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32 October April/May 2015 2011 Fashion Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today www.KCWToday.co.uk September Shows by Lola Aladeshelu September is a poignant time, marking the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. A season filled with freshness and warmth emanating from the yellow and brown hues of falling leaves. For fashion enthusiasts September is an exciting time consisting of fashion shows, exhibitions and book releases. Below are just some of the fashion focused events throughout the month that KCWT attended: BHMFashionweek SS16 Although London may be respected as UK’s fashion capital, a strong contender racking up favour is Birmingham. The £750m refurbishment completion of New Street rail station and the NEC attracting international exhibitors all muster favour. Two weeks ahead of London Fashion Week SS16, Birmingham International Fashion Week (BHMFW) held its 3rd annual fashion week at the Macdonald Burlington Hotel, Birmingham New Street. On 4 -5 September BHMFW’s SS16 catwalk runway designer collections coincided with a fashion platform for aspiring creatives and entrepreneurs. The SS16 fashion lines included attractive plus size shoes by Arabel Manner and the colourful, pinks and purples of eco brand Green Embassy’s ‘silent rainforest.’ The shows featured Segrid Allen’s swimwear and bridalwear. Maliha Design’s flouncy pastel lacy, shimmery dress and trousers ensembles created the spring feel, while Hazel Gonzalez’s luxury jewellery added the visual sparkle. Other designers’ collections made the event worthwhile too. Keynote speakers Fabian Hirose and social media’s blogging sisters, Becky and Holly Sheeran offered practical advice on how to engage and survive within fashion’s £27 Billion industry. Two young emerging business founders present were Letusfindit’s Imelda Fossu and Vernez’s Moyang Yang. Creators of digital fashion apps similarly offering fashion enthusiasts two different ‘shopping’ experience options. Each giving the consumer direct and instant control over their individual style choices. “A personalised fashion wardrobe allowing everyone to be their own fashion editor and stylist” remarked Moyang. The successful event was a positive environment not just for business minded fashion trailblazers but also an aspiring place for newbees and seasoned professionals to integrate, collaborate and forge future network support. Birmingham International Fashion Week: www.bhmfashionweek.com London Fashion Week SS16 September 19-22 entailed fashion frenzies in and around London’s Soho district. Britain’s fashion designers, traders and retailers epicentre. Brewer Street Car Park being BFC’s elected choice of venue to host the LFW SS16 catwalk exposes and press previews. The ripple effect produced collaborators’ and sponsors’ participation in forming their own scheduled fashion shows and talks within neighbouring areas. Appealing to mass fashion and media journalists, press, photographers, emerging designers, bloggers/vloggers and enthusiasts. To say there was not enough fashion coverage to go around would be an understatement. A summary of three alternative fashion events attended and worthy of mentioning were as follows:- Mimpitika SS16 Mimpitika a South East Asian based designer fashion label launched its UK store AW15 collection at the Freemasons Institute, WC2. on Sunday 20 September 2015. Despite a delayed start the three Zulkilfi designer sisters were applauded for their enticingly simplistic, minimalistic maroon, yellow hues, orange and white collections. Consisting of mid-calf and knee length dresses and bias-cut asymmetrical layered skirts matched with semi-fitted short-sleeved or waisted side-tie wrap-over tops, the exhibits were beautifully pleasing. The after show event enabled the audience to purchase Mimpitika’s SS15 end of lines sales and place orders for the AW15 collection. Freemasons Hall, 60 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ Mimpitika: www.mimpitika.com.my Studio One Twenty, 120 Islingron High Street, London N1 8EG Dame Zandra Rhodes & Caryn Franklin MBEs Five Decades of Fashion Conde Naste hosted a series of insightful seminars open to ambitious fashion designers and the media. One in particular involved Caryn Franklin MBE’s live and informal conversation with Britain’s highly regarded Dame Zandra Rhodes (21 September 2015). Dame Zandra, a textile and arts designer provided the audience with an overview of her professional experience spanning 40 years of involvement within the fashion industry. Below are Dame Zandra Rhodes top tips on how to survive and succeed in the world’s most competitive and fierce fashion industry. Self belief. Have belief in your work (in spite of what others might say or think about your work). You are your brand. Individuality. The self-styled trademark pink haired Dame remarked that being different with creative styles is not a faux pas. Supporters. At the beginning of her career, Dame Zandra experienced difficulties and directional uncertainty, a situation not uncommon for fashion designers and creatives alike. She emphasised the importance of having supporters and people around that encourage. Keep a copy of your work especially press coverage and reviews. Touching on personal attributes Dame Zandra remarked that she never likes to be seen without her make-up so invariably keeps it on; even if she is outside in her garden. She likes looking at real work (handcrafted) in preference to digital creations and she always has a notebook for sketching. Conde Naste College of Fashion and Design, 16-17 Greek Street, London W1D 4DR. www.condenast.co.uk LCCA’s Four Seasons Fashion Show Shoreditch Town Hall Hotel London College of Contemporary Arts held a spectacular Fashion show containing its graduates’ collections. The fashion lines contained designs using unusual elements of wood, felt, embroidery and ceramics to create texture, intrigue and difference to the garments. The