Gushlow & Cole to launch design-led shearling collection online for AW16-17

Although we are at the edge of summer, it is good to know that Gushlow & Cole - which have long been known in the exclusive circle of British shearling design - have now launched their latest AW 16/17 shearling collection online.

Leading London fashion names such as Amanda Wakeley and Nicole Farhi have been using Gushlow & Cole’s designs and stitch techniques within their collections for a number of years.

Since setting-up in 1997, this relatively unknown duo from south London are fast becoming known internationally as one of Britain's luxury brands.

With a long family heritage, steeped in traditional shearling make; Gushlow & Cole continue to handcraft every piece entirely in Britain. 

Paying homage to their growing family of craftsmen and women, the individual makers name is sewn into every piece.

Whilst celebrating the 1st year anniversary of their online store, this autumn will see the launch of the most comprehensive shearling collection available to buy online to date! - "An urban yet elegant take on traditional British shearling design," said Katrina Cole.

The Gushlow & Cole AW 16/17 collection is an urban yet elegant take on traditional British shearling design.

Reversible outerwear in soft, cool neutrals and feminine pastels underpin a mood of relaxed glamour, and sit on an urban backdrop of dark graphite black.

With a focus on versatility; sleek and sophisticated light weight toppers are individualised with opulent shearling scarves. 

Long lengths for draping and wrapping feature alongside hand knit snoods and collars with simple fixings for effortless everyday wear.

The playful mix of Toscana and chunky knit is carried forward within the gilet collection. 

Lightweight layers in Merinillo continue the focus on trans seasonal shearling in cropped to longline lengths.

Contemporary oversized silhouettes in comfy deep piled shearling, feature hand crafted details that nod towards tradition. 

Key pieces include the reversible Bomber Jacket, the reversible Parka Jacket and the reversible Taper Coat.

Photos: Gushlow & Cole

Bambah celebrates femininity with elegance and bold signature shapes just when London showcases Chelsea Flower Show

The sun is shining and it’s Chelsea Flower Show this week in London.  I'm in the mood for floral inspirations.  And I find them in Bambah's new collection.

These delightful gowns and refined party ensembles in silk fabrics are from the Dubai-based Maha Abdul Rasheed for her Bambah label.  They celebrate the elegance of the female form in spring colours - sweet peas and fern green, as well as monochromes, defining a modern refined look that harks back to bygone eras while resonates with today’s confident women.  Love the feminine touches of bold bows, floral prints, embroidery and lace. 

Now all we need are strawberries and cream, and champagne.

Images: Emslie Creative for Bambah

United Colors of Benetton launches "Safe Birth Even Here" with UN Population Fund

Childbearing should always be safe, even in emergencies. This is the message that UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, and United Colors of Benetton are shouting out as they roll-out a joint campaign, “Safe Birth Even Here”, at the World Humanitarian Summit, taking place in Istanbul, Turkey, 23-24 May.

Benetton partners with UNFPA to raise awareness of maternal health of women and girls in emergency situations.The creative and promotional elements of “Safe Birth Even Here” were conceived and produced by Fabrica, Benetton’s communications research centre, under the auspices of the Women Empowerment Program.  The campaign features one image and one 30-second video in which a baby is delivered into a scene of utter devastation, the message being that
childbirth should be safe everywhere.

To learn more, click HERE. 

Slower growth in UK predicted as dark cloud of uncertainty looms says business group

With one month to go before UK citizens vote on the EU Referendum, the latest CBI economic forecast predicts the UK economy will continue to grow – but at a slower rate – through 2016 and 2017, and there are signs that global economic risks weighing on investment plans.

The leading business group’s latest quarterly forecast predicts that the UK will see 2.0% GDP growth in both 2016 and 2017, both of which are downgrades from its last forecast in February (2016 – 2.3%, 2017 – 2.1%).

The CBI’s central economic forecast was carried out on the basis of UK’s current membership of the European Union. 

Growth is again expected to be driven by household spending and investment, but the deterioration in the global economic outlook, including weaker prospects for China and other emerging markets, continue to represent major challenges.

