In efforts to support young designers through what has been a substantially difficult year, MATCHESFASHION recently announced the upcoming launch of The Innovators Programme. Scheduled to launch in September the project was created with the objective of championing young talent , and will include 12 menswear & womenswear designers from across the world to participate in mentorship projects, as well as partnerships with preferential business terms and marketing.
“I am delighted that we have formalised our support for emerging talent, developing The Innovators into a programme that actually helps futureproof their businesses in what has been a tough year for the creative industry. I have work with many of these designer for a long time and I am so happy that we are committing to their visionary collections in a practical , material way,” explained MATCHESFASHION Buying Director Natalie Kingham
The names included in the program are Art School, Ahluwalia, Chopova Lowena, Stefan Cooke, Germanier, Halpern, Harris Reed, Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY, Thebe Magugu, Ludovic de Saint Sernin, Bianca Saunders & Wales Bonner, who all worked closely with the MATCHESFASHION team during the pandemic after the need for practical support and ongoing commitment was expressed.
“Emerging talent has always been at the heart of our business but often these businesses exist outside of traditional production cycles and need additional help and support to grow. This programme solidifies what we have always done, recognising talent and promoting their inspiring collections. We’ve worked closely with many of these designers already and I’m excited to continue our journey together,” commented MATCHESFASHION Head of Menswear Damien Paul . The Innovators Programme will officially take shape in September with original content and amplification of each talent that will continue throughout the year.
Cover Image : Givenchy Earrings, Christopher Kane Coat at MATCHESFASHION, Photographer Eddie Wrey
This month British global luxury retailer MATCHES Fashion launched a bridal branch of it’s enterprise called The Wedding Edit. The section is dedicated to modern wedding and event dressing pieces featuring designs with the flexibility to be worn more than once. The grand archive includes 30 bespoke collections and over 250 uniques pieces created by designers specially for the launch. All these are divided into six sections inspired by the characters of different customer muses: Romantic, The Fashion Pioneer, The Curator, The Free Spirit, The Purist and The Warrior. Garments have been designed by names like Cecilie Bahnsen, Christopher Kane, Jil Sander, Jacquemus , Loewe , Maison Margiela, Liu Miu, The Row, Vivienne Westwood and many others.
Emilia Wickstead Dress, The Row Shoes,
Photographer Eddie Wrey
Halpern Dress, Bottega Veneta Bracelet,
Photographer Eddie Wrey
“We have noticed an increase in sales across our evening wear and modern tailoring categories, particularly in monochrome tones. We wanted to create a dedicated area where our clients can find unique pieces for their wedding and special events that can be worn again for many years to come. We are thrilled to partner with some of our favourite designers on special collections for the launch, from Christopher Kane, Erden and Giles to Stephen Jones and Molly Goddard,” commented Natalie Kingham , Fashion Buying Director.
The Wedding & Events dressing edit will be updated with regular delivery drops all year round to appeal to customers around the globe.
Alighieri Earrings at MATCHESFASHION, Photographer Eddie Wrey
Alighieri Earrings at MATCHESFASHION,
Photographer Eddie Wrey
Completed Works Necklace, Albus Lumen Suit, Nicholas Kirkwood Shoes at MATCHESFASHION,
Photographer Eddie Wrey
Bottega Veneta Earrings, Rat & Boa Dress, Ssone Boots at MATCHESFASHION,
Photographer Eddie Wrey
Julie De Libran is a French designer known for her work leading design houses like Prada, Versace and Louis Vuitton. Her speciality has always been the craft of creating unique made-to-measure womenswear pieces that allowed the wearer to feel a level of individual elegance. On her latest venture, De Libran has partnered with London based luxury retailer Matches Fashion on the launch of an inaugural collection. The collection, which marks the launch of her brand, includes a line of red-carpet gowns made from limited edition archive fabrics. Each gown was given a name of the different female personalities who inspired them including Sofia, Charly, Brigette , Gaia, Gilda, Julia, Jones, Blue Bird, Alexia, Martine, Eve and Nancy.
The designer worked in collaboration with Matches Fashion to create 7 ready to wear pieces and 7 made-to-measure dresses which will be specially created for each client. On the occasion of the launch, Twin had the chance to have a quick chat with the designer about her latest collection.
Would you call yourself a feminist in some way?
No , I am a woman, I respect women and I am inspired by women. I am a feminist like all women without the political connotation.
Each dress in the collection has a name/story, what is it the general idea of each of the names ? What do they mean to you?
