The talent incubator celebrates its 20th anniversary during this year’s London Fashion Week, with its four womenswear designers presenting S/S21 collections via a virtual film premiere
London Fashion Week starts today, a days-long showcase comprising virtual and in-real-life events much different to the fashion weeks we were following just six months ago. Since February, the Covid-19 pandemic has led to lockdowns around the world and put a stop to usual presentation and runway plans. As such, London designers are having to do things differently this season, presenting films, lookbooks and online events for Spring/Summer 2021.
In the midst of a London Fashion Week like no other, Fashion East, one of the city’s best-loved institutions, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The talent incubator this morning announced the addition of designer Maximilian Davis to its line-up; Davis joins Saul Nash, Nensi Dojaka and GOOMHEO, and the four designers will present their Spring/Summer 2021 collections via a “virtual film premiere” this Sunday. Fashion East describes Davis’ forthcoming collection as as exploration of his Caribbean heritage, taking “inspiration from his grandmother’s upbringing in Trinidad as well as researching the roots and imagery of Carnival from the 19th century”.
Founded by Lulu Kennedy in 2000, Fashion East offers London-based designers support in the first stages of their careers through catwalk shows, bursaries and mentoring. Since its inception, it has helped graduates and young designers to establish themselves in London’s fashion industry, and many of its alumni have become key players; the likes of Craig Green, Gareth Pugh, Charlotte Knowles, Wales Bonner, Simone Rocha, Richard Malone, Mowalola, JW Anderson, Charles Jeffrey, ASAI, Stefan Cooke and Roksanda Ilincic.
“Looking back over 20 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,” says Kennedy, ahead of Fashion East’s 20th anniversary outing this weekend. “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.”
See Fashion East’s S/S21 collections via a virtual film premiere on September 20, 2020