A true and authentic show of diversity and inclusion were visible at the Fashions Finest Autumn/Winter 2022 London Fashion Week Event. Fashion’s Finest is renowned for showcasing the work of emerging creatives with a focus on sustainable design. On display was a range of unique and beautiful designs.

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London Fashion Week Autumn Winter 2022, the fashion capital which nurtures new and upcoming talent, and this season at Fashion’s Finest was certainly no exception.

AKKA

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The first collection to be showcased was the AKKA, the multi-award-winning brand founded by Montenegrin designer and architect, Aleksandra Dzakovic. As someone who previously gained her master’s degree in architecture, it is not a surprise that Aleksandra’s goal when creating her garments was to “critically examine the relationship between technology and tradition in the dressing culture.” Within the development of the collection, Aleksandra’s use of technology in the product design went hand in hand with ensuring that an entirely sustainable collection was created. Aleksandra uses advanced machines which lead to a reduction in manual labour, and garments are produced to order which erases all possibility of excess wastage in production.

In the AW 22, AKKA displayed a range of garments which were almost paradoxically, perfectly well structured whilst still holding a feminine elegance. The varying lengths and layers of the pieces are evidence of the skill which the designer has in cutting and pattern assembling. This is the skill Aleksandra needed when developing the modular pattern structure: a sustainable method which means if one part of the garment is damaged, it can easily be replaced with another.
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Valentina Lingerie

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Valentina Lingerie is a lingerie and swimwear collection designed by Valentina Grey. Valentina is a recent graduate in Contour Fashion, gaining a first from De Montfort University. The Valentina Lingerie “L'Amore” collection was displayed at Fashion Finest AW 22 with an array of delicate, sensual pieces which were a clear representation of confidence and diversity of modern women.
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Tribal Hotel

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Next up was Tribal Hotel, the sustainable fashion brand by Simona Veilande and “Miko” Rode. In their showcase, the pair showed a spectacle of a-symmetric, deconstructed garments. The contrasts of colours and textures used in the pieces accentuate the impressive design and indeed the tailoring required to produce such garments. In terms of sustainable production, Tribal Hotel use fabrics made mostly from silk organza, which the designers acquire from sample and left-over silk from Italian fabric produces, which ensures that the quality is never compromised.
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Toomey & Koko

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Kofo Jegede was born in Ile-Ife and grew up watching her mother and grandmother making their own Adire textile garments. From here, Kofo created Toomey & Koko which blends both her Nigerian and British heritage into beautiful garments made from reimagined Nigerian fabrics.

The collection includes tailored two pieces, structured blazer dresses, and strong but graceful bardot dresses and tops all shown in vibrant, eye-catching tones and prints. This collection perfectly encapsulates Kofo’s aim of showcasing her heritage.
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Carat 23 and Zarya Azadi

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Designs of true beauty were on display as Carat 23 and Zarya Azadi took to the runway. Zarya is a Kurdish model and designer who founded Dair Design. Zarya showcased her detailed collection with the Carat 23 handbags, the Dutch brand which produces the accessory with entirely vegan and vegetable tanned leather. Zarya’s designs were heavily eye-catching, with sequins and beads featuring often, but excellently fitting with the glamourous theme of the collection.`

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Milena Sayad Knitwear

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Clear talent was on show as Milena Sayad Knitwear showed collection. Milena claims that her brand is all about quality, authenticity and sustainability. In her production, Milena is also following the important conversation surrounding sustainable consumption, and only uses high-quality recyclable materials. Each month, a maximum of 10 pieces are made to ensure that waste is limited. The garments which were seen on the runway were exquisitely fitting and was a completely embodiment of the relaxed chicness which is only increasing in popularity. It is easy to say, the quality of this collection would be able to be seen from a mile away.

