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.

London Fashion Week is over, but innovative fashion never halts. Right on time for Black History Month, Sydney-Davies enthusiastically showcases a stunning menswear collection.

In the scenographic surroundings of St John's in Hyde Park, Fashions Finest's editorial team had a privileged sight on current trends and next Spring/Summer beauty forecast.

Nail art by Julie Bryan & team. Images by V. Chirico

Fashions Finest followed the makeup, hair styling and nail art teams during its LFW showcase to explore this season's most buzzed beauty trends. We had a look at what we should expect for next season, all in the making of the show.

A good old flick through popular magazines would be enough to stay up-to-date with the latest trends. What if you could have a close encounter with the style-makers and learn from the experts? Fashions Finest followed the teams led by Michelle Strain, Julie Bryan, and Amy Tasker on this mission. We popped behind the scenes during Fashions Finest's London Fashion Week event for a preview of next Spring/Summer trends and steal the best for your autumnal look straight from the catwalk.

SS22: a 20s' touch with finger waves. Amy Tasker & team.

The warmer season will see sweet hairstyles doing their come back. 'I would expect to see volumised bouffants with textured raw hair keeping the hair feeling and looking natural, sleek wet hair with styled baby hair on the forehead giving a fresh youthful appearance and finger waves to create the 1920s' glamorous timeless appeal' says Amy Tasker, lead hairstylist.

Streetstyle and low-maintenance updos are totally in these autumn and winter months, helping us to be ready in a snap. In fact, 'the 70's shaggy look is back with the grown out middle-parted bangs and invisible layers. Box braids are really popular right now as well as random plaits throughout the hair', continues Amy.

If you feel it is time to make a change with a new hair colour, pick yours from the warm palette of the moment. 'The seasons most anticipated colours are Caramel, Honey and Gold adding more warmth into the hair. For brunettes, it's definitely Espresso and Chocolate creating more of richer look and image.' This is the expert's advice.

Whether is autumn or springtime, the very essential for your makeup look is within you: 'I think always - for every season - is just a really good skin', international makeup artist from AOFM London Michelle Strain recommends. 

SS22 makeup: bright colours. Makeup by Michelle Strain & AOFM team

The makeup seems to reflect the natural colour surrounding us, as Michelle continues: 'I think we are definitely going to get more, richer colours like very bright lips with deeper tones.'

In Spring/Summer 22, the inspiration for your makeup is just outside the window with 'pastels, beautiful pretty blossom type of colours, because this is obviously what comes through with the clothing. Nice pastel pinks, peachies, blues for the eyes. Just really nice, pretty colours.'
If the next season's colour scheme comes from Mother Nature and our refreshed wardrobe, you need to know that 'definitely just a nice, glow, fresh healthy skin is always the way forward'.'

In winter/autumn nails tinge in sobriety. Julie Bryan, celebrities nail technician notices that 'people wear a lot of black in the autumn and winter. So I think the colour scheme, what we've done here today, will match autumn/winter and spring/summer. So we've got nudes: nude is going to be big as well. Loads of nudes.' As the days brighten up, so your nails do with 'a lot of neons again. They started to creep back in just as we went into lockdown. Lots of bright colours, which will be showcased in all fashion week.'

The models were sporting a rainbow of neons paired with gemstones applied as finger jewels. Without glue and rhinestones, this nail art is the idea to steal if you have some spare time for it! 'We've done the nails on the trend, so you have different neons on each end of the nail, painstakingly done', proudly points out Julie.

Every season has its colour but also its shapes too! This Autumn/Winter sees a drastic - very welcomed - change: 'coffins - some people call it coffins, some people call it 'ballerina' - that sort had its day, the nail trend that a lot of celebrities is going for is coming away from the acrylics and going more for the natural nail look.'

The beauty of nail art is in its everchanging nature, like the weather in the UK: 'the trend with nail art changes monthly, basically, so we had the mirror nails come and go, the chrome nails come and go. So it's using your own knowledge and your artistry... Just go with the flow! Don't make it too hard.'

Go with the flow, embrace natural shades and an effortless approach to hairstyling. Could you believe the catwalk was radiating so much naturalness?

More from our LFW behind the scenes? Follow Fashions Finest on Instagram.

Fashions Finest emerges post-lockdown for its SS22 on the 18th of September 2021 at St John’s Church, 18 Hyde Park Crescent, London, W2 2QD.

There is little denying that the fashion industry has had a toxic relationship with body image.

Joanna Mitroi photography captures the elegance and radiance of designer Evelina Anglickaite’s latest collection.

Conjuring a feel of bonding and sisterhood, Joanna’s photographs allow us to glimpse the beauty and intricacy of the fabrics used in designer Evelina Anglickaite’s collection of clothing, and forces the viewer to take a closer look. The minimal make-up and hair styles also cast the viewer’s eye onto the complexity of the garments, and the idea that overwhelming beauty can be found, in what may, at first glance be called simplicity.

Shot on location at Fashions Finest SS20 collection, during London Fashion Week 14th September 2019, the designer uses beautiful linens, and natural silk to highlight the fusing of western ideas of beauty, radiance, majesty and grandness, and the Eastern concept of beauty that is natural radiance, austerity and simplicity.

