We love New York. But when it comes to fashion that takes people and the planet into consideration it’s London for the WIN.
Conner Ives
Fulfilling the designer’s five-year-old self’s dreams, Conner Ives’ namesake brand debuted this year at London Fashion Week. (Though he is originally from New York 😉 ). The brand had an impressive start, having been chosen for a Metropolitan Museum of Art display by Andrew Bolton and pulling in as a runner-up for last year’s LVMH prize. This collection showed unique looks created for “American archetypes” based off his own relationships and famous women alike. We especially love Conner Ives for his use of deadstock and upcycled vintage garments and materials in making enjoyable designs. And the brand will only produce one runway show a year. Ives wants to slow the speed and reduce waste of a typical cycle of fashion.
Saul Nash
LUAS, named for designer Saul Nash’s first name backwards, is bringing a Caribbean flair to sportswear. Not only a designer, Nash’s creative abilities cross to choreography and movement direction, too. For this collection, he drew from both his childhood, combining his Guyana heritage and London upbringing, and his technical development as a designer. He aimed to bring functional, re-defined suiting to formal wear through modifiable pieces. Nash focused on themes of folklore, the Christian church, and barbershop visits. And bonus is a focus on eco-friendly knitwear pieces that don’t contain dangerous synthetics.
Ahluwalia
Inspired by Bollywood and Nollywood movie posters, fashion, and music, Ahluwalia showed bold yet refined pieces in the brand’s very first runway show. Utilizing a supply chain that was researched for both its environmental and ethical impacts, the collection explored the fun side of fashion while keeping roots in designer Priya Ahluwalia’s own community. Upcycled materials were also used in some of the garments, adding Ahluwalia to the list of designers dedicated to cutting down on waste.
Vivienne Westwood
Long recognized for her commitment to sustainable design and cruelty-free fashion, designer Vivienne Westwood impressed us yet again with her fall 2022 ready-to-wear collection. The garments shown were largely re-works of designs past to cut down on over-production waste, and any new fabrics needed to create fresh looks were sourced from sustainable suppliers. The designs referenced the Year of the Tiger, paintings by Matisse, Jean-Baptiste Oudry, and Breughel, and Westwood’s 2001 fall/winter show. Westwood’s strongly tailored yet still punkish looks displayed feline themes and kept on par with trends like low-waisted skirts and bold shoulder detailing.
