Fit for a King Recently dubbed the ‘new king of fashion’ by the press, it would seem that Christopher Kane can do no wrong and this year signals what we’ve all been waiting for since the Scottish designer first appeared on the fashion scene back in 2006; the opening of a UK flagship store. Joining fellow contemporaries Roksanda Ilincic, Roland Mouret and Nicholas Kirkwood, the new boutique is the joint vision of Kane and British minimalist designer John Pawson, who worked together to create a modern, conceptual space. Custom-made features include a floor-to ceiling totem, formed of glass cylinders with an internal light source. However, the minimalist design has meant that the sole focus remains on the clothes, which frankly is all we’re interested in. Christopher Kane, 6-7 Mount Street, W1
The Key to Success
Tang-tastic
Like fellow designers Anya Hindmarch and Lulu Guinness, Sophie Hulme believes in taking a more playful approach to fashion and her first ever silk scarf collection exclusively for Liberty London highlights this. Summing up the collection as a “nice, tongue-in-cheek nod to those serious vintage scarves” Hulme’s 70s-inspired prints give a quirky twist to what is typically considered a basic and mundane object, incorporating chip forks, spirographs, lollipop sticks and whistles onto vibrant backgrounds of klein blue and hot pink, along with more sober colours of black, navy and burgundy.
Continuing its 20th anniversary celebrations, luxury fashion house Shanghai Tang recently joined forces with Chinese designers Masha Ma and Wang Pei Yi on a capsule collection for S/S15. This is part of its ongoing China Fashion Chic initiative, which was launched last October to champion exceptional international Chinese talent by giving them the opportunity to design for a luxury brand as well as for catwalk on their home territory in China. The Masha Ma & Wang Pei Yi x Shanghai Tang collection will be available from April at selected Shanghai Tang stores and online.
Liberty X Sophie Hulme Charms Scarf collection, from £190 Exclusive to Liberty London, liberty.co.uk
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Small World Pippa Small is known in the industry as a jeweller first and foremost but this month sees the designer step out of the world of jewellery and into lifestyle. Her boutique on Westbourne Grove will shortly become home to the Upstairs Shop; located on the second floor, this will house handmade artisanal products which stay true to Small’s commitment to providing employment and empowerment in areas of the world that need support. Products on display will include coats by Zarif, an Afghan brand which employs over 50 local men and women in order to keep the country’s traditions and skills alive; embroidered and beaded shawls made by Syrian refugee women, and alpaca wool accessories made by Udružene, a Bosnian women’s co-operative which employs female war victims. The Pippa Small Upstairs Shop, opens April 2015; 201 Westbourne Grove, W2 pippasmall.com
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