Photographer Joanna Mitroi, Models Cerys Wrigley-Moss & Elli Wilson- Copyright © Fashions Finest


Photographer Joanna Mitroi, Models Cerys Wrigley-Moss & Elli Wilson- Copyright © Fashions Finest


Photographer Joanna Mitroi, Models Cerys Wrigley-Moss & Elli Wilson- Copyright © Fashions Finest

Styling Team: Kim Able, David Johnson
SS20 makeup concept - Kim Able
Hair Team: David Rae Hair
Makeup Team: Academy of Freelance Makeup Artists
Nails: Julie Bryan & Team
Photographer: Joanna Mitroi
© Fashions Finest 2019

Shot on location at Fashions Finest SS20 collection during London Fashion Week 14th September 2019, photographer Joanna Mitroi utilises the light and shadows cleverly with Tuncer Tonun’s collection, in order to conjure a feeling of suspense, mystique, and an almost unearthly beauty, along with a sense of unease as to what lurkes in the darkness.

The fabrics in the photographs appear rich and heavy, and the photographer seems to be encouraging the viewer to reach out and touch the garments. There is a regal feel to the style of clothing, coupled with the theme of nature, autumn and harvest time, enriched by the hair styles Lead by the David Rae Hair & his team, and the vibrant makeup conceptualised by Kim Able and applied by the Academy of Freelance Makeup artists. (AOFM)


Photographer Joanna Mitroi, Models Magda Swider & Natalie Nwagbo - Copyright © Fashions Finest


Photographer Joanna Mitroi, Models Magda Swider & Natalie Nwagbo - Copyright © Fashions Finest


Photographer Joanna Mitroi, Model Hollie Onslowe-Cole - Copyright © Fashions Finest


Photographer Joanna Mitroi, Model Hollie Onsolowe-Cole - Copyright © Fashions Finest


Photographer Joanna Mitroi, Model Hollie Onslowe-Cole - Copyright © Fashions Finest


Photographer Joanna Mitroi, Model Hollie Onslowe-Cole - Copyright © Fashions Finest


Photographer Joanna Mitroi, Model Renata Kovalcuk - Copyright © Fashions Finest


Photographer Joanna Mitroi, Model Renata Kovalcuk - Copyright © Fashions Finest


Photographer Joanna Mitroi, Model Renata Kovalcuk - Copyright © Fashions Finest


Photographer Joanna Mitroi, Model Magda Swider - Copyright © Fashions Finest

Styling Team: Kim Able, David Johnson
SS20 makeup concept - Kim Able
Hair Team: Lead by David Rae
Makeup Team: Academy of Freelance Makeup Artists
Nails: Lead by Julie Bryan
Photographer: Joanna Mitroi
© Fashions Finest 2019 

Fashions Finest wraps up another exciting SS20 season and received an honourary award as it winded down its 10-year celebration on Saturday the 14th of September 2019 at the Congress Centre, 28 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS.

Fashions Finest, one of the most popular independent shows on the London Fashion Week calendar launches a crowdfunding campaign ahead of London Fashion, for their new designer section.

Despite being an established fixture on London’s Fashion Week circuit, the event receives little to no sponsorship.

Director Deborah St Louis felt compelled to start this campaign after she observed a record number of designers struggling to launch and grow their fashion business with the increasing economic pressures businesses and individuals are facing. 

Deborah St Louis said: “We have an incredible pool of untapped and undiscovered talent here in the UK. While we accept and welcome established brands, much of our work is with new and emerging designers. Many of these designers, are fresh out of University or without formal fashion training. We are here to level the playing field for those challenged by the high fees associated with studying, designing and creating their collection, and building a career for themselves in a way that ensures sustainability.

We have launched our crowdfunding campaign to allow graduate and new designers to participate in one of the most important international events; London Fashion Week.

Not only do we offer a viable alternative for designers to showcase and market their brand during London Fashion Week, but through our partner Fashion Capital designers also have access to additional education as well as manufacturers. Furthermore, we have now launched our online store which gives designers an opportunity to have their first retail presence. Yet despite an incredible price-point for many, the fees remain out of reach. As a company, we just aren’t able to absorb these costs and especially so because of the impact of with rising venue and production costs. We are proactively addressing these challenges and sourcing the most viable solutions”

Fashions Finest has propelled the careers of Hellavagirl, John Herrera, and Matthew O’Brian to name a few who have all gone on to achieve national and international media attention online, in print and on TV and regularly feature some of the hottest brands on their catwalks or in their exhibition space, as worn by Paloma Faith, Beyonce, Nicki Minaj, and Madonna and more. Attracting national and international fashion talent, Fashions Finest regularly draws a crowd of fashion industry experts, press and VIP’s from business, sport, entertainment, music and film industry, who all come to discover the hottest new trends on display.

The crowdfunding campaign offers exciting perks from beauty products, unique designer brands, show tickets and more to support the campaign visit: https://igg.me/at/graduatedesignerlfwshow2019/x/22077560#/

Press RSVP via: http://www.fashionsfinest.com/press-registration

Press contact: office@melaniejonespr.com +44 (0)7961565933

The Norwegian short film documentary (KEPAZA - 3 days to London Fashion Week) will be premiered at Hôtel Gray d'Albion, theatre, Cannes May 20, 2019. This is a collaboration with the world of film International festival.