evening event occurred at Shoreditch Town Hall Hotel on 21 September 2015. Nicola Bacchilega’s edgy 3D pyramid rippled front panelled black dress, Bryony Sansone’s streetwear inspired turquoise and black leather cut-out skimpy outfit and a gold lattice beadedback tutu ruffled ankle length dress, likely to be one of Feven Yohannes’ designs, were strong statement pieces. Other creations featured Deborah Allick, Nellie Bailey’s tailored debut designs and many other designers. All of the designers’ exhibits clearly demonstrated the present influences emanating within the Shoreditch fashionistas. The character of surrounding retail outlets and architectural constructs of corporate landmarks played its part. The impressive collections qualify how LCCA’s graduate students are destined to become household designer names of the future. Venue: Shoreditch Town Hall, 38 Old Street, London EC1V 9LT. London College of Contemporary Arts, 9 Holborn, London EC1N 2LL (www.lcca.org.uk) Reflecting upon LFW SS16’s shows, projections and the influences of Paris and New York’s Fashion week shows, the New Year will confirm what expected fashions, colours and designs will hit the British high streets. Photograph © Lola Aladeshelu Photograph © Lola Aladeshelu Photograph © Jemma Kathryn
020 7738 2348 Lifestyle October 2015 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Today 33 online: www.KCWToday.co.uk Qigong Questions Answered By Lynne McGowan Let’s start with the obvious, what is it? Qigong literally means ‘Life Energy Cultivation’ in Chinese or rather the cultivation of vitality. Qi as in the universal energy force flowing through everything and Gong meaning accomplishment through effort. There are as many as 75 forms but generally the practice comprises gentle and focused flowing moves using mind and body in order to ‘harness’ the Qi. I presume it is ancient, how old is it? It is said the Daoists have been practicing a form of qigong for around 4000 years to clarify and balance the mind. Not only spiritual philosophers but many martial arts such as Kung Fu and Tai Chi have used Qigong as a focusing prelude to their practice so they can perform such forceful strikes like ‘Iron shirt’ or ‘Iron Palm’. So why do it, what is it for? The practice is holistic and can facilitate awareness and coordination between the mind and body. The Chinese, experts in preventative medicine, consider blockages stop Qi flow causing illness (mental as well as physical) so by enhancing the energy flow, circulatory systems and vibrancy are increased and the whole person can become balanced and well. Give me details? In China it is used to help combat many health problems like stress disorders, heart disease, diabetes and tumors but back here in the west it is generally accepted as a safe, complementary exercise and relaxation practice. Some say it is a meditative practice, is it? The Taoists, Buddhists and Confucians believe it can help attain enlightenment. Calm, coordinated, rhythmic moves combined with deep breathing can still the mind benefiting the nervous system. Tell me about the moves These are variable from static poses, stretching and tapping to stimulate circulation and slow sinuous balletic moves with animal names like ‘Soaring Crane’ and ‘Wild Goose’. A wonderful undulating move called ‘Dragon’ entails the hands in prayer posture moving across the face, then back across the heart, flipping the hands down and across the stomach whilst swaying the hips simultaneously. How does it compare to Tai Chi? There is a Tai Chi form called Yang Sheng Zhang and many Chinese people consider Qigong to be as important to their overall health and fitness. In fact many scholars state qigong predates Tai Chi but essentially qigong is primarily focused on benefitting health and Tai Chi is a self defence martial art. They share many similar fluid movements with subtle differences and both practices are designed to promote the flow of Qi or Chi. Can anyone do it? Absolutely. The beauty of the practice is that it is beneficial to everyone from a school child to an OAP. The aims are the same, to increase concentration and enhance balance. In addition to standing there are lying and sitting moves so it is highly flexible and can be adapted to specific needs. If Qigong sounds like ‘Your cup of Cha’ the best thing to do is find a local class and have a go. Catch a luxurious night’s sleep with Fine Bedding by Rosie Quigley Autumn is officially here and getting out of bed in the morning just got a lot more difficult. The brisk weather and Fine Bedding’s glorious collection entices you cozy up and cocoon yourself in one of their plush luxury duvets and snuggle up for a most sumptuous sleep. Fine Bedding boasts a decadent range of gorgeous bedding which is 100 years in the making and each piece suggests time well spent. The family run, UK based, company are experts at creating fantastic bedding which is made exclusively from ethically sourced materials from across the world. It is no wonder, then, that the company delivers such a great standard. Fine Bedding are conscientious on delivering quality and conscious about their carbon footprint and ensure that 30% of energy used in their factories comes from renewable sources. Their pioneering collection includes smart cool pillows and breath duvets which control body temperature while you sleep. Fine Bedding also offer a splendid range of duvets made from beautiful boutique silk and goose feathers. The company are also experts when it comes to the method of sleeping and offer advice services for those who wish to create a perfect environment for a satisfying slumber. Fine Bedding have worked with Dr Hillary to ensure that their products give sleep-lovers a great night’s sleep. And if expert tips aren’t enough, the selection of alluring duvets and irresistibly soft pillows are sure to entice you to hit the snooze button once more in the morning and indulge in an extra moment’s slumber.
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