Getting Organisation-ized: the third mentoring Salon

It may be hotter than Bangkok here in London but it didn't deter the designers from our third mentoring Salon - they arrived in force with humidity defying coiffures (thank God for hairspray) to hear guest speakers representing a variety of different organisations that all have something to offer emerging designers.

First up, Annabel Lui from Knowledge Connect. Knowledge Connect is a programme that connects small to medium sized businesses to the experts at London's universities, further education colleges and research and technology organisations. If successful you can receive £3,000 - £10,000 as a grant that pays for an expert’s time working on your project. 

Next Jason Caine from the Centre for Fashion Enterprise. The CFE is based at the London College of Fashion and is a business development programme that works with early stage fashion companies in London. They have assisted designers such as Richard Nicoll, Hannah Marshall, Marios Schwab, Basso & Brooke and Julia Clancey. 

Thirdly Paul Alger from UK Fashion Exports. The organisation can help designers to obtain grants to exhibit overseas through the Government's Tradeshow Access programme. As the export division of The UK Fashion and Textile Association they give help and advice on how to achieve sales in overseas markets.

Lastly we heard from Chris Hall and Wendy Smith from the Fashion and Textile Museum which runs a series of inexpensive summer courses and short courses teaching key skills such as Illustrator, Photoshop and Kaledo Style. In addition there are courses in handbag and shoe design - sounds fun! 

They also have space in the shop at the museum for designers to retail their work - which is well worth a visit when attempting to purchase gifts for stylish (i.e. picky) individuals. HK

Main image: Chris Hall from the Fashion & Textile Museum and Martyn Roberts, Director of Vauxhall Fashion Scout.

"Mmmm spicy" - the nachos are a hit...

Vogue, Cubed: The second mentoring Salon

Tuesday 9th June saw the second in the popular new series of Vauxhall Fashion Scout mentoring Salons - and this time we turned our attention to the topic of Public Relations.

Jessica Bumpus, Fashion Features Editor for Vogue.com UK and Katie Curran, Senior Account Director for Cube PR were able to present the subject from both the point of view of the journalists and of the PR.

Designers learnt what PR means, what makes a newsworthy story, how to approach the press, what can be done relatively simply in-house, and what to expect from a public relations agency should you decide to sign with one.

Thanks to everyone for braving the tube strikes - we were fully booked again! Bob Crow and his cronies are no match for our great speakers and the promise of a free tipple or two...   HK

Chris Kelly from Theatre de la Mode and Fashion Scout's Anna strike a pose.

Main image: left to right.

Jessica Bumpus (Fashion Features Editor Vogue.com), Katie Curran (Senior Account Director Cube PR), Martyn Roberts (Director Vauxhall Fashion Scout).  

Images courtesy Eddie Blagbrough.

Scouting for talent - designer applications are open for Sept 2009

Portfolios at the ready: Vauxhall Fashion Scout are on the look out for young, creative designers...

Applicants are judged by a selection panel of industry experts on their creativity, quality, and business development.

All designers who are invited to show with Vauxhall Fashion Scout have the costs of their shows subsidized by sponsorship programmes with Vauxhall Motors, Sony Viao, Toni&Guy, AOFM & Benefit. This programme enables Vauxhall Fashion Scout to have the highest standards of equipment and production in a great location, all at an affordable price for designers.

Top hair and make-up brands and teams are also provided free as part of the show package, along with personalized advice, a year-long mentoring programme, professional front of house and backstage teams, show DVD, VIP goody bags and much more...

Designers are also able to apply for the high profile Merit Award or to be part of the Ones To Watch show. The winner of the Merit Award will be lucky enough to have their entire show paid for!

If you think you have what it takes contact info@vauxhallfashionscout.com for an application form. Good luck!

Home Improvements

Vauxhall Fashion Scout has moved house! From September we will be at the Freemason's Hall in Covent Garden - super close to the BFC's new home at Somerset House. We timed it - it's less than ten minutes walk away. In heels.

Freemason's Hall is a stunning Grade II listed building built in 1927 - 33 with a gorgeous Art Deco interior, a huge catwalk space and a brand new Presentation Room where designers can show films and installations. 

Have a look at our new place!

HK

Vauxhall Fashion Scout's new round of mentoring Salons are up and running!

Tuesday night saw the first in the new series of Vauxhall Fashion Scout mentoring salons for emerging designers, funded by the LDA.

