New York's Blind Eye

The specific route - London, New York, Milan and finally Paris. Each playing a defined role in the creation of a fashion label.

But cutting to the chase, it is all about the money and the money is in New York. Slicker than the average and predictable, this is where the financial backing, big accounts and the big influential stores reside. This city is where the clothes evolve into something wearable. Playing it's distinct role, money- making has become priority.

In terms of innovation and determining trends, this has been left to London and Paris. The British tailoring, eccentricity and street style is celebrated in London, but not so in New York.
Designers in New York have the ability to celebrate the inspirations surrounding them, like Jean Paul Gaultier and Ralph Lauren being inspired by the tribal vibe surrounding hip hop, Asian underground and funk clubs. But you wouldn't catch Ralph playing out his experiences of the Brixton sweatbox on a jungle night in his collections.

Fashion is a form of self-expression that allows people to try on many roles in life. Whether you prefer hip-hop or Chanel-chic, fashion celebrates the chameleon in all of us. It's a way of accommodating the diversity and variety of the world in which we live. Fashion is about change which is necessary to keep life interesting. New York has the potential to deliver this, but chooses not to.
New York has been a breeding ground for many genres of music and the New York streets is a barometer of style. It has the ability to wipe the street styles of any other capital off the map, but holds back, in exchange for safe designs that capture the eye from the big cats.

London as I know it

Do you get that feeling? I do. You know the feeling-that feeling, the feeling you get when you are surrounded by all that matters. The feeling of culture, the feeling of fashion and the feeling of the swinging history of London. This feeling is felt in Ladbroke Grove. Saturday afternoon- Portobello Market. The sounds of the funk soul blazing from the boombox's, the smell of the fritters from the food stores and the smell of the dusty vintage clothing from the back of the market. The community of fashionistas combined with the old skool Caribbean community, combined with Notting hill's rich-it all adds to the feeling, the energy, the vibe.

Venture East to the quirky Brick Lane and get the 'feeling' again, just with an East-end vibe. Trod the cobbled pavements along the gently curving mile, past the Bangladeshi restaurants, past the secret studios and into the vast warehouse-like vintage stores for the same eclectic vibe.

These are just two of the strong locations in London that really bring my spirits up. But don't think that's all we have. You see, London as we know it, is full of vast cultures and classes that have created these offbeat hot-spots. In each of these communities, a handful of trend setters emerge. This is what creates London's unique style. Innovative styles and ideas have emerged from our vast community and Fashion East is one company that has their finger on London's true un-describable style. Recognising designers who understand the industry on an international level, Fashion East represents London and the diverse communities we hold.
Showcasing the work of three young designers each season, the designers add a breath of fresh relevant air to London Fashion Week. From the customised and recycled collections of the eco-label Noki House of Sustainability, to the cheeky slogan loving Henry Holland, each of their designs are created simply to make way for the next cool kid to come through and follow.

As London Fashion Week shows move away from the Grand locations to warehouses, each year London shows it's true colours. Because let's face it, it isn't the glitz and glamour of the West End that the tourists seem to veer towards, it's the jewels in each of the compass directions where the true flavour is felt.