For its September 2016 Topshop Unique collection, customers around the world will be able to immediately shop a selection of looks straight from the runway as they appear before them.
Taking place on 18th September, the show will be a pioneering highlight of the upcoming London Fashion Week schedule, and see East London’s iconic Old Spitalfield’s market as the setting for the mother of all democratic industry initiatives.
The clever approach to enabling all to sample the new season wares with such immediacy is both technology-led, with select styles being available to shop online, as well as physical, thanks to a capsule edit of pieces also being ready to buy in key stores around the world.
Topshop has always operated as a particularly consumer-driven brand, and this September is further proof, if needed, that it is a company that places the focus firmly on its customers. In a statement released to the press, Mary Homer, Topshop’s Managing Director, said: “Bringing our customers closer to the London Fashion Week experience has always been a focus for us, but now, more than ever, in a rapidly changing global marketplace where consumers demand immediacy, we recognise the importance of disrupting the traditional model.”
Twin was one of a handful of titles that had exclusive access to the collection on offer earlier this year, and what is coming up will not disappoint. Oversize, cropped puffer jackets were a highlight, as were the nods to ’80s tailoring, delicate evening slips and clever-as-always tailoring.
“The starting point for the Unique collection is always the celebration of British style and its rich heritage, so we feel Spitalfields provides the perfect backdrop to showcase our new collection. With a history steeped in over 350 years of selling to the general public, we also feel it’s a fitting venue in which to debut our ‘Runway-to-Retail’ concept.” – Kate Phelan, Topshop’s Creative Director
Supermodel-in-the-making Taylor Hill has today been revealed as Topshop’s new campaign star for AW16. The New York-native, who has fronted the cover of Vogue, was chosen for her versatility, as well as her looks – so says Creative Director, Kate Phelan: “Taylor walked in the February 2016 UNIQUE show – she is a social supermodel and a young woman with style and personality; she is every Topshop girl rolled into one. Whether she is a tomboy in jeans, glamorous in cocktail, or pretty in polka dots, Taylor is Topshop’s ultimate girl crush.”
To mark the appointment of Taylor as the global face of the brand this season, Topshop has released a short film of Taylor, accompanied by her dog (an adorable Labradoodle called Tate), cavorting around her home city of New York in a selection of key pieces from the AW16 collection.
The campaign, which sees Taylor in oversized leather, ’90s LBDs and sheer polka-dots, was shot by acclaimed photographer, Giampaolo Sgura. Speaking to Topshop, Taylor said: “It feels really cool to be Topshop’s campaign girl, I never thought I’d do campaigns, especially not for Topshop. I’d always see the big models doing it and never thought I would, but here I am!”
Hailey Baldwin has been announced as the face of Topshop’s SS15 Denim Collection. Styled by Topshop’s Creative Director Kate Phelan, the campaign was shot in London by highly acclaimed fashion photographer and Twin girl, Harley Weir. Baldwin can be seen jumping about in each of the styles, including the new Binx and Jamie Flare fits.
Phelan commented that “The Topshop denim collection is perfect on Hailey, she has an energy and vitality that shows the collection of jeans and the different moods and personalities; the sexy Leigh, the tomboy Mom and the fashion girls favourite Baxter. Hailey is all these girls, she is street smart, stylish and most importantly individual.”
Central Saint Martins boasts a reputation as one of the world's most prestigious art schools. Now a group of its students have launched a biannual print publication celebrating the university's exceptional talents, entitled 1Granary.
Founded and edited by Olya Kuryshchuk, the debut issue features alumni such as Katie Grand, Robin Derrick, Kate Phelan and John Galliano, as well as the most exciting new talent currently studying at CSM's King's Cross campus.
Twin spoke to associate editor Greg French about the magazine's inception, vision and future. Read on for the exclusive interview…
Central Saint Martins has had a longstanding reputation and legacy. In the age of digital publishing and university spending cuts, what made it important to do this magazine now?
I think it's incredibly important to be able to find a sense of permanent presence alongside digital publishing. There seems to be a constant conflict between digital and print, yet there needs to be more of an understanding that both can support and be used alongside each other to push concepts further than previously possible. It seemed important as it's a new beginning for the college in its new premises. We really wanted something physical to sit alongside our site, as a milestone for this great turning point in the college's history.
ork, not only in terms of the amount of work that we put into establishing 1 Granary, but also in the level of craftsmanship that is put into each garment, artwork and editorial content that we show. It's about showcasing all the amazing talent and saying that it is possible and achievable, regardless of what is or isn't happening in the education system or the economy.
How would you describe the process of putting together the debut issue, were there any surprises or directional changes?
It was actually really liberating. I've worked on magazines before, but this was the first thing that wasn't bound to anything. We didn't answer to anyone and that gave us a platform to experiment, try new things and do it completely in the way that we wanted. We have an amazing team and had so much fun putting it all together. It was exhausting at times as we were all juggling internships, jobs and college work, but at the same time it was our way of resting because we loved doing it so much.
What can we expect for Issue No. 2?
It's still very much in its early stages, but the main thing you can expect is a continuing debut of really great, fresh, raw talent and a team that isn't afraid to take risks.
1 Granary Issue #1 is available to pre-order and hits newstands on May 20.
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