Sixty fashion designers packed into the Castle Pub in Farringdon to hear a brilliant talk on the topic of sponsorship by our guest speakers Jenico Preston of the British Fashion Council and Simon Ewart from General Motors.

The wine flowed, platefuls of nachos were hungrily consumed and (fingers crossed) everyone who attended will be able to use their new-found knowledge to attract sponsorship- be it financial, products or resources.

Over the next few days we'll be posting all the images of the Salon here and on our Facebook site (search for "Vauxhall Fashion Scout") - so keep checking back to see who was there!
HK
Polaroids: Yumi Yoshinaga

Pens at the ready...


Jenico Preston (right) and Simon Ewart (middle) meet the designers.

"Free drinks you say?!"

Vauxhall Fashion Scout has a new website!

The new website for Vauxhall Fashion Scout launches today! Keep checking back to read our latest news (like the Britain's Next Top Model tour which is off to Newcastle tomorrow), biographies on designers, complete with images and information for press and buyers, information on designer applications, including those for the exciting Ones to Watch show, the latest schedule updates, and watch our selection of catwalk videos.  Our brand new London Fashion Week location close to the BFC's new home at Somerset House will be revealed soon... HK. 

Highlights from London Fashion Week February 20th-24th 2009

The Fashion Scout blog is a pioneering concept by Vauxhall Fashion Scout: the first fashion week venue in London with its very own dedicated live blog! Covering news, reviews, backstage gossip, live catwalk illustrations, street style and more. In the spirit of Vauxhall Fashion Scout's pledge to support the best new talent on the catwalk, the journalists, photographers, and illustrators on this blog are all students or recent graduates who show exceptional promise in their respective fields.

As the dust settles we can look back on an amazing week, catwalk highlights included Fashion Scout Merit Award winner William Tempest's debut show (pictured), Avsh Alom Gur's dramatic eveningwear collection inspired by the economic climate and "The King and I",  and the exquisite tailoring and near-architectural structuring at Hemyca.

And, in other news:

• The country kitchen style media centre was a huge hit with the press, as were the lovely new Sony VAIO laptops provided by this brand new sponsor.

• We papped the fashion public in their best threads outside the Vauxhall Fashion Scout venue in London's South Kensington. Are you in our street style hall of fame?

• Check out the stunning fashion illutrations by 3rd year London College of Fashion students, drawn live at at the side of the catwalk during each show.

• We chatted to some of the famous face in attendance at the shows, including Jasmine Guiness, Colin McDowell, Sophie Anderton, Diane Pernet, and many more. Read our vox pops here.

We'll continue to bring you news from Vauxhall Fashion Scout over the summer and in the run up to September's LFW - so keep checking back!

Hannah Kane

Image: David Coleman

Moving on up: interview with Vauxhall Fashion Scout Directors Martyn Roberts and John Walford as LFW ups sticks to Somerset House

With the latest news that the London Fashion Week tents are pitching up across town at Somerset House next season, the foundations of both On/Off and Vauxhall Fashion Scout have momentarily been shaken, but not stirred it seems as we put it to both Martyn Roberts and John Walford of Fashion Scout International, the organisation behind the Vauxhall Fashion Scout venue.

Roberts whispered, "we are excited and nervous about moving as we have grown in this venue since we started…but anything that changes is great", and there is no reason why he should be anything but excited as this season, the Vauxhall Fashion Scout noticed a surge in attendees at many of the 22 shows. "When we started six seasons ago, we had to put our interns on the seats to fill them but this time, we're lucky if we get them in the bloody hall at all!" laughs co-founder, John Walford. He remains upbeat about the move, "Vauxhall Fashion Scout isn't rooted here at Baden Powell House, we've had a great time and it's a fantastic venue and we'll be very sorry to leave but the challenge is to always keep moving and changing."

For many designers it often seems that the venue needs to speak as loudly as the clothes, however both Roberts and Walford disagree, "we don't look at the building exclusively. It may be the most beautiful, but the catwalk may be quite small. Ultimately we always look for something that will benefit the designers," Roberts replies. Walford's concerns are more poignant, "at Somerset House, there is a local thriving community around it and I think it's great to have fashion involved in a community rather than being in a sterile playground" he concludes. Dal Chodha

Raising your awareness of Fashion Awareness Direct

Tonight’s FAD Charity show caps the end of an exciting A/W ’09 fashion week at Vauxhall Fashion Scout. Fashion Awareness Direct (FAD), now in their 8th year, has given 14 aspiring fashion students the chance to compete for a £2,000 prize and top industry placement. The designers were asked to explore ideas of retrofuturism and space tourism in this year’s theme of ‘Urban Holographic.’ An esteemed panel of judges will decide the winner at tonight’s 7:30pm show.

