In 700 illustrations and 384 pages 100 New Fashion Designers takes us on a spin around the latest creatives to appear in the world of fashion. From *****L (Cinq Etoiles Luxe) to Yuko Yoshitake this is a worldwide overview of new fashion in 2012. If you want to know what the stars will be wearing next year this is the book for you. As Hywel Davies puts it in his introduction, this book ‘is an international snapshot of modern fashion design.’
The author has lectured at Central St Martins, edited the fashion section of Sleazenation and consulted for numerous brands. Here he has produced an overflowing reference guide to the current movers and shakers in fashion. Covering everything from menswear and womenswear to footwear and accessory design, the book uncovers those designers who are innovating in fashion today. Ordered alphabetically, Davies concentrates on designers in the first decade of their career, whether they are working on their own label or in small teams.
Each designer is introduced with a short interview or statement, the next few pages showing photographs, sometimes a drawing or two or other images. We see the clothes, glimpse life backstage and experience the catwalk. The pages are liberally sprinkled with quotes from the designers themselves – Garen Demerdjian of Gardem claims his work is ‘Minimal and decorative at the same time’! Jantaminiau is ‘…continually translating the asymmetrical mirror of life,’ whilst Aimee McWilliams says her ‘designs are a result of my willingness to acknowledge everything I am attracted to’. These direct voices of the designers are a great feature, letting the reader experience something of the thinking behind the work.
Fashion is a global industry, reflected in the many different nationalities of the designers examined. Even so many have still studied at the traditionally strong colleges such as St Martins and the RCA. All are aiming not for mass market appeal, but to create their own individual vision, presenting their own designs as radical ways forward for the industry.
Fashion lives and breathes the idea of the new, and a highlighting of the current favourites is a great introduction to the world of fashion, or a reminder of the designers that are currently important for the fashion aficionado. Everyone will have their own favourite designers and pieces, but among mine are the playful shirts of Carola Euler, the traditional textile work of Ioannis Dimitrousis and the exuberant designs of PPQ.
Finally the book gives contact details for all the designers mentioned, so if you fancy a new outfit you have all the websites to check out! A good read and a book that you will return to for inspiration.
More details available here. Or you can buy 100 New Fashion Designers from Amazon
The book reviewed above was a review copy.
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