Fashion East’s A/W 23 Line Up Is Here
It appears fashion is embracing a revolving door policy these days. Jean Paul Gaultier’s innovative scheme of guest designers breathes fresh life into the brand’s archive, while new appointments at Ann Demeulmeester, Nina Ricci, and most recently Gucci is ensuring fashion’s future stays fresh. Well, consider Fashion East the ultimate trendsetter because it has consistently showcased new talents since it was established in 2000. The Lulu Kennedy-founded creative hub has become one of London Fashion Week’s highlights season after season thanks to its curation of emerging talent. The non-profit initiative just released its A/W 23 lineup with Karoline Vitto and Standing Ground being joined by sportswear wunderkind Johanna Parv.
Both Karoline Vitto and Standing Ground’s Michael Stewart made their Fashion East debuts last season to much fanfare due to both designers challenging our notions of contemporary fashion. Brazilian designer Vitto’s design ethos is defined by her celebration of the female form and its curves, highlighting the folds through body-con, cut-out dresses finished with metal adornment. As for Stewart, the Irish designer’s razor-sharp precision defined a collection of jersey dresses reminiscent of great couturiers like Cristobal Balenciaga and Yves Saint Laurent. Since showcasing their Fashion East collections both designers have become red-carpet wonders with presenter Julie Adenguga wearing a custom Karoline Vitto design to the Rated Awards, while Sabine Getty wore a custom Standing Ground gown to the series five premiere of The Crown.
Joining the alum this season is Central Saint Martins graduate Johanna Parv. The newcomer is no stranger to London Fashion Week having hosted low-key presentations of her innovative proposition for sportswear in recent seasons. A master of draping technical fabric, Parv’s design aesthetic is rooted in movement. Inspired by cycling gear, in 2021 the designer collaborated with SHOWstudio to produce a fashion film that saw cyclists traverse the Big Smoke’s busy streets in her designs.