Although FAD and Vauxhall Fashion Scout are taking center stage with the designers tonight, there are others at hand who have aided the development of FAD. One of those organizations is City Fringe Partnership (CFP). CFP supports designers, manufactures, wholesalers and retailers within London’s and creates links to enable businesses to meet the fast turnaround, short-run, and design-led demand of London and the export market. CFP commissioned FAD to join its ‘FashionAble’ programme to work with local students to show how the fashion industry can be a viable route to employment. Leigh McDevitt the Fashion Manager at City Fringe Partnership says, “CFP has always been impressed by the way that FAD sparks such enthusiasm and commitment from the students. With involvement of the industry and prestigious education institutions, FAD raises student aspirations about careers in fashion.”

Another partner with City Fringe Partnership and Fashion Awareness Direct is the London Development Agency (LDA). LDA provided £2 Million in funding to CFP in 2007 to support their fashion endeavors. LDA also supports the British Fashion Council to ensure London retains and grows its place in the international fashion market. In a recent article, LDA Chief Executive, Peter Rogers, expressed the necessity of investing in London’s fashion market as the effects of doing so are felt across many sectors from retail to tourism. Lisa Tumbarello

Warm wishes to all Vauxhall Fashion Scout designers from The British Fashion Council

"The BFC wishes the very new talents showcasing at Fashion Scout a successful London Fashion Week."

Installation by Avsh Alom Gur

There were no three inch caterpillars, grinning cats or stolen tarts, but the Vauxhall Fashion Scout team could have been forgiven for thinking they had walked in the world of Alice in Wonderland this morning. Crystal-encrusted chandeliers, squashed cones, smashed windscreens, battered boots, shattered wing mirrors and a giant cuddly dog (who had definitely seen better days) could be seen hanging from the ceiling just inside the venue's entrance. Part of an installation by Avsh Alom Gur, the eclectic mix is suspended from the ceiling by tiny wires, like a trash palace in the sky. In the wise words of the Cheshire Cat, we're all mad here. Louise Hemmings

Image: Simon Armstrong

Vauxhall Fashion Scout schedule updates for Tuesday 24th February

Replacing the cancelled Spijkers en Spijkers show at 3pm Tuesday (the twins will now show in Milan - we wish them all the best!) will be a fantastic Pop-Up Show comprising three young designers being looked after by BLOW PR: Craig Lawrence, Gemma Slack and Komakino.

A further alteration to the schedule is the cancellation of Inbar Spector at 11.45am on Tuesday at 11.45.

Keep logged on for further updates!

The calm before the storm

Welcome to day two of London Fashion Week from Vauxhall Fashion Scout. Hitting the runway today (not literally we hope) is Bryce d'Anice Anime at 11.30am, Romeo Pires at 12.30pm, Horace at 5.30pm, Theatre de la Mode at 6pm and closing we have iannisdimitriousis at 6.30pm.

We'll be the first to bring you catwalk reviews and images - so keep logged on! Hannah Kane

Hilary Alexander at Vauxhall Fashion Scout!

The Telegraph’s Hilary Alexander is quite taken with London Fashion Week. She’s so taken in fact, she missed three days of New York Fashion Week to ensure she could make the nine am start on the first day. “London is a fantastic place to be,” she admitted whilst admiring the homely media centre and eagerly anticipating the Ones to Watch show. “I am always fascinated to see new designers. It’s all part of that fantastic melting pot that helps new designers get to a bigger audience.” We couldn’t agree more. Louise Hemmings

Sony VAIO announced as sponsor of Vauxhall Fashion Scout's Off Schedule Media Centre

Vauxhall Fashion Scout has itself a hot new sponsor this season in the form of Sony VAIO. It's a match made in heaven - the super sexy, sleek notebooks look right at home in the Off Schedule Media Centre, and the cutting technlogy contained within certainly makes the journalists lives easier! Fashion Scout International Director Martyn Roberts commented "it's great to have Sony on board, allowing us to offer the latest and most stylish technology as part of the media centre. London has a global appeal and the Sony VAIO notebooks will mean images and words can be transmitted instantaneously.”

