Fashion East confirms line-up for LFW SS17

Fashion talent incubator Fashion East has confirmed its designers line-up for London Fashion Week SS17. Newcomer Matty Bovan joins the existing line-up of AV Robertson, Mimi Wade and Richard Malone for a presentation and catwalk show which takes place in the Topshop show space on Saturday 17 September.

Lulu Kennedy MBE, founder and director of the Fashion East initiative, described this season's designers as her "dream line-up". "It’s super exciting to be hosted in our sponsor Topshop’s venue again, this season in Old Spitalfields Market in the heart of our home, the East End," Kennedy said.

The four designers were selected by Fashion East's panel of editors, buyers and stylists. Alumni of the initiative include Gareth Pugh, Jonathan Saunders, Roksanda Ilincic, Simone Rocha and Marques’Almeida. In addition to the London Fashion Week showcasing event, designers receive financial sponsorship, intensive one-to-one business mentoring, and inclusion in a leading Paris sales showroom.

Fashion East has been sponsored by Topshop for 12 consecutive seasons.

About the designers

Matty Bovan (collection pictured above)

York-born Bovan launched his brand in 2016 after completing his Central Saint Martins knitwear MA in 2015. His 12-look graduate collection opened the show exhibiting his cacophony of sculptural knits, textures and handmade adornments. The collection won Bovan both the L’Oreal Professionnel Creative Award and the LVMH Graduate Prize 2015. Following a stint at Louis Vuitton as junior designer, Bovan has collaborated on illustration, make-up and styling projects with Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu, LOVE Magazine, i-D and more.

AV Robertson

AV Robertson

Amie Robertson is a young designer from Manchester. Amie studied at Central Saint Martins, graduating in 2014 with a unique collection featuring her signature hand-made crystal embellishments. Her collection caught the eye of the Marc Jacobs design team and she worked with the brand in New York and Paris developing embroideries and prints before launching her own brand in 2015. In Autumn 2015 she launched a collaborative capsule with global retailer ASOS Black and in February 2016 debuted at London Fashion Week with Fashion East with a knockout debut styled by Katie Grand and watched by Marc Jacobs. AV Robertson’s AW16 collection is available soon from L‘Eclaireur (Paris) and H Lorenzo (Los Angeles).

Mimi Wade

Mimi Wade

Mimi Wade is a young British American designer and graduate from Central Saint Martins. Wade made her debut in February with Fashion East, showcasing a collection of intricately hand painted leather party dresses in celebration of Hollywood’s rebellious female protagonists. Homages to Faye Dunaway in Bonnie and Clyde, Marianne Faithfull in Girl on a Motorcycle and Catherine Denevue in Belle de Jour each came worn with pastel lace bias cut slips peeking out and furry pom-pom handbags.

Richard Malone

Richard Malone

Richard Malone is an Irish designer living and working in London. He graduated from the Central Saint Martins BA in 2014 where he was awarded the prestigious LVMH Grand Prix scholarship. His 12-look graduate collection opened the press show and was awarded the Deutsche Bank Award for fashion, previously won by Christopher Kane. Malone debuted with Fashion East in September 2015 via a static presentation before his second season shown on the catwalk at the Tate Britain last season. SS17 will be his third outing with Fashion East. Richard Malone’s collections are available internationally from stores including Selfridges (London), Machine-A (London), L‘Eclaireur (Paris), Brown Thomas (Dublin and Cork), H Lorenzo (Los Angeles), Joyce (Hong Kong), Alter (Shanghai) and more.

London Fashion Week takes place from 16-20 September at Brewer Street Carpark, Soho.