Scotland Re:Designed showcases Scottish fashion talent

By LINDSEY JOHNSTONE
Published on 29/06/2012 18:56

Founder and director of the renowned Vauxhall Fashion Scout programme, Martyn Roberts, has been in Glasgow this week sizing up Scottish fashion talent at the showcase event Scotland Re:Designed 2012.

Roberts, who is also the director of London’s Graduate Fashion Week, started Vauxhall Fashion Scout as a platform for emerging designers and success stories it has spotted include Peter Pilotto, William Tempest and Felder Felder; all now London Fashion Week regulars.

This year’s Scotland Re:Designed features a range of young Scottish designers all hoping to follow in their footsteps, including bodywear designers Bebaroque, whose work was recently seen on Kate Moss in UK Vogue and on Katy Perry; womenswear designer Henrietta Ludgate; William Chambers millinery; jeweller Euan McWhirter; and provocative Glaswegian textiles duo Timorous Beasties.

In answer to the question of who stood out for him at this year’s showcase, Roberts answered: “That’s like asking that question about your favourite child! I’ve seen Timorous Beasties’ prints before, and they have always stood out to me. We’ve seen a lot of great menswear this week, which is brilliant. But what’s been really interesting also is to see new dying techniques and new ways of cutting being used. There has been a lot of innovation on show.”

Roberts, who prior to the catwalk show today conducted a mentoring session for those keen to enter the industry, believes the buzz that the Scottish fashion industry has generated over the last few years shows no sign of fading, saying:

“Scotland is renowned around the world for producing talented designers like Christopher Kane and Jonathan Saunders, but events like this prove that the talent is there at all levels. The Scottish fashion industry is in a very healthy state at the moment.

“The Scottish Fashion Awards are getting higher and higher in profile. I spoke to so many fashion journalists down in London who had been at it – which in itself is a great sign, that so many of them attend now - and they all said how impressed they were.

“In fact, I just spoke to Hayley Scanlan [Young Designer of the Year winner at the Scottish Fashion Awards] and I was very intrigued to meet her, because of her award, so these things really do open doors and bring people together.”

In answer to concerns raised by those in the audience keen to enter the fashion industry, Roberts said emphatically that it is entirely possible to build a career in Scotland, adding the advice: “All design businesses are different, and not everyone needs to do runway shows or move to London or Paris. Buyers and media find it interesting when people come from different areas. Certainly at Vauxhall I don’t care where a designer is based so long as the work is good.

“My key pieces of advice would be that fashion is a creative business and what that means is that number one, it’s creative, and number two, it’s a business. People can see your creative talent, but you need to do your research and know the business. Creatives need to understand how the industry works, who might buy their pieces. Catwalk shows are all very exciting and glamorous but make sure it will work for your company and you’ll get something out of it otherwise it’s just a big party, for no reason. And we all love a party, but it does not a business make.”

Click the link under the photo above to see the highlights of Scotland Re:Designed 2012.

Scotland Re:Designed 2012 is open till Sunday 1 July at The Lighthouse, Glasgow. Click here for more info.

What do you think of the designs on show? Who is your favourite emerging Scottish designer?