Each name is a person that inspires me she is real or made up. I like designing for women thinking of where they are going, what they like, their passions, their character and how a dress can influence this character or be a character of its own.
Why did you think evening wear was the best vessel to tell these stories?
I feel a dress is something you cherish it’s one piece you can put on and you are dressed. You can dress it up or dress it down depending on your accessories. It’s timeless, it’s a memory of an important moment like listening to a piece of music that is full of memories.
What percentage of the fabric used from this collection was recycled ?
More than 60 percent the rest are made from limited embroidered materials made to measure so only made when ordered without waste.
What do you hope for a client when they purchase and wear one of these dresses ?
I hope she feels comfort, freedom of movement, elegance, strength, feels it’s timeless, will cherish her dress and then pass it down to the next generation.
Julie De Libran’s collection is now available online Matches Fashion.
What’s in a face? What expressions do they hold. What do they aim to reveal, and what do they choose to conceal to the viewer.
Venetia Scott, Fashion Director of Vogue whose own photography work spans over a decade, has put the spotlight on some of the most famous faces she has shot, cropping down the image, and spotlighting a tight frame on nothing above the crown and nothing below the neck.
The result? Mesmerising faces entrance and envelop the viewer, as we are caught in their beam. The graininess of the zoom only enhances a sense of retrograde nostalgia about the shots: are we looking back into something or forward?
Scott developed the idea for the work whilst blowing up parts of her images – she noticed that, whilst detail is lost in the zoom, a new quality arises – one that draws you in. The portraits are beautifully eerie, looking as if they might have been taken from missing person files. The face of each girl captivates the viewer but stops short of telling us everything we might want to know.
The name of the exhibition came about after Venetia saw it written on the side of a packing crate in Paris. Is it a face of fragility or resilience? Is it a two dimensional shot or is the woman looking right back, while sealed in the frame?
With all the images being of faces made famous from fashion shows and magazines, notably many from Venetia’s intrepid career, we are also presented with faces some of us have grown up with and have shaped our ideas of beauty and grace. They are familiar, from Lindsey Wixon to Lineisy Montero Feliz, and yet we hardly know them at all.
In conjunction with the brilliant Sion & Moore, whose duo of former photography agent Kim Sion and creative consultant Lucy Kumara Moore, director of Claire De Rouen Books, have launched quite the partnership in a contemporary gallery project, the exhibition also heralds a new movement coming into play in Matchesfashion. Exploring the overflow of fashion into other creative spheres, the exhibition hopefully signals many more photography expositions in the 5 Carlos place address. Matchesfashion, as ever, has the finger on the creative pulse, and by celebrating the arts in all its fascinations, they are opening their doors wide for a new stream of showcasing and celebration.
Fragile Face Laid Flat runs until 28th September at Matchesfashion, 5 Carlos Place, Mayfair, London
This month London based luxury retailer Matches Fashion teamed up with Italian fashion house Bottega Veneta, for the launch of some exclusive pieces from the brand’s AW19 collection at their base at 5 Carlos Place in London.
“The Fall 2019 collection is a statement of new intentions, a new point of view, it’s about building a wardrobe with great pieces to wear. I wanted amid of contemporary and classic, new technologies with a new immediacy, clothes that could be as refined as they were relevant,” commented Bottega Veneta Creative Director Daniel Lee.
Some of the women’s items in the exclusive collection include an Intrecciate Nappa rectangular clutch, a Spazzalato cross body, the brand’s quilted pumps , satin coats, cashmere skirts and wool knit dresses.
“We are very excite to partner with Bottega Veneta on these exclusive AW19 pieces. The luxurious aesthetic of the brand resonates with our costumers and we know they will love the collection that incorporates key runway styles in the beautiful cream and chocolate colourways,” said Fashion Buying Director Natalie Kingham.
Global luxury retailer Matches Fashion, has recently partnered with London-based emerging design talent Chopova Lowena for the launch of an exclusive capsule collection for AW19. Post-graduation from Central Saint Martins, the design duo Emma Chopova and Laura Lowena initially launched their brand in 2018, which eventually took off and gained a cult like following for their interesting and distinctive designs. From traditional Bulgarian fabrics, to wide leather belts, to rock climbing carabiners added as statement pieces. The designers have united with the luxury retailer to offer all that and much more including a few additives such as kilt skirts, wool coats etc.