Snz Swim

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Founded in 2017 by Eli Wilson, Season Swim presented a minimalist take on swim wear at Fashions Finest with a colouful array of stunning sustainable bikini's.
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MA Student Collective

Following this we saw a Collective consisting of Seronga, Psych Apparel and Soleil Atelier. All three brand founders are currently studying MA Fashion Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Seronga

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Seronga is a brand created by Precious Seronga, a Tanzanian artist who is currently based in London completing her master's degree. When moving here, Precious noticed a misrepresentation of her home country in the British media and made it her mission moving forward to focus her creations to represent the African continent in a more positive light. The Seronga collection displayed Precious’ beautiful designs, decorated with traditional beadwork by Tanzanian craftswomen.
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Psych Apparel

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Gaby Carruthers is the creator of the streetwear brand, Psych Apparel. They’re mission involves creating comfortable, expressive clothing whilst also being size inclusive and minimising waste as much as possible throughout production.
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Soleil Apparel

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Finally, a sophisticated and tasteful collection of eveningwear was shown by Soleil Atelier. The brand story surrounds the designer, Aditi’s, global travels and love for minimalistic and handcrafted inventiveness.

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Pretty Affluent

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Pretty Affluent was founded by the self-taught designer, Frances, in June 2020 when she had no background or experience in fashion. Now, only a year and a half later, Pretty Affluence has a line of both made-to-order, and ready-to-wear garments.
Frances made her fashion week debut with a collection of dainty skirts, blazers, and an amazingly put together layered tulle dress.
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Almara by Aruna Goud

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Almara by Aruna Goud showed a collection of classic couture offering unique, fashionable, and functional clothing. Aruna Goud, the brands founder, put on a show of elegant eveningwear, infused with her Indian heritage, whilst still placing creativity and quality at the forefront of the brand. Aruna chose vibrant, jewel like colours to show her designs, which created a visual spectacle on the runway.
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Midé

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And the final collection of the night, was Midé. Nigerian born Ayomidé, debuted her AW’22 collection appropriately named ‘Heart Felt’ at Fashions Finest AW’22. It is safe to say the brand exhibited a collection of dresses fit for a fairy-tale. It was the complete definition of femininity and elegance. Midé showed an array of handmade, premium quality, bridal-like dresses, which each were hand-finished in a way which ensured they glowed as they were worn down the runway. For the finale piece for Fashions Finest, Ayomidé showed an extravagant yet still effortlessly tasteful cherry red gown. The dress had intricate tulle layering, and a corset top which accentuated the silhouette perfectly.
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The event was warmly received by the audience, and the designers received an enthusiastic applause at the end of the brilliant show. This was a stunning way to end the great success of the Fashions Finest A/W 2022 London Fashion Week show.

Milena Sayad Knitwear showcased their collection at Fashions Finest  emerging designer AW22 London Fashion Week showcase 19th February 2022.

Makeup: Academy of Freelance Makeup Artists (AOFM) lead #mua Mandy Gakhal
Hair: Amy Tasker, Annie Berry
Nails: Julie Bryan & team
Creative Director: Tanya Beresford
Lead stylist: Leighanne Krystal
Assistant Stylist: Raahim Khan
Student Stylists: College of North West London
Photographer: VR Agency

Toomey & Koko showcased their collection at Fashions Finest  emerging designer AW22 London Fashion Week showcase 19th February 2022.

Makeup: Academy of Freelance Makeup Artists (AOFM) lead #mua Mandy Gakhal
Hair: Amy Tasker, Annie Berry
Nails: Julie Bryan & team
Creative Director: Tanya Beresford
Lead stylist: Leighanne Krystal
Assistant Stylist: Raahim Khan
Student Stylists: College of North West London
Photographer: VR Agency

Tribal Hotel, showcased their collection at Fashions Finest  emerging designer AW22 London Fashion Week showcase 19th February 2022.

Makeup: Academy of Freelance Makeup Artists (AOFM) lead #mua Mandy Gakhal
Hair: Amy Tasker, Annie Berry
Nails: Julie Bryan & team
Creative Director: Tanya Beresford
Lead stylist: Leighanne Krystal
Assistant Stylist: Raahim Khan
Student Stylists: College of North West London
Photographer: VR Agency

Valentina Grey Lingerie, showcased their collection at Fashions Finest  emerging designer AW22 London Fashion Week showcase 19th February 2022.

