MAN showcases the talent of emerging designers that never fail to captivate the audience with their bright new ideas. This season saw Per Gotesson, Feng Chen Wang and Charles Jeffrey ‘Loverboy’ presenting their collections.
Per Gotesson made his LCM debut fresh from graduating at the Royal College of Art. He merged tailoring and denim to create a series of exciting looks. These included a selection of oversized high waisted wide leg denim trousers, raw hem denim jackets, mint green pyjama pants put together with a denim stitching. The small details in the collection were what stood out, with the play on size being something Gotesson emphasised on.
Feng Chen Wang was on the New York Fashion Week schedule last season and this year she returned to London with her collection inspired by the way we interact in today’s digital age. Also a former alumni from the Royal College of Arts her garments evoked emotion, which is something Wang purposely wanted to do. She presented her idea of connection through the gaps in her garments and the cables looping around the sleeves and legs.
Thought provoking and boundary breaking designer Charles Jeffrey ‘Loverboy’ returned to the MAN line-up with another collection that graced character and personality. There is something special about the way Charles Jeffrey makes sure that everything ties in to the character that walks down the runway. Now it might not be of everyone’s taste but it is ground breaking; there are ideas, there is history and most importantly there is context. For this season there was a true mixture between the personalities, ones being more flamboyant or darker than others. Deconstructed tailoring mixed with Swarovski crystals, ripped jumpers in a merino wool, courtesy of a partnership with The Woolmark Company, and lets not forget of the incredible platform shoes. Each piece is an artwork, inspired by themes of decay and ascendance or in Jeffrey’s words the show is about his “consciously naive attempt at something truly ascendant”.
Words by Daniela Suarez
Images by Rob Parfitt