The economy saw a softer than expected start to the year, which has contributed to a large part of the downgrade in GDP growth in 2016. There are also signs that uncertainty over the outcome of the EU referendum is having a tangible impact on the spending plans of some firms.

Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI Director-General, said while they expect the UK’s growth path to continue but it is likely to be at a slower rate than previously thought.  A dark cloud of uncertainty is looming over global growth, particularly around weakening emerging markets and the outcome of the EU referendum, which is chilling some firms’ plans to invest.

The CBI which speaks on behalf of 190,000 businesses of all sizes and sectors in the UK, believes that the timing of a first rise in interest rates will now be in the second quarter of 2017 (rising to 0.75%) against the backdrop of slower growth.  However, a recovery in investment is expected in the second half of 2016, such that business investment remains a key support to GDP growth over the forecast period, accounting for around a quarter of growth in 2016, and a third in 2017.

Rain Newton-Smith, CBI Economics Director, said on the global front, momentum is tepid and the picture for some emerging markets remains weak. Growth among the Asian giants is likely to continue to outperform more advanced economies, but financial fragilities in China are still raising concerns.

“Once again, net trade is not expected to provide much support to growth. While the CBI expects a smaller drag in 2016 (-0.2ppts) relative to February (-0.5ppts), this mostly reflects a larger downgrade to import growth rather than much of a recovery in exports.”

According to the CBI, with offices includes the UK as well as representation in Brussels, Washington, Beijing and Delhi, growth in advanced economies around the world should continue at a steady, if subdued, pace over the next couple of years, with the forecast for US growth at 2.0% in 2016 (from 2.4% in 2015), rising to 2.3% next year. The recovery in the Eurozone should pick up a little further, with GDP growth at 1.6% in 2016 (from 1.5% in 2015). And while growth in China (6.5%) and India (7.4%) will outperform the advanced economies over the next two years, prospects for the rest of the emerging world remain weak and commodity exporters feel the hit from low prices.

Prestige Fashion featured lingerie and womenswear brands at London Old Billingsgate

At the London Yacht, Jet and Prestige Car Show that took place at Old Billingsgate Market in early May, the Prestige Fashion Catwalk Show featured the collections of lingerie brands Raine & Bea and Sonata Rapalyte.  

Celebrity designer Raine & Bea showcased lingerie pieces similar to what they recently designed for singer Fleur East.  Sonata Rapalyte finished the lingerie show with their sheer lace designs, accessorised by jewellery brand Elvyra Design.

In the women’s ready-to-wear segment of the fashion event that formed the grand finale were designs by Monaco based Eva Roje who showed a classic leather collection.  While hand-made body jewellery from ANK Jewellery added sparkle to the event, fashion designer Dahlia Razzook showcased cocktail dresses, trouser and tops.  The Cyprus based designer, madebyZA showcased their chic jackets, dresses and blouses, and Nidhi Yasha presented hand embroidered jackets, dresses and skirts.  British brand Bianca Elgar, styled their beautiful and versatile silk scarves in two different ways on the runway.  Italian designer label Nana e’el’ by Nanaaleo finished the catwalk show with their elegantly hand-knitted dresses.

A selection of luxury swimwear brands was also the highlight of a runway show organised by Prestige Fashion, a partnership between Irina Dobbs (UFFR) and Joseph Bachman of Calico. 

Photos: Prestige Fashion

Luxury swimwear brands showcased at Prestige Yacht & Jet Show in London

On a warm summery evening in London in early May, there was glamour in the air at Old Billingsgate Market where the London Yacht, Jet and Prestige Car Show took place.

Fase di Moda 

A selection of luxury swimwear brands was the highlight of a runway show organised by Prestige Fashion, a partnership between Irina Dobbs (UFFR) and Joseph Bachman of Calico.

Playing on a James Bond theme throughout the three-day event, there was a fashion show with 12 designers and 20 glamorous models, and concluded on the last day with a presentation by Irina Dobbs’ Fase di Moda collection in collaboration with Jane Taylor, a milliner of the Royal Family and a favourite designer of the Duchess of Cambridge. 

