T
he pre-London Fashion Week
celebrations were in full swing
as the Labels Fashion collective
returned for a second year to
showcase the work of six emerging London
fashion designers on the 1
st
September.
The initiative, that gives new designers
a platform to showcase their designs to
the creative industry and general public,
enabled six talented creatives: Gabriella
Gambetta, Chelsea Bravo, Marsha Bigby,
Precious Ihuomah, Schenell Stephens
and Sylvia Fumudoh to introduce their
brand new collections for 2012. A night
of fashion and music, the evening event
held at 4
th
Floor Studios in Commercial
Road, east London provided the perfect
opportunity to network and mingle as
well as take in the creative energy of the
designers.
On the catwalk, Graduate FashionWeek
designer Gabriella Gambetta wowed the
crowd with her unique and edgy gothic-
themed designs that used contrasting
fabricswithleather.Gabriella,whograduated
from the University of Hertfordshire in
2009
and draws inspiration from buildings,
poetry and rock musicians, believes that
fashion is about self-expression, pushing
boundaries and not being afraid to be
different. She has exhibited at London
Fashion weekend, Alternative Fashion
Week, London Edge and Silent We Shout
creative cutting techniques
with traditional menswear
details and street wear
influences. She has showcased
at Graduate Fashion Week
and completed an internship
with menswear designers
Christopher Shannon and
Martine Rose before starting
her own label, Chelsea Bravo.
Her current collection entitled
‘
Dysfunction’ was inspired by
the dysfunction of emotions
and the state of mind, which
was
translated
through
geometric shape. Central
African and Muslim dress
inspired the silhouettes and
colour palette, while Japanese
architect Junya Ishigami’s
THE LABELS
AFTER LASTYEAR’S
SUCCESSFUL SHOW IN
SHOREDITCH, LABELS
FASHION ