Following an anticipated Ones To Watch presentation earlier this London Fashion Week, Fashion Scout showcased eight more talented up-and-coming designers at their OTW Edition 02 presentation.

Drawing on heritage methods and themes of cultural identity, Edition 02 featured innovative approaches to classic British tailoring, Ukrainian craftsmanship, Indian textiles, Chinese ink painting, explorations of the third-culture experience and Nigerian hand-woven textiles. 

Drawing on Kyiv-born founder Anastasiia Pozhydaeva’s Ukrainian heritage, ACIDSIIIA’s dramatic presentation blended traditional techniques with sculptural, textured forms. Repurposing deadstock materials crafted in collaboration with Ukrainian textile makers, ACIDSIIIA presented tailored silhouettes offset by bold, monochromatic fur elements. 

GaMi Lew’s whimsical looks, handmade and designed in Tokyo, brought a balance of playfulness and drama to the OTW runway. Beginning the design process with the label’s trademark emphasis on inventive silhouettes, GaMi Lew’s pieces exhibited the quality of being unique yet part of something bigger in line with the label’s emphasis on individuality and expression. 

The influence of Indian-born designer Astha Garg’s family history in the garment industry was evident in Label Astha Garg’s reverent approach to materials. Focusing on the different sensorial qualities of a range of textiles, the label’s romantic silhouettes exhibited a true craft and appreciation for materials on the runway.

Drawing on her experience growing up across five different countries, emerging luxury designer Sanjana Ghosh embedded this cross-cultural perspective in pieces designed to resonate with third culture adults. With an emphasis on material innovation, Ghosh’s subtle yet boldly experimental silhouettes in understated palettes embodied the label’s emphasis on sartorial storytelling. 

Working in an interdisciplinary manner across Chinese ink painting and innovative tech-informed design, Singapore/London based designer Serina Lee brought artful, exquisitely crafted pieces to the LFW showcase. Soft shapes and painterly embellishments transported traditional art techniques into the wearable realm. 

Bringing a distinctly vulnerable touch to the runway, Shuwen Song’s tender, evocative SONGSONG looks drew on themes of intimacy, entwinement and power. These emotional references were fused within a visceral palette of red, black, white and silver ribbons, cords and transparent tulle which exposed the form.  

Lagos-founded label Styled by ZK’s eye-catching presentation embodied Founder and Creative Director Zainab Kolawole’s aim of transforming conceptions of African fashion. Taking traditional textiles Aso-oke and Adire which are typically reserved for occasionwear and fashioning them into garments for the everyday, Styled by ZK presented a variety of chic, fringed looks. 

Tyler Von Greenston’s inventive take on British tailoring brought a sustainable touch to the presentation. Incorporating cuts typically considered waste into his creative process, the designer’s intriguingly embellished, jaggedly cut and sophisticated pieces challenged the notion that luxury can’t involve anything that isn’t pristine.

Celebrating two decades of spotlighting emerging talent, Fashion Scout’s varied, eye-catching OTW Edition 02 presentation illustrated the continued relevance of the programme twenty years later. 

Images: Yuri Weaver, Manas Godara, Shaurya Bhardwaj, Ellis Carroll, Henry Morgan De Witt.

Show credits
Photographers: Nici Eberl, Yuri Stuppia, Eli Hopkinson, Ellis Carroll, Manas Godara, Henry Morgan De Witt, Shaurya Bhardwaj, Pranav Gunturu and Chris Yates
Production: Fashion Scout @fashionscout
Show Production: Martyn Roberts @mrfashionscout
Styling: Rebekah Roy @rebekahroy_
Hair: Sally Beauty | UNITE Hair. Hair led by Narad Kutowaroo, UK Creative Director and
Ambassador for UNITE Hair @naradkutowaroo @unite_hair_uk @sallybeautyuk
Make-up: AOFM Makeup Academy. Make-up led by Mandy Gakhal for AOFM Makeup Academy
@mandygakhal @aofmakeup
Show PR: I.Dea PR @i.deapr
Backstage Food: People Pleaser Salads @peoplepleasersalad
Steamers: Propress @propressuk