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Monday 30 November 2015

Fashion Illustration: Interview with our SS16 Illustrator, Scott W Mason

We're between seasons, but there's a definite air of anticipation in the office. Applications for AW16 closed last week and with a growing collection of upcoming talent to choose from, the selection process for next season’s designers is underway.

We caught up with our SS16 in-house illustrator, Scott W Mason to gain some insight into the things he looks out for in a collection and his personal highlights of SS16. With a degree in Fashion Photography from Falmouth University, Scott is lead by a strong, clean aesthetic within collections. ‘My personal favourites from SS16 Merit Award Winner, Roberts | Wood and [AW15 Merit Award Winner] James Kelly. They both had such exciting structures and shapes to draw, as well as minimal use of colour which I have a soft spot for. 






As well as presenting emerging designers to the fashion industry last season, Fashion Scout also showed cult icon, fashion designer and musician Pam Hogg's SS16 collection, ‘I loved Pam Hogg’s collection, she’s always a huge Fashion Scout highlight and [this season's] collection 'Lawless' really showed her punk personality in full force.


As the largest off-schedule event during London Fashion Week, Fashion Scout provides illustrators like Scott with the perfect place to expand their fashion illustration portfolio. He explains his technique: ‘I scribble down my responses live from the catwalk, focusing on the shape of a garment- the flow of the fabric or a specific pattern.’ It takes talent and technique to draw live fashion, capturing a garment's movement and essence all while working amongst the reams of industry guests at a show can be tough. ‘There’s a lot of pressure [drawing live on] the catwalk, it’s tougher to work around prying eyes, I want to make sure every illustration is perfect.’

With only a few seconds to draw his response, Scott has to choose carefully when selecting which look from a designer he wants to focus on: ‘I tend to go for shape mainly, there isn't a whole lot of colour in my illustrations so I'm always drawn (pardon the pun) to lines and shape. For example with my Apu Jan illustration, the shape of the dress was beautiful to me, with the vertical lines of the top with the horizontal drape of the waist with it then kicking right out with the flowing fabric, drawing those shapes and lines excites me far more in an illustration than any print or rainbow of colours.’



SS16 was Scott’s debut as Fashion Scout’s in-house Illustrator, but he has illustrated fashion for several years, ‘embarrassingly it was America’s Next Top Model that inspired me to get into fashion. I couldn’t afford to do photo shoots, so drawing was my only option.’ Showcasing his illustrations on Instagram, Scott has built up a large and engaged following over the past few years and is making a name for himself as one of London’s great new talents.

Fashion Scout gives established and  upcoming talent a spotlight to showcase their work in, and as well as launching many designers, this past season gave Scott the support to take the next step in his own career. ‘It was a great experience to work within a group of other creatives and working towards a daily deadline always pushes you to your limits.’ Since working with Fashion Scout in September 2015, Scott has started working at bridal footwear boutique and is also selling originals and limited copies of his SS16 artwork.





Scott looks forward to the AW16 season in February 2016, ‘I have two soft spots: one is staggered hemlines (they're so fun to draw, much like in James Kelly's collection), and I absolutely adore anything that has a pop or illustration-type look to it like Typical Freaks collection in Ones To Watch, so fingers crossed for something similar next season.’ 

With selections for next season currently underway we’re sure AW16 will provide plenty of illustration inspiration.

Scott W Mason’s work can be found online at http://scottwmason.com/ where his original artwork can be purchased.

Illustration: Scott W Mason
Photos: Simon Armstrong
Editor: Fiona Nicholls 


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Monday 9 November 2015

Applications for Fashion Scout AW16 OPEN NOW



Applications for Fashion Scout AW16 are open!

If you are interested in our Catwalk or Exhibition presentations in London or Paris we want to hear from you!

For more information click here or to request an application email  charlotte@fashionscoutevents.com 


Wednesday 23 September 2015

Fashion Scout SS16 Roundup


Image: Maja Jankowska


Spring Summer 2016 at Fashion Scout will be a season to remember, with a beautiful venue, fabulous FROW and most importantly- a whole host of incredible designers.

James Kelly SS16 - Image: Maja Jankowska

Angel Chen SS16 - Image: Maja Jankaowska


Ana Ljubinkovic -  Image: Oda Elde

Roberts|Wood SS16 - Image: Maja Jankowska
All of our designers this season have wowed Fashion Scout’s guests. With both established talents like Apu Jan, and fresh, young designers from the Graduate Showcase. Highlights include James Kelly’s haunting collection which was simply beautiful, and Marko Mitanovski’s gothic escapism. This year’s Merit Award Winner, Katie Roberts Wood (Roberts|Wood) showcased her other worldly collection inspired by science and nature. 

Jay Mehler & Lee Starkey SS16 at Pam Hogg - Image: Maja Jankowska

Image: Maja Jankowska
Fashion Scout has seen a fantastic FROW this season with celebrities, influencers and international press all flocking to the Freemason’s Hall to see SS16’s designs. Pam Hogg’s celebrity following was in full force, with Lee Starkey and Jay Mahler taking to the front row alongside Ray Winstone's daughter, actor Jaime Winstone. MIMPIKITA and Judy Wu’s FROW were similarly peppered with celebrity guests including Bianca Miller and girlband Stooshe.

Designer: Camilla Araburts - Images: Stefania Porcu

Designer: Niro Wang - Images: Stefania Porcu
A forecast of the next season’s trends Fashion Scout’s designers displayed bold graphic knits, intricate applique and fine, textured knits as key trends for SS16. 

Image: Anne Laymond
Image: Anne Laymond
Image: Anne Laymond
A summary of this season's catwalk would be incomplete without mention of the incredible hair and makeup looks presented. At Fashion Scout The Body Shop and label.m for Tony&Guy created a breathtaking array of looks. It seems braids of all kinds will be a dominant trend for next season, as seen at Angel Chen, Niro Wang and several other shows.