“MatchesFashion.com have been a dream partner and support system to us. Spotting our potential so early on and so carefully guiding us to fine tune our product with such care and a mentoring eye has been vital to our knowledge and our growth. Working with them has changed the way which we think about a woman’s wardrobe and her life,” explained the duo. In celebration of the partnership, Twin went ahead in joining the design duo for a brief Q & A.
What was the inspiration behind this capsule collection?
This collection was inspired by Albanian Traditional dress and Equestrian Vaulting.
What are the most important things you consider when designing?
We consider first and foremost the combination of our two references and really merging them seamlessly. Also thinking about our customer and her comfort.
Who would you say is the ideal Chopova Lowena woman?
There is no ideal, we would love if all kinds of women connected with our garments. That’s our ideal.
How would you describe the direction for the capsule’s campaign?
We worked closely with Charlotte Wales, Jamie Reid and Agata Belcen who are all so connected with our vision and we collaboratively decided on the campaign and shooting it on Equestrian Vaulting Team GB2019 in their barn in Warwickshire.
What’s next for you guys?
We are working on our new collection and campaign.
The collection has been launched at 5 Carlos Place and also includes a book in celebration of the brand’s latest campaign.
Yesterday French fashion house Paco Rabanne in partnership with London based luxury retailer Matches Fashion launched an exclusive silvery of the house’s 1969 anniversary bag and AW19 pre collection with an installation at Matches’ space at 5 Carlos Place.
The Paco Robanne 1969 anniversary bag bridges past and present through iconic design and artisanal technique. Assembled by hand, the bag is the quintessential expression of Paco Rabanne – avant garde when created 50 years ago and timelessly modern today.
Image by Cat Garcia
The installation is an immersive experience which welcomes customers into Paco Rabanne’s world through two channels. One as a chainmail cube that focuses on luminosity and curiosity, pulling stimuli for inspiration from the 1969 bag collection and it’s unique aspects. The other is a twist to the AW19 collection that curates an environment with films representing the landscapes of David de Beyter and digital tutorials on LED screens that explain how to wear pieces from the collection. Both installation act as booths for photos where costumers are free to interact with the products and the curated environment that accompanies them.
The 1969 anniversary collection will be available exclusively at MATCHESFASHION.COM for the month of June and the installation at 5 Carlos Place will run until the 26th of June.
Danish designer Cecilie Bahnsen recently teamed up with luxury retailer Matches Fashion on the release of a fifteen-piece collection released this week . The collection, a continuation of her SS19 collection, includes a selection of the designer’s signature feminine designed accentuated with embroidery, beading and other details.
“The designs for the exclusive capsule collection are a beautiful continuation of our last collection. Combining sculptural silhouettes with couture techniques reinterpreted for Matches Fashion woman,” explained the designer.
For the collection, Bahnsen collaborated with a few female creatives including teenager Margrethe Hjort Hay who inspired the floral beadings as well as photographer Josefine Seifert who shot the editorial. In celebration of the collaboration, Cecile has also put on an installation open to the public until June 1st, at the Matches Fashion Mayfair townhouse, featuring furniture from Swedish Design Group Magniberg and the work of glass artist Nina Norgaard to stylishly accompany the designer’s collection. The Cecilie Bahnsen x Matches Fashion collection will soon be available online Matches Fashion.
Emerging Fashion East designer, Claire Barrow has teamed up with MATCHESFASHION.COM to produce an exclusive 6-piece capsule collection.
The line which consists of 3 leather biker jackets and 3 clutches all feature the signature dark, punky Barrow illustrations. The collection is inspired by the idea of 3 gangs: The Embers, fiery party girls, The Jewel Lake Ritual, girls turning into jewels and lastly, Earth Angels referring to all the angels that surround us in the city.
Matches, the very British luxury shopping destination, with an exciting international outlook are renowned for their dedication to creativity and originality, as well as bringing the most globally sought after designers to their customer. With their fashion exclusives including the likes of Burberry Prorsum, Saint Laurent and Azzedine Alaia, it’s the place to buy key wardrobe hits every season.
For the upcoming AW they have the perfect arm candy on offer, from cool classics to cutting edge, and we’ve chosen the favourites from matchesfashion.com.
The bag above the text is the Pelican satchel bag by Alexander Wang.
Words by: Felicity Carter
Balenciaga, Giant City bag
Bao Bao Issey Miyake, Lucent shopper
Burberry Prorsum, Blaze studded patent-leather bag
Twitter
Tumblr
YouTube
Facebook
Instagram
