I know I’m late on this, but today we’ll be covering the Fall 2020 London Fashion Week and there are some talented designers that created amazing standout collections. This time, I decided to focus on female designers that are all very different from each other, from their background to their style.
If you’re new here, welcome! This series is one I created when I wanted to learn more about Fashion Week and designers. After looking through a bunch of the shows and familiarizing myself with some designers, I realized that I wanted to know how and why they decided to become a designer. As someone who has been interested in the fashion and beauty industries since I was younger, I wanted to know how they made it to this point. Was it hard for them? What inspired them to take on this career? These are things I wanted to learn, and in addition, I also wanted to cover new, up-and-coming designers as well as people of color or those with a unique background.
UNDERAGE // DESIGNER: YING SHEN
“We stand for the experimental youth; the few that dare to challenge conventions and break free from the boundaries of conformity.”
WHO IS YING SHEN?
Ying Shen first studied graphic design in Beijing and then went on to graduate with a MA in textile studies at the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London. In less than a year, Shen created UNDERAGE and brought a unique take on fashion to the runway thanks to her background in graphic design. The brand is inspired by the carefree style of younger generations and how they don’t let the “rules” of fashion hold them back. Every collection is meant to shock and trigger deeper looks into societal norms with bold, striking prints and silhouettes.
THE FALL 2020 COLLECTION
This season’s collection used a color palette of red, beige and brown, and black with other neutral colors shown in a few looks. There was an emphasis on textures such as sheer fabrics, velvet, and ripped patchwork pieces. Shen also played with oversized outerwear and form-fitting dresses and sets. Her all-black pieces were finished with interesting cuts and accessories but mainly featured sleek silhouettes.
ROKSANDA // DESIGNER: ROKSANDA ILINCIC
“Sophisticated and feminine yet playful and effortless, her iconic collections are instantly recognisable to the burgeoning community of international women who enjoy them for their contemporary, distinct impact and enduring appeal.”
WHO IS ROKSANDA?
I’ve covered this designer before (see some of her designs here!) but it was before I started researching designers and their journey in fashion. Roksanda was born in Serbia and was encouraged to follow her love for fashion. However, she attended the University of Belgrade to study architecture and applied arts. After graduating, she went on to obtain an MA in fashion at Central Saint Martin’s. Roksanda then made her debut in 2005 at London Fashion Week and the rest is history. Today, her design house has won multiple awards and she creates four ready-to-wear collections annually in her East London studio.
THE FALL 2020 COLLECTION
This season’s collection was full of rich hues, ranging from burgundy, mustard yellow, and purple, mixed with shades of brown, orange, and hot pink. Roksanda is known for her color blocking and innovative cuts, and this collection was no different. Many of the pieces had a loose, flowy silhouette that draped gracefully over the body and was punctuated with high necklines and billowing sleeves. For this collection, Roksanda noted that she was inspired by artists Rana Begum and Lee Krasner and expressed it through the flowy pieces and prints that she created from swirls of white paint.
RIXO // DESIGNERS: HENRIETTA RIX & ORLAGH MCCLOSKEY
“Our philosophy is to evoke a wanderlust & free spirit in all our wearers…”
WHO IS RIXO?
While sitting in their living room in London, best friends Rix and McCloskey decided to create their own fashion brand based on their passion for vintage clothes. In 2015, they thought of Rixo and fast forward to today, they are stocked with 100 partners and recently won their first award. Their goal is to create feminine pieces that are easy to wear and come in timeless silhouettes so that any woman can wear their designs, regardless of age, ethnicity, size, or season.
THE FALL 2020 COLLECTION
This collection was full of bright and colorful prints, making it look more like a summer collection than a fall one. Gingham, polka dots, houndstooth, stripes, and floral prints adorned these pieces for fun and fresh looks. Many of these prints were mixed and matched to make bold statements and the dresses came in several different cuts and silhouettes to flatter people of all ages. They also used young and older models to showcase their looks.
And that ends this London Fashion Week post! I hope you enjoyed learning about these designers as much as I loved researching them. Since I’ve been late on researching Fashion Weeks, this’ll be the last post in the Fall/Winter 2020 series until the next fashion week rolls around. I want to look more into menswear so if everything in the world is okay by then, then the next Men’s Fashion Month should be in June. Thanks so much for reading and I’ll see you lovelies soon; stay healthy and safe everyone. ?