Fashion Scout SS16 took place on 18th-22nd September 2015 at The Freemason's Hall, Covent Garden. To relive the experience have a read of our show reviews throughout the blog, follow us on Twitter or take a look at our Instagram.

We look forward to seeing you again in February for AW16.

Words: Elizabeth Renfrey @erenfrey
Editor: Fiona Nicholls @fifinicholls
Images: Credited by photograph




Tuesday 22 September 2015

The FAD Fashion Future Finalists Catwalk and Awards

Hosted by Fashion Scout, the FAD charity catwalk celebrates the design talents of of sixth form and college students across London. These 19 finalists were picked from a pool of over 100 for the Fashion Futures Awards, which is a competition sponsored by George at Asda showcasing designs created in only five days during the FAD summer school.

Shahiyan Mason from Archbishop Tenison Sixth Form presented a crisp, monochrome sport's luxe outfit.



Lolita Stegmar from BSix Sixth Form College showcased a modern, white powersuit with exaggerated cut out shoulders.



Mylena Silveira Vidal Matos's metallic dress, was artistically draped at the waist to accentuate the female form.



Damilola Ajani from La Retraite presented a geometric co ord in stoney metallic shades.



Zedeesha James from Lewisham Southwark College used stencilling to create a feminine design on a contrasting structured cape.



Sophie Watson's metallic streetwear used black netting for a punky 90s edge.



Maisie Rennie-Carter presented a hand dyed summer dress with ragged edges for a casual feminine aesthetic.


Gurkiran Chana's garment used 3D floral applique on a flowing semi sheer coral dress for a classic, feminine feel. 



Phuoc Ngo from Sacred Heart RC Secondary School presented an ombre blue cotton dress with a plaited back from a beachy aesthetic. 



Arjeta Husuma presented an asymmetric tiered cream dress with stencilled butterfly prints. 



Bernadette Obode's relaxed, masculine tailoring used velvet cuffs to add a luxurious feel. 



Weronika Biernat from Maria Fieldelis Sixth Form presented a neon yellow dress with a transparent perspex jacket and contrasting royal blue faux fur trim. 



Sarah Adetutu's coral dress had a semi sheer overlay with floral applique for a formal summer impression. 



Georgia Walsh from Raine's Foundation School showcased an other worldly look, decorated with 3D tubing and oversized shoulders. 



Luce Anumba presented a regal outfit with a fanned cape with golden oriental accents. 





The 2015 Fashion Futures Winner, presented with a design placement with George at Asda, went to the extremely talented Hana Minova from Prendergast Hilly Fields College. Her design, a clean cut white crossover top, paired with hessian trousers gave her modern tailoring an organic feel.





The FAD Charity also presents three awards to those showing excellent craftsmanship in their designs. The Technical Excellence Award went to Anakin Telle Nakata from City & Islington College, her clean cut neoprene collection wowed the judges so much that she too was offered a design placement with the team of George from Asda. The Innovative Surface Design Award went to Nurdan Sinal, her white, modern dress was artistically spray painted with primary colours. Finally, the Directional Outerwear Award went to David Benny for his innovative leather outwear with beautiful tribal embroidery.

Words : Elizabeth Renfrey
Photography: Oda Eide
Editor: Fiona Nicholls



Belgrade Fashion Week: Review

Belgrave Fashion Week is an organisation that strives to present collections with the unique balance of both commercial and artistic fashion. Collaborating with Belgrave Fashion Week, Fashion Scout presents Ana Ljubinkovic, Ivana Pilkja, George Styler, Budislava Kekovic and Vlada Savic, five of Belgrave’s hottest names.

Image: Oda Eide


Ana Ljubinkovic’s SS16 collection is an explosion of contradictory ideas. The garments combine the vintage cross stitch patterns with futuristic metal textures and structures to represent ‘the clash between naive innocence and experience’. The theatrical look was completed with kitsch woodland creatures, nested in the model’s crimped hair and faces covered in gold glitter. 

Design: Ana Ljubinkovic, Image: Oda Eide

With ‘Sports-Luxe’ featuring so heavily this London Fashion Week, it’s no surprise that the trend has gone international. Vlada Savic’s collection featured a primary colour palette of blues, yellows and reds across a clean cut set of dresses, culottes and smock tops.

Design: Vlada Savic, Image: Oda Eide
Inspired by simplistic form and the complexity of the underwater world, Budislava’s SS16 collection featured clean, cubistic cuts and a monochrome palette. Draped, sheer leggings contrasted the rigid structure of the garments and the solid plastic masks.

Design: Budislava, Image: Maja Jankowska
Stylist to many VIPs and fashion forward folk, George Styler exhibited his fun knitwear turned sportswear collection. Using floral designs and knitted fabrics to create bodysuits and bomber jackets, Styler found the perfect clash of technique and style. 

Design: George Styler, Image: Oda Eide
Returning to the theatrics, Ivana Pilja presented her dramatic, avant-garde collection which used monochromatic, kaleidoscope patterns and bizarre silhouettes.  Influenced by Japanese fashion and origami, the collection also felt animal inspired as the fabric was manipulated to resemble feathers and armadillo style pleats.

Design: Ivana Pilja, Image: Oda Eide
Incorporating international talent at Fashion Scout, Belgrade Fashion Week brought their innovative and unique style to the London catwalk. As the designers took their final bow, we, at Fashion Scout were delighted to introduce Belgrade Fashion Week to London.

Words: Alexandra Craft (@alexandrasaidso)
Images: Oda Beide and Maya Jankowska
Editor: Fiona Nicholls