photography by dominic farlam
report by David Hayes
Are some London designers in danger of developing a transatlantic drawl? Dropping “cell phone” and “sidewalk” into every other sentence just for the sheer hell of it? With many labels planting one foot in New York and one foot in London, it’s becoming a distinct possibility.
“We are London designers and proudly British. Showing in New York has been quite a success for us, but we still don’t want to lose that connection with London,” says Preen designer Thea Bregazzi, at the label’s St Martins Lane hotel presentation. “The hotel has the same net curtains as we had around the catwalk in New York, so we just had to show here,” she jokes.
Temperley London is back on the catwalk schedule, too, after putting in time stateside, and Mulberry has skipped the usual first showing in New York to focus on a West End outing. “I think showing in just one place is a good thing,” says Mulberry’s Creative Director, Emma Hill. “It certainly adds more glamour to the event.”
That NY-LON thing is a two-way street, of course. Tom Ford is having an intimate talk-through for his mega-brand here in the city he called home for a few years. “It’s great for London that Tom has decided to show here,” says Emily Sheffield, Deputy Editor of Vogue. “It really confirms London’s place as an international fashion capital.”
Alexander Wang is popping over, too – for a party in his honour – and even Anna Wintour has been singing London’s praises of late. In fashion terms, at least, that “special relationship” seems as strong as ever.
