AW16
AW16 New Designers to Know
The newest names in fashion and our top picks for the season ahead
Discover the newest names in fashion and the pieces to invest for the season ahead with the unrivalled guidance of one of our top fashion insider’s, Echo Zhang, Personal Styling Manager at Lane Crawford Seasons Place Beijing.
Aperlai
“With Aperlai, the idea was to realise a graphic signature of shoes with pure lines, a strong design yet femininity,” says founder Alessandra Lanvin. Based in Paris, where she lives with her husband Hubert Lanvin, grandson of the legendary Jeanne Lanvin, Aperlai is inspired by art masters such as Picasso and Malevich and produced by the finest Italian craftsmen in Florence.
Echo says: “This pair of pumps is an upgraded version of a wardrobe staple. It injects newness into a look without overpowering the rest of the outfit, great for corporate offices as it can make formal suiting look more interesting.”
Co
Los Angeles-based label Co is defined by the singular vision of founders Stephanie Danan and Justin Kirk: to create a line of luxury essentials that together form a considered, cohesive wardrobe. Fabrication is at the heart of every collection with a focus on crafting rich textures into silhouettes that serve the demands of the modern woman’s lifestyle. Voluminous shapes and soft flares have evolved into a signature that builds from season to season. Most importantly, these are clothes designed to be worn with ease, functionality and femininity at their core.
Echo says: “Co is good at blurring the boundary between classic and modern design. Made from 90% cashmere, this top is utterly soft, warm and light. The special design around the cuff and the light material provides multiple ways to style. You can either wear it inside a Celine coat as a base (while showing these beautiful sleeves), or style it with a pair of tailored cropped pants and sneakers for a more relaxed look.”
f.e.v.
Inspired by her Italian heritage, charmed upbringing and her gypset lifestyle, f.e.v. is the creation of Francesca Versace. Her line of exotic skin and leather accessories is a label of Italian sensibilities and craftsmanship mixed with a traveller’s spirit; each piece recalls the rustic colours of Tuscany, the fragrant aromas of Capri and the sublime architecture of Scarpa.
Echo says: “With its unique silhouette the structure of this bag is particularly special, and will stand out from other bags at a glance.”
Ground-Zero
Hong Kong-based design duo and brothers Philip and Eri Chu are the brainchild behind GROUND-ZERO, named after the belief that everything starts from nothing. This season, the pair join Lane Crawford’s Created in China programme with a collection inspired by the rebellious spirit of the ‘90s with sporty cuts, deconstructed details and bold pops of colour that are juxtaposed with Asian-inspired patchwork and embroidery. The result is a modern aesthetic that is rooted in tradition but with global appeal.
Echo says: “GROUND-ZERO’s tribute to the ‘90s Madonna classic True Blue is perfect weekend wear. Just throw it on over a pair of your favourite jeans – boyfriend styles preferred – and your most comfortable pair of sneakers for an easy low-key look that still delivers a pop of style.”
Rhié
Rhié was established in 2011 by New York-based Rie Yamagata, and began as a dedicated knitwear label. The collection quickly evolved to fully encompass the breadth of a modern wardrobe for the everyday with focus on unique fabrics, both bold and minimal, that enhance the innate nature of the materials used. This Autumn Winter 2016, Yamagata turned to a space age and utopian science fiction theme with a dark and futuristic take on wardrobe essentials.
Echo says: “Quality fabrics, attention to detail and an innate sense of minimalist cool are what I love about this brand. This skirt has an irregular cut but a fluidity cut for draping. It’s a style that can work with loose-fit oversize knitwear, denim or leather jackets.”
Sandy Liang
A second-generation Chinese-American born and raised in New York, Sandy Liang is a city girl through and through. Having started her career interning for the likes of Jason Wu, 3.1 Phillip Lim and Opening Ceremony, Liang launched her namesake collection straight out of Parsons. Taking inspiration from her ultimate ‘girl gang,’ made up of style icons such as Kate Moss, Chloë Sevigny and Sofia Coppola, who embody a distinct brand of laidback insouciance, her collection oozes an easy confidence. For Autumn Winter 2016, Liang takes her downtown sensibilities to the English countryside with wavy hemmed dresses and spliced shirts in a globally exclusive collection for Lane Crawford.
Echo says: “Sandy Liang creates clothes for modern city girls and was worn by many fashion insiders during fashion week. This candy colour shirt is an upgraded version of the classic shirt, romantic but also with strong personal identity. Style it with washed jeans and sneakers for a casual look.”
Xiao Li
The newest name in Lane Crawford’s Created in China programme, Xiao Li was also recently shortlisted for last year’s prestigious LVMH Prize Fund award. Born in Qingdao, China, Li moved to London, where she is now based, to study fashion at the London College of Fashion and then the Royal College of Art. It was here that she began to develop her signature experimental and sculptural knitwear. The Autumn Winter 2016 collection explores the speed of the fashion industry and the feeling that, “there is no time for young designers to incubate and develop their ideas.” Garments are deconstructed, giving the illusion that there isn’t enough time to finish them while jackets are created from an embossed technical fabric that feature stepped hems, offer the illusion of speed.
Echo says: “Chinese designer Xiao Li has an international design language. This knit dress is a key piece for the new season as it can be worn as a basic foundation to build up a total look. Style it with different kinds of vests and pair with sneakers for a relaxed, everyday attitude.”