Fashion East Celebrates Two Decades As The Soul Of London Fashion Week

London Fashion Week will see the incomparable talent incubator mark its 20th Anniversary; true to the spirit of Fashion East, new work and talent will lie at the heart of the celebration

Designers Saul Nash, Nensi Dojaka and GOOMHEO are joined by newcomer Maximilian Davis

In lieu of a physical show, the four-designer line-up will present their SS21 collections through virtual film premieres on Sunday 20 September at 6.30pm GMT

September 2020 marks twenty years since Lulu Kennedy staged her first multi-designer talent showcase. Since then, Fashion East has launched the careers of the great and good of the fashion industry (144 designers & brands, and counting), whilst keeping true to its own indelible identity as the upholder of true authenticity, community spirit and the raw, boundless energy at the heart of British fashion.

London Fashion Week will see a four-designer showcase spot-lit through the new medium of film.

‘Looking back over twenty years of helping London’s best designers is wild! I’m incredibly grateful I’ve been able to do what I love doing best. I wouldn’t change a thing.

It is an honour to get to work with and present these four fabulous talents this season. I am in awe of their visions, creativity, optimism and the resilience they have shown throughout these difficult circumstances. ’ - Lulu Kennedy, Founder

MAXIMILIAN DAVIS

After gaining experience with Wales Bonner, ASAI and working at Dover Street Market, womenswear designer Maximilian feels it's time to put out his own collection that expresses freedom and his personal style. The collection’s inspiration is from his Grandmother’s upbringing in Trinidad as well as researching the roots and imagery of Carnival from the 19th Century. Maximilian wants to express his Caribbean heritage through clothing, imagery and film. ‘I feel that throughout time Black people have not been in charge of their own narratives. We’ve been imagined one dimensionally, when in actual fact we exist in a variety of ways. I want to show people of colour in a regal way. Using tailoring and elegant clothing to build upon a strong figure.’

NENSI DOJAKA

Albanian womenswear designer Nensi Dojaka explores the notions of strength and vulnerability with her ultra-feminine aesthetic and deconstructed dresses; which are sexy, soft and empowering. Challenging conventional notions of female beauty, Dojaka’s expertly crafted body-hugging silhouettes take their cues from lingerie, elevating her designs with layered sheer silks, contrasting soft details with sharp lines and spaghetti straps.  “My woman is complex, she embodies a perfect marriage of severity and delicacy”.

SAUL NASH

British designer and choreographer Saul Nash creates contemporary technical garments that are cut and designed for the liberation of movement. Through contorted movement he uses performance to invite an overarching challenge; we can choose to either take shelter, retreating into imposed expectations, or transform into the self-sufficient individual we hope to be. An understanding of the complexities and subtleties of masculinity are informed through Nash’s background as a self-taught dancer and choreographer. Grounded in the ethos of community and embracing his London roots, he works with a cast of dancers who invigorate an essence of family whilst delving deeper into exploring the relationship between performance and menswear.

GOOMHEO

South Korean designer Goom Heo focuses on romance through off-kilter sportswear. A familiar sporty template is set; lycra shorts and performance wear, contrasted with the soft sultriness of other textures, materials and embroidery, suggesting the heady flourishing of those first feelings of love. Goom loves to reference Korean culture, taking inspiration from how people at home dressed and their style, “I didn’t appreciate it before, how cool people style themselves. But when I came back after studying in London, I found it very striking, especially the older people. It wasn’t about tradition or subcultures, more about people I saw on the streets in my hometown.”