Makeup: Academy of Freelance Makeup Artists (AOFM) lead #mua Mandy Gakhal
Hair: Amy Tasker, Annie Berry
Nails: Julie Bryan & team
Creative Director: Tanya Beresford
Lead stylist: Leighanne Krystal
Assistant Stylist: Raahim Khan
Student Stylists: College of North West London
Photographer: VR Agency

AKKA, showcased their collection at Fashions Finest  emerging designer AW22 London Fashion Week showcase 19th February 2022.

Makeup: Academy of Freelance Makeup Artists (AOFM) lead #mua Mandy Gakhal
Hair: Amy Tasker, Annie Berry
Nails: Julie Bryan & team
Creative Director: Tanya Beresford
Lead stylist: Leighanne Krystal
Assistant Stylist: Raahim Khan
Student Stylists: College of North West London
Photographer: VR Agency

Introducing Flores de Melo Swimwear – the collection with vibrant prints and stories to tell.

Fashions Finest is excited to announce its designers for the AW22 season taking place at 7:30 pm on the 19th of February 2022 at St John's Hyde Park, Hyde Park Crescent, London, W2 2QD.

Iria Ponte, artist and designer born and raised in the West Coast of Spain, has started her path as independent designer after gathering years of varied experience and knowledge across the fashion industry in London while consolidating a solid idea of own fashion values, identity, and style.

In 2014 she started studying pattern cutting and garment construction to grow her brand identity, collection, and portfolio. After years of study, along with her inner creativity she designed collections named “Vintage Exposure” and “Classy Boho” where the names refer respectively to the high exposure photographic art direction along with the Vintage character of the collection as well as the Classic and Chic garments' fits and shapes harmonized with rustic fabrics which gives the airs to the boho style.

In 2018 and in the search of new collection design creativity she attended informal studies of “creative fashion collection design” in London, where she receives certification and learns how to join art, TV, and fashion together to create a vibrant fashion collection based in a strong visual and detailed TV inspirational research. It is then she releases her third portfolio of fashion design development with a TV show merchandising collection named “Stranger 80s things”, based on the first season of the TV show “Stranger Things” where prints, t-shirt messages, textures and seasonal fabrics, colours, exposures, and lights of the garments play altogether a song that redirects the viewer to every iconic moment of the TV show.

In 2018 Iria Ponte gives name to her first fashion label Lace Copperwood in the search of a feminine, sophisticated, sensual still natural, introspective, and intuitive expression of a cosmopolitan and urban woman.

Iria Ponte's brand is inspired by her roots, regional traditions, nature, feminine aesthetics, wild landscapes all in all influenced by her experience of living in a green Scotland and in a cosmopolitan, urban, fashionable, and trendy city as London can be.

This year, in September 2022 she releases her first Label physical collection as an official independent designer within the London Fashion Week Schedule and launches this collection to the market, available to purchase it exclusively from the catwalk or onwards from the online store.

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The label, a project of the 4th generation of fashion designers/tailors is everything its name promises and more. Its clothes are created to support and underline their client’s individuality and authenticity, helping them to embrace and express themselves, while standing out from the crowd.

With this collection Serbia native Katarina Vukovic incorporated many pastel nuances and combined it soft with high quality silk materials.

Photographer Mikey San

Silhouettes were kept clear and simple, though richly embellished by consistently flowy and lightweight textures, thereby creating an effortlessly chic and feminine look.

Several pieces feature hand embroidered parts, ruffles, and ribbons, which added to the light feeling of the pieces, despite not being diaphanous. Rose, red, nude, turquoise, and silver build the main colour palette. A pale rosé coloured midi dress, standing out as one of the centrepieces of the collection, contained a petticoat like ruffle underskirt, which was reminiscent of various bygone eras, coalescing regency era elements with roaring ‘20s and ‘50s elements.  The former being referenced by its empire silhouette top, while the ‘20s are alluded to by the length and heavy pearl necklace, the underskirt on the other hand is reminiscent of ‘50s petticoats. Unique is a perfect fit for the modern chic and refined woman.

www.instagram.com/unique_fashion.house