Lulu Kennedy’s fashion incubation platform Fashion East, which is supported by Topman, has announced an unchanged catwalk line up for the MAN fall/winter 17 season. Charles Jeffrey‘s LOVERBOY returns for a hotly anticipated third season; Feng Chen Wang is back for round two following her impressive spring/summer 17 debut. Per Götesson is amping up his offering with a full catwalk collection, building on last season’s whimsical static presentation.
“There was zero doubt in our mind that we would continue to work with [these three designers] after their incredible shows last season,” Lulu Kennedy tells i-D. “It really was one of my favorite MAN shows ever in the entire decade we’ve been running the project,” she enthuses, adding “All three designers had a super strong season, both creatively and commercially at sales picking up great stores, and we strongly believe in their potential.”
All eyes will be on purveyors of tights on t-shirts and cigarettes on pins Rottingdean Bazaar, AKA Luke Brooks and James Theseus Buck. They’ll return to the Fashion East Men’s Presentation after their universally loved debut last season. That duo will be joined by another: newcomers Art School, the collaborative project of recent graduates Eden Loweth (menswear, Ravensbourne) and Tom Barratt (art criticism, CSM), whose work is noted for “exploring and celebrating the idiosyncratic nature of queer style.”
“Rottingdean Bazaar’s debut with us at last season was just genius — it’s a huge pleasure to support them,” Kennedy says. “The endless avalanche of creativeness, originality, and flawless execution make them a super exciting label to watch.” As for newbies Art School, fashion’s fairy godmother explains: “I knew Eden from his days assisting [Fashion East alumni] Grace Wales Bonner and loved his own graduate collection — I’m a huge fan of the jewelry! — so I was super happy when he told us he and Tom had started Art School together. I love what they’re exploring and representing; there’s a real passion to them. We’re all excited to see what they do in January.”
The fall/winter 17 MAN catwalk show and Fashion East Men’s Presentation will be held during London Collections: Men in January. For the first time ever, the events will share the same venue: the Topman Showspace at Old Selfridges Hotel.
Credits
Text Charlotte Gush
Photography Piczo; Eden Loweth image courtesy Fashion East