by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect.

Heels vs. Flats - flat shoes have long felt like the poor relative to leg-lengthening, party-going high heels.  

But the tides have turned. With the catwalk awashed with trainers, brogues, loafers and slippers.

Westfield UK - Europe's largest urban shopping centre in London’s White City/Shepherd Bush – has launched a new fashion project: an energetic, feel-good film on Heels vs Flat Shoes, created by Sean Frank.

Team ‘flat’s’ take on team ‘heels’ in a dance competition, which shows the extensive range of shoes at Westfield, referencing 70’s dance shows Soul Train, ads of the 90’s and RnB videos.  

WATCH the video by clicking here.  

Pritch London leather fashion celebrates Duality with bold statements!

London as a major fashion capital continues to attract designers and creative people from around the world to use it as their career launching pad.


Russian-born Arina started her London-based label Pritch a couple of years ago and already counts stockists not just in London but also in Russia (naturally), Kiev and Paris.

Previewing her autumn/winter 2014 collection - entitled New Order - to members of the press a couple of days ago (at the Wolf & Badger boutique), Arina continues to showcase her knack for combining the duality of rock harmony with classic chic in her new collection of leather fashion.

Here she models one of hers (and mine) favourite jackets made in supple leather and wool.
Another design with zipped pockets cleverly features removable peplums and epaulet details, thus allowing the wearer to change the look as she sees fit.

Also one my favourites is a zipped cape that is layered over a leather jacket.

Also exciting are Arina's bold-coloured numbers.   I also love the electric blue one.

Fringes also feature in a few of her designs.

Wooing me seductively is this red cape with fringes and another poised on a mannequin showing off long fringes at the back of the jacket shielding a revealing cut-out.  Perfect for the modern rock chick.

 The front of the jacket is cut in a flattering shape.

All Pritch London designs are made in  Italy,  Arina said she will add leather trousers and accessories in the next collection.
All photos by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect.