Oops she’s done it again. Fashion East’s Lulu Kennedy presents a fresh batch of talent with her latest line up for S/S 12.
London Fashion Week is renowned for putting new designers on the map, yet each season we rely on Lulu Kennedy to deliver the cream of the crop. So far the non-profit initiative has helped kick-start the careers of Jonathan Saunders, Richard Nicoll and Gareth Pugh to name a few, and judging by her latest additions, S/S 12 could be Fashion East’s best show yet. This September James Long will make a welcome return with his second womenswear collection and straight out of Central Saint Martins, Portuguese design duo Marques Almeida and the Dutch designer Maarten van der Horst will enjoy their first on-schedule debuts. i-D Online caught up with Lulu to get the scoop on her new recruits.
On James Long…
How do you feel about welcoming James back for a second season? I feel super happy! James made an impressive debut last season. His womenswear is a natural progression of his aesthetic and he’s having lots of fun with it.
James has previously cited you as a muse for his womenswear. How do his clothes complement your own style? I love his clothes and have worn his menswear ever since he started out, so it’s nice he now does womenswear that I can dress up in too. He’s a free spirit, and that shines through in his clothes and that’s why they’re such a pleasure to wear.
On Marques Almeida…
What first attracted you to this label’s distressed denim aesthetic? It felt wild, intriguing, new and odd. A winning combination.
What do you hope to see from the duo’s Fashion East debut? Whatever they’re feeling for summer. I’ve seen some research and swatches and it’s looking awesome already!
On Maarten van der Horst…
With a graduate collection of Bermuda shorts and Hawaiian shirts, how do you think fashion week will react to this young designer? Maarten’s vibe is really liberated and optimistic and people already love his Hawaiian dream! His research is beautiful and he has tonnes of great ideas going on. I’m excited to see what he does.
What pre-show advice do you give to Fashion East newbies? Keep it concise, there’s no need to do lots of looks and get a good team around you, you’ll need them.
