Ravensbourne Graduate Kit Neale Recognised by NEWGEN

One of Ravensbournes very own graduates, Kit Neale has gone on to receive funding from the BFC's NewGen initiative! NEWGEN was first founded in 1993 as an initiative to support up and coming designers and have been picking up on some of Britains hottest talents for years. Kit Neale is just one of the three designers who have been selected to be supported by NEWGEN at London Collections: Men this coming January, the others are Common and Deigo Vanassibara.

Menswear has never had as much a push as womens so its exciting to see the British Fashion Council giving budding menswear designers a helping hand. Kit Neale focuses on graphic printed menswear with a cool vibe, heres some of his pieces check out his website for more info and make sure to keep your eyes open for him at LC:M!

LONDON FASHION WEEK SS14

Its almost that time of year again! It barely feels that long since February but within a month or two Somerset House will be thriving with fashionistas and bloggers once more as fashion week begins. Get your first glance of what you'll be wearing next summer this September. Fashion week starts on Friday the 13th September (unlucky for some) and continues till Tuesday 17th. The schedule can be found on the LFW website now.
Its always exciting to see who the NEWGEN winners are, the ones to keep an eye out for hotly tipped by the British Fashion Council! This years winners for the catwalk areeee (drumroll)... Korean born Central Saint Martins graduate J.JS Lee, known for her chic, minimalist and modern tailoring, LCF graduate Lucas Nascimento who has previously shown at Rio Fashion Week and specialises in knitwear, Marques Almeida a design duo from Portugal who have worked with Vivienne Westwood and Preen, three man design team Sister by Sibling who also specialise in knitwear and Simone Rocha, daughter of designer John Rocha whose designs have been praised internationally and worn by the likes of Alexa Chung and Lady Gaga, she's been tipped as London's brightest young design talent, definitely one to keep your eye on she will be big!
The presentation winners are 1205 who has experience at Savile Row so expect to see immaculate tailoring, Nasir Mazhar who says Lil Kim embodies his brand and shoe designer Sophia Webster who worked at Nicholas Kirkwood, expect single soles and feminine lines.
The exhibition space has been awarded to upcoming shoe designer Liam Fahy who studied at DeMontfort where he was awarded the Drapers Footwear Designer of the Year award whilst he was studying. He won the Fashion Fringe Accessory Award in 2008 judged by king of shoes Manolo Blahnik.
If you can't get down to Somerset House or like the majority of us don't get invited to the shows be sure to watch the live streams and keep up on twitter and instagram!

The NEWGEN winners for SS14

Sister By Sibling AW12

Simone Rocha AW13

Marques Almeida

Sophia Webster

LONDON COLLECTIONS: MEN SS14

The NEWGEN winners for SS 2014
It's that time of year again. Every year fashionistas flock to Somerset House for fashion week but come June it the boys turn. The bi-annual event features menswear designs from some of Britain's top designers, it emphasises the creative and commercial importance of emerging British talent as well as those already well established. The event showcases the true breadth of British fashion talent from emerging eye catching designs from innovative brands to sharp Savile Row tailoring. The showcase is relatively new, this season being its third but it has had great success in the past.
There will be 48 shows from Saturday 15th to Tuesday 18th at various venues around London. There will be shows from huge names such as Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Jimmy Choo, Rag and Bone, Dolce and Gabbana among smaller names such as Christopher Raeburn, Agi and Sam and Lee Roach. 
British Fashion Council have annoucned seven of the brightest emerging menswear talents, with the help of support initiative NEWGEN MEN sponsored by Topman, some of those selected have won the opportunity to showcase their work for the very first time these include Agi and Sam, Astrid Anderson and Nasir Mazhar. Those selected returning for their second year are Lee Roach, Matthew Miller and Shaun Samson, so keep an eye out for these names they're your ones to watch this season. Martine Rose has won the presentation sponsorship. 
I'm looking forward to seeing the work of these new designers but also of Christopher Raeburn who's ethical sporty fashion has made an appearance at the event since its inception, Burberry Prorsum who always keeps up with a very British heritage feel and also JW Anderson who caused quite a stir last season with some of his questionable designs. Make sure to follow Vogue, Elle etc on instagram as they always keep up to date with these things!
Matthew Miler AW 2013