Fase di Moda swimwear and Jane Taylor hat.

The presentation continued the James Bond theme at St. Katherine’s Dock on the ‘Spirit 54’ yacht “Soufriere” from the James Bond film “Casino Royale”.  

Fase di Moda swimwear and Jane Taylor hats.

As for the catwalk show, after opening with a ballet performance, the Prestige Fashion event showcased brands that came from various parts of the world.

To kick off the show was Fase di Moda's swimwear from their Horoscope collection (above right and left), with images of Zodiac signs and swimwear incrusted with semi-precious birthstones and matching pareos.
Other brands that followed included the swimwear brand AMOIRAI (shown below) which featured their sophisticated cut-out fullsuits in sophisticated black and marine blue.

Meanwhile PGM Fashion from Singapore featured vibrant-coloured bikinis and bold prints on briefs, bandeaus, halters and push-up tops.  

Kompliquѐ showed an elegant collection in classic black.  

Their swimwear and matching cover-ups were embellished with Swarovski crystals and 18-karat gold pieces.

Founders of the Prestige Catwalk Show, Joseph Bachman and Irina Dobbs commented, “Our aim is to collaborate with great brands from around the world to showcase their designs. ”

All photos: Prestige Fashion

The Season Hats to launch a contemporary bridal collection at White Gallery, London

This statement unfolding headpiece by The Season Hats offer a bold and modern take on the traditional veil, creating an ethereal haze around the Bride. 

Designed by award-winning milliner, Paul Stafford, the headpiece was made by hand in London. 

The Season Hats, run by Paul with his wife Selina, is a modern brand of contemporary headwear that is luxurious, directional and flattering. The seasonal collections offer casual hats, hairbands, headpieces and a signature range of folding hats for special occasions.  The brand has been selected to showcase as a New Talent by the London bridal show - White Gallery - due  to take place at Battersea Evolution, London, 15th-18th May.

Timeless beauty - Rosa Clará style

A picture of stunning beauty and timeless elegance epitomises the Rosa Clará style, the Spanish brand that will be presenting its 2017 collection at the White Gallery   bridal show May 15th - 17th to be held at Battersea Evolution, London.

Evoking the spirit of today’s woman,  Rosa Clará's new collection celebrates white in all its tones, combining flowing, figure-flattering lines, voluminous architectural forms and premium-quality fabrics.  Watch the video of the 2017 show here.

Fashion retailer ‘fishes’ for an artist to design its new charity T-shirt

Here's one for nature lovers and talented artists.

Clothing brand Weird Fish is in search of a new artist to design its next limited edition T-shirt for The Royal Society for theProtection of Birds (rspb).

Weird Fish’s first artist T-shirt was created in 1993 and its quirky and bold T-shirt designs are sought after by many.  Now the company is offering artists the chance to create a new design with instant impact for the rspb, the UK’s largest nature conservation charity, working to secure a healthy environment for all wildlife.

Entrants need to submit at least three of the six design ideas created in the last competition, which are: The Redshank Redemption, Wuthering Kites, Raiders of the Lost Lark, Purple Crane, Jurassic Lark and Cranespotting.  

Designs for the competition must be submitted by midnight on Wednesday May 25. Weird Fish will then select the winning design to be made into the new rspb charity T-shirt, with the opportunity for the winner to join the team of Weird Fish artists, and create designs for future seasons. 

Weird Fish continues to support the rspb as its chosen charity. 

Entries can be submitted in JPEG, PNG or PDF and can be uploaded to Weird Fish’s Facebook, tweeted to @WeirdFishTweets, tagged on Instagram @Weirdfishltd or emailed directly to retail@weirdfish.co.uk with the subject line ‘Find an Artist Competition.’

