London Fashion Week – Central Saint Martins

22. February 2009 Designers & Labels Judith

Traditionally, fashion elite school Central Saint Martins releases its MA graduates with the privilege of defile in the context of London Fashion Week into professional life. And yesterday it was the 2009 graduates who entered the stage. Only a cold comfort in view of the fierce economic situation but at least a working tool to get attention as initial aid which is way more than students from ordinary design schools can expect.

And maybe, exactly because of this, the next generation of talented fashion designers with excellent theoretical and technical knowledge have been awaited with huge suspense. But not only with suspense – also with hope and big questions for trend-setting designs and exceptional talents such as Gareth Pugh and Alexander McQueen.

What the Central Saint Martins graduates finally presented, might placate critics, appease those with panics and open some job doors. FashionÂ´s not dead and aspiring designers areas motivated as ever. There was nothing to see about napless comformity but instead, the youngsters presented unique, characteristic collections that met the highest technical and creative standards.
The question for the favorites can be answered with individual gusto – no one will be mistaken.

My personal favorites were the graphic cartoon-styles by Laura Mackness, the soft flowing gowns by Abigail Briggs and the highly elaborated dresses by Derek Lawler and David Koma. Oden Wilson was definitely my king of volume, closely followed by knit designer Enza Avolios.

Here a short extract of the young designers collections:

Oden Wilson