A heady mix of culture and inspiration in the form of futuristic samurai and Nirvana brides exploded onto the catwalk at yesterday’s International Show in London. The runway event was the first of its kind—an elite showcase, which, held during London’s annual Graduate Fashion Week, consisted of twenty student collections from sixteen different universities around the globe. “A United Nations of fashion,” was how Hilary Alexander—master of ceremonies—phrased it. “To see a global melting pot of current student thinking, on one catwalk, under one roof, it’s just fascinating,” she told Style.com.
Students whose final creations reflected their own countries’ backgrounds stood out in particular. Angus Chiang, of Taiwan’s Shih Chien University, won top honors for his kaleidoscopic carnation-covered astronauts (above, left). The 22-year-old designer explained (with the help of a friend who translated) how he had combined inspiration from the vibrant colors of Taiwan’s temples, flags, and theater costumes, with influences from Oskar Schlemmer’s abstract 1922 Triadic Ballet, which he developed while at the Bauhaus.
The panel of judges, which included Vogue Italia's Sara Maino, Style Bubble's Susie Lau, and Gitte Jonsdatter of Muuse, also bestowed Sasha Nassar, of Istituto Marangoni Paris, with an award for best womenswear. Her sheer veiling with “spirograph” prints (above, right) will appear alongside Chiang’s wares at Fashion Scout during London Fashion Week. The two honorees’ designs will also be produced through Muuse as a limited-edition capsule collection.
—Sophia Gonzales
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