In for a penny, in for a pound, Sony VAIO will also support Fashion Scout Merit Award winner William Tempest by sponsoring his show on Monday 23rd. Tempest will has collaborate with Sony to design an exclusive clutch bag for the super light new VAIO P-Series lightweight laptop. "I am thrilled to be collaborating with Sony on the launch of its VAIO P-Series laptop. It is such an exciting opportunity and fantastic that my label has been recognised by a world leader in product innovation"

 said Tempest.

Seasons of lugging around this old beast of a computer has given me a wonky back - I know what I'm asking Santa for this Christmas! Hannah Kane

Image: Vauxhall Fashion Scout Co-Founder John Walford gets up close and personal with one of the shiny new Sony VAIOs.

Top gear: the Vauxhall Agila

Blaze red, lemon grass, cosmic black, Moroccan Blue, steel silver and sugar white; you've heard of matching your shoes with your handbag but what about matching your lipstick with your car? Vauxhall's small and stylish Agila is not only available in an exciting range of colours, but also comfortably seats five and has flexible luggage space (perfect for all those fashionista friends and all their shopping). Then there's the electronic engine immobiliser, speed-sensitive power assisted steering, tiltable steering column and remote control central deadlocking (that's central locking to you and me). Impressive, even by Jeremy Clarkson standards. Louise Hemmings

Country casuals: the Off Schedule Media Centre at Vauxhall Fashion Scout

Just a short walk from the hustle, bustle and general fabulousness of London Fashion Week lies the Off-Schedule Media Centre, a safe haven where the glamorous can rest their tired feet, kick their beautiful yet demonic shoes off (its fashion week - comfort is not a consideration) and recharge their batteries. Literally.

In stark contrast to last season's Bedouin theme, guests are welcomed to the bosom of a warm country kitchen. Set designers are responsible for evoking a feeling of nostalgia, and the rural ambience is enhanced by wooden beams, comfy chairs adorned in chintz throws and woolen blankets. The obligatory rustic kitchen table is the heart of the space and will be a base for many a journalist this week, allowing them to type up their latest review, check emails, or grab a caffeine fix with their colleagues. Anyone fancy a cuppa? Kelly Davis.

Image: Simon Armstrong.

Countdown

It's less than an hour to go here at Vauxhall Fashion Scout! Ready for the first show Julia Smith at 1.30pm there's cocktails being mixed in the foyer, goody bags are being furiously packed, models are being groomed and (very) last minute adjustments are being made to the frocks. 

The runway is finished, cocooned in protective plastic, and burly looking men are preternaturally shimmying up ladders and sorting out the lighting meanwhile legions of glamorous Vauxhall Fashion Scout assistants dressed head-to-toe black are readying the invitations.

Of course, we'll be the first to bring you reviews and catwalk images. Stay tuned! Hannah Kane

'Twas the night before fashion week...

...and all through Baden Powell House, it's frantically busy -"go team Vauxhall Fashion Scout"!

The catwalks are up, the models are cast. The collections are ready for the fashion industry's delectation. Carpets are being layed, banners hung - and the media centre looks, frankly, unbelievable. More on that story tomorrow!

Showing tomorrow (Friday 20th) we have Julia Smith at 1.30pm, Alexandra Groover at 5pm, Kling by Kling at 5.45pm, and our exciting group show - the Ones to Watch comprising Might-T, Lu Flux, Alice Palmer and Studio_805 at 6.30pm. All that's left is to decide what on earth to wear...
Hannah Kane
Image: courtesy of Simon Armstrong. Check out Vauxhall Fashion Scout Director Martyn Roberts - not too fashion to get involved with the heavy lifting!

Model behaviour

Monday saw Vauxhall Fashion Scout's group model casting day - the only one of its kind in London. It's the only place where London Fashion Week designers (16 in total, including some not showing at Vauxhall Fashion Scout) can see a wide range of girls hailing from every continent of the globe, all in the same vast room. It's equally beneficial for the models too, they save time and money by dropping by to see all the designers in one central London location in less an hour. Why doesn't everyone do this?!

The fashion industry gets bad press for the pressure on girls to be too thin - but we saw with our own eyes models happily tucking into the food, refreshments and Vitamin Water provided for them. Eating disorder charity b-eat kindly manned the cloakroom (these girls really can carry an awful lot of *stuff* around with them!) and were on hand to give some friendly advice to those who asked.

So what were the designers looking for this season? Well, you'll have to wait and see the shows! What I can tell you is long hair is definitely back in. Oh how I wish I hadn't gone for an Agyness crop last season... Hannah Kane
Image: courtesy of Simon Armstrong