John Stockton, managing director at Weird Fish, added: "Weird Fish makes clothes for people who enjoy nature and getting outdoors. Through partnering up with the rspb, we're able to make a difference to the green spaces and surrounding communities across the UK, which is something our customers care about, too. We are keen to extend the opportunity for new artists to join our team and bring some fresh ideas to our legendary artist T-shirt range."

The winning T-shirt will be produced from November 2016 and the chosen designer will receive £250 to spend online www.weirdfish.co.uk and may have the opportunity to join the Weird Fish team in a freelance artist position.

For details and Terms and Conditions of Weird Fish's 'Find An Artist Competition', click HERE.

Missoni exhibition opens in London on May 6th

Missoni Art Colour features at the Fashion and Textile Museum in Bermondsey, London, 

from May 6 - September 4

Missoni – the Italian power house well-known for its multi-coloured zigzagging knit pattern - is the subject of an exhibition in London entitled Missoni Art Colour.

The installation at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London, was first shown at the MA*GA Art Museum in Gallarate, Italy, and features more than 40 paintings by artists including Lucio Fontana and Sonia Delaunay, from both the MA*GA Museum and private collections in Italy, many of which have never been shown in the UK before.

Photo: My Fashion Connect Global

While giving insight at how 20th century European art influenced Missoni founders Ottavio and Rosita Missoni, the exhibition presents previously unseen textile studies, paintings and patchworks of knitted fabrics by Ottavio Missoni.  Also on display are a selection of fashion looks from Missoni's archive, from 1953 to today.

According to co-founder Rosita Missoni (shown here at a recent event celebrating UK design talents), she and the late Ottavio originally met in 1948 when London hosted the Summer Olympics that year, and thus having the exhibition in London is particularly poignant for the brand they started.

Their children Vittorio, Luca and Angela Missoni, the creative director, are the key driving force behind the Italian name today.

The "Missoni Art Colour" exhibition was organized by the MA*GA Art Museum together with Missoni and The Woolmark Company, whose merino wool features in many of the garments on show.

Sunglasses made of 100% denim by VICUNHA X MOSEVIC

Across all segments and product groups of the fashion market, denim is proving more popular than ever. And now just as the weather is turning warmer, the latest must-have piece is not another pair of jeans (you may already own dozens of them) but a pair of ‘Solid Denim’ sunglasses.  How cool is that!

These sunglasses made of resin-infused layers of denim are the result of a partnership between  the Brazilian denim giant VICUNHA TEXTIL (whose customers include Hugo Boss, Diesel, Esprit, Salsa, as well as large retail giants like Marks&Spencer and C&A) and MOSEVIC, a young English company specialised in denim sunglasses.  

MOSEVIC was established in 2015 by two friends, product designers Jack Spencer and Alex

Boswell, in Cornwall, in west England.  The frames of the solid sunglasses are made at MOSEVIC’s own workshop.  

Depending on the model, there can be three to ten different layers of denim used.  These are bonded with resin and solidified before the glasses can be sanded into shape and polished by hand.  A single red layer in the bonded layers accentuates the frame with a hint of colour and highlights the edging. The co-branded stainless steel plate on the arm of the frame rounds off the design. 

And this upcycling project is all in the name of sustainability. Some of the models are even made using denim from recycled jeans and plans are being made to convert the production entirely to upcycling in the future.  The handmade products are made from 100% BCI (Better Cotton Initiative) cotton from the Brazilian factories which are industry leaders in their social responsibility and practice in environmental protection. 

“We became aware of these innovative denim sunglasses last year, right after MOSEVIC

launched. A fantastic idea, which we as a global company instantly wanted to support and

encourage. But this collaboration isn’t just about promoting a young, innovative business, but

also about the production of a cool, socially responsible product. You could say it’s like

recycling, but on the very highest level with the best ambitions, style and coolness, combined

with environmental protection and social responsibility,” is how Thomas Dislich, Managing

Director of VICUNHA TEXTIL for Europe and Asia, sums up the cooperation with MOSEVIC.  

The limited edition sunglasses by VICUNHA X MOSEVIC come in four frame styles for both mena and women, now available on the MOSEVIC website, on which there is also a video showing the process.