TALK TO ME! - MARK GLASGOW

Back to June, I got an invite to Graduate Fashion Week for the first time. Not attending any show, I spent some times going back to where I started my design graduate topic - understanding the graduate through their portfolios. To be honest I did get much surprise but the print of Mark Glasgow from the Manchester School of Art attracted me once I open the look book of his graduate collection. I approached him for an interview and we did it but the interview didn't get on its right track to when it should be published. I am not working for that medium anymore but I would feel upset if I don't share this detailed interview to my readers. So here you go, Mark Glasgow!

TALK TO ME LCF MA SPECIAL - RENLI SU

You might not hear anything about Renli Su, Olivia, if you only checked the LCF first London Fashion Week show in February. Discovering her in the in-house show in January, I believe her collection is the most impressive one from the whole MA course this year. I was first amazed by her styling and the collocation of the range but I love the texture of the fabrics more when the models stood still during the show. The masks, the finishing, the hand-crafted fabrics and the treat she did on different garments made her graduation standing out. Then I asked her for a studio visit after the show to look at each garment in detail and I discovered new elements that made me love the collection more. I would say checking Olivia's collection is live a little journey - from the loose-fitted silhouette to the hand-knitted masks, from the textured fabrics to hand-sewed seams, from the untrimmed edges to her own technique for creating patterns on woven fabrics. The deeper I know about the collection the more I love it. I don't really know how should I explain the technique Olivia used to create her own fabrics. Sticking part of yarn out and cutting it off, this was how a trapezoid pattern created on the huge cape. The same skill has been used to make part of a vest in see-through effect. It sounds like Kinder Surprise egg but I am sure you could find more than 3 wishes with Olivia's collection.

TALK TO ME - ALEX MATTSSON

People always ask where my Alex Mattsson hats from every time I wear them out. My first time of seeing Alex Mattsson's creation was actually in the window project by Selfridges. Graduating from Royal College of Art, Alex's first few collections showed me an other form of first impression. I always thought of Gundam in a wearable way when looking at them. His collection starts becoming more and more wearable through the development since FW2012. I am very curious of this change so I ask Alex for a short interview. I am sure you would like to know more about the designer who not only designs my amazing crown hats but also cool menswear.

TALK TO ME - HAVING BRUNCH WITH DAMIR DOMA IN LN-CC

This time should be the 2469th time that I say I love LN-CC so much about their aesthetic, their brand selection and for sure the store design by my favourite set designer Gary Card. After the store opening 2 years ago they decided to create a brand new space for displaying their accessories selection to the customers individually and also refurbish the light room. I was very surprised when I saw a new beaded giraffe skeleton by Our Exquisite Corpse but couldn't be more excited to meet designer Damir Doma in their new space for a short interview. I had a very great time with him and I am sure you would like to know more about him before he shows his coming FW2013 collection in Paris in a month time!

TALK TO ME LCF GRADUATE SPECIAL - SEBASTIAAN PIETER GROENEN

I was very surprised when I noticed Sebastiaan Pieter Groenen's collection won the collection of the year in the LCF graduate show in June. It's not the catchiest collection and you might blind yourself with other collections applying loads and loads of colours and patterns (remember the winner last year is the vivid Nova Chiu!). Besides the ambiguous colours, the raw cuts is my favourite element in the collection. Those rough finishing are just like helping the garments for a dissection to be a better look. I love those sheer layering too. They gave a great balance to the cautious feeling which suit always projects. Ok! I will stop praising and let you read Sebastiaan's thought yourself.

TALK TO ME LCF GRADUATE SPECIAL - YIRANTIAN GUO

It's not the first time I met Yirantian Guo. I met her pieces and the mirror accessories in the Show+ing exhibition in May. I think my reason of loving the collection is the different textures of the fabrics she used which made some contrast of hard and soft feeling through the garments. I do love those huge reflection pieces. Although it's not a super unique idea, I like the cut and mode of them. I always watched Japanese cartoons with elements of the illusion and the reality and there are many designers tried this idea before. Let's see how Yirantian sees these two words.

TALK TO ME - KIT NEALE

Colours, prints and patterns are what I am always keen on in fashion. I am sure you knew lit through my outfits and the designers I picked. The current London Mens fashion week just brought me so much excitement with many new names, and the I would give the best pattern award to Kit Neale. I didn't know him but I had seen his lobster pattern online before the presentation. I thought it's only a gimmick for the preview. I was shocked when I saw the full collection with the patterns with sea creatures and woodblock. I told myself I have to know more about Kit and his creations and I thank him to make it come true!

TALK TO ME - CRAIG GREEN

Craig Green, the first time I heard of this name was introduced by a designer friend. His MA graduate collection impressed me a lot with the strange cutting, projection like prints and the 'travel boxes'. It was quite surprised to see his S/S 2013 collection through Fashion East in the London Men's fashion week just 4 months after his graduate collection. I would just let Craig tell you about about him and his latest collection as the development of the graduate collection.

TALK TO ME! - THE ONLY SON

Meeting Thai designer in London sounds impossible? Thanks internet and the London office and I finally got a chance to "talk" to one of my favourite Thailand based fashion designer, Au Ekbutr Udomphol, the brain behind an emerging brand The Only Son. I started keeping my eyes on their unisex designs since the first season I arrived London but I didn't get any chance to own their pieces (I only found some womenswear on ASOS). I am still waiting for somewhere stocking their menswear but a great news is their F/W 2012 is launching a collaboration with jewellery designer, Jordan Askill. Before I start my shopping, let Au tell you more about the collaboration and his own brand.

TALK TO ME! LCF MA SPECIAL - KAY KWOK

To be honest I don't really know how to introduce Kay Kwok. We know each other from Hong Kong and I followed him after his HK graduation and kept watching him when he did some competition in HK (I was a magazine reporter at the same time.). I looked forward to this collection at the first day we landed London and I am very pleased he did a really great job! This Egypt inspired collection got loads of 'retweets' on the Weibo (Chinese twitter). I am sure you want to know more about this Hong Kong guy and it's the time for you to explore him yourself.

TALK TO ME! LCF MA SPECIAL - MAY TANG

I've met May Tang few times because of our common friend, Kay Kwok. I knew she studied in LCF but didn't know what she majors. I still remember my favourite women's collection in the press show was a lace collection inspired by spinal diseases. Those tailored laces, sharp cuts, unisex shoes and head pieces inspired me a lot! I finally found out it's May's collection when I checked the designer information. I think I shouldn't say too much about a friend's collection so just let herself tell you what she developed in this 15 months.

TALK TO ME! - ROBERT WUN

I really can't remember how did I meet Robert Wun, a London College of Fashion final year student. We got some common friends and we became facebook "friends" for ages (since 2009 I think) but the first time I met him was on my way to class in Holborn. I am always amazed to see his garments and illustrations as well as the photos he styles. I think the reason his work drives me crazy is the craftsmanship and the way he transfers silly idea to amazing pieces. I invited him to share a bit about himself few months ago for a website but it was published. However, you guys get an opportunity to be the first ones to explore this talented designer's work!

TALK TO ME - LIBERTY VM TEAM WITH THE LATEST WINDOWS

One of my goals when I first built this blog in 2010 is talking to the team behind all those incredible window displays. After two years capturing as many as windows I can, I finally got my first chance to meet the VM team of one of the leading stores in London, LIBERTY. I am not going to introduce Liberty as I am sure their great brand selections and iconic prints are always in your mind. What impressed me at the first time I visit the store was the store interior, the wooden floor, the sound when walking and the windows. Their  surrealism window in 2010 is always my favourite. I feel very pleasure to invite Elizabeth Rodrigues, the leader of the Liberty VM team to have a short conversation about their creation.

TALK TO ME! LCF MA SPECIAL - JOSEPH TURVEY

Joseph Turvey is quite different to the MA designers who I interviewed with. He is a local student and worked as an illustrator for some fashion publications before graduate. Although he didn't win the overall menswear award, he is the first graduate designer to join the LFW runway this year. I love Joseph's collection because of the wearability and the bold print which is adapted from his illustrations. His collection is what fun-loving boys wear daily and I think I can be one of them if I am in those pink outfits! The knitwear is my favourite in the collection and I don't think I have to mention how great the illustrations are.

TALK TO ME! LCF MA SPECIAL - TINA ELISABETH REITER

Tina Elisabeth Reiter is the overall winner in menswear this year. What impressed me most from the collection are the earth tone colour palette and the pleats. I was not surprised to see men in skirts (and even long kilts) now but sleeves with volumes would recall my memory of the Barbie's dress from my younger sister. Tina made some change and I think that's why I like this collection. Inspired by homelessness, the collection, THE SOUND OF HOMELESS(NESS), is a story of searching for your root in this globalised world. Getting lost, searching for my way, going back home and getting lost again are what I keep doing in these few years, have you found your which guide you to what you belong to?

TALK TO ME! LCF MA SPECIAL - CHERRY YUEN

It was quite random to meet Cherry Yuen, shoes designer from LCF. I was at the LCF MA exhibition which showcased all the work from non fashion design students and a high-heel with a streamline draping at the front kept attracting me. The intimacy is the first impression she gave me since we are form the same city, Hong Kong. This graduate collection is inspired by surrealism, referring to Meret Oppenheim's Fur Breakfast, Rene Magritte's Les Amants and Salvador Dali's Persistence Memory and bringing them to unique materials. All those shoes with feminine draping would be your dream shoes what you have searched for ages, wouldn't they?

TALK TO ME! LCF MA SPECIAL - JENNIFER MURRAY

I totally fell in love with this Jennifer Murray's graduate collection at the first sight. The pattern from embroideries, the layering, the embellishment on fur pieces and the collection idea all went deep into my heart. I've seen the real garment and I was amazed by the sophisticated finishing. If Jesus was a ringmaster in circus what would we be? Let Jennifer tell you about her version.

TALK TO ME! LCF MA SPECIAL - ARENA PAGE

I always thank London for keep bringing me loads and loads of interesting designers to my life. As I said, I was at the LCF MA show and I really wanted to talked to the graduates this year to know more about the inspiration behind their collection. So "Talk to me" here I come again!! Arena Page is a womenswear designer from LCF and her unique pattern cutting kept reminding me my favourite paper craft stuffs.

TALK TO ME - JOEY MA

I am currently working for a U.K. fashion website, Fashion156 as a blogger. I always love their editorial and they are the first fashion I follow since I come to London for my study. It's totally amazing when you can work with what you really admire. There is a new topic on their blog recently which feature bloggers all over the world and the debut is one of my fashion hero, Joey Ma. I always love his style and want to interview him since I met him in 2008. I really want to thank Fashion156 let me have a chance to talk to him finally.

My story with Joey is very funny. The first time I met him was at a Vivienne Westwood fashion show in 2010. He caught my attention sitting on the front row with his wool cape and Vivienne’s classic rocking horse shoes but I didn’t know who he was. I knew his name after a photo shoot he did for Harvey Nichols Hong Kong but still didn't have a chance to talk to him in person. I know he loves the products from World's End and I am a fan of World's End as well so I asked the Lisa, the store manager of World's End if she knows Joey in person. She introduced me to Joey via email during Joey's London trip last year. We finally met each other when walking on the Regent Street.

TALK TO ME! - KASIA PIECHOCKA

Meeting Kasia Piechocka is a funny story. I finished my graduate interview collection and one day my boss from a Chinese fashion website sent me an email about Kasia. He asked me if I would like to meet her in person and write something about her collection. I checked her website and just found she is the jewellery designer of Nicomede Talavera's collection! Nicomede is one of my favourite from CSM and I love the jewellery from the collection so much. I couldn't imagine I got a chance to talk to her in person. We finally met in a nice restaurant and had a great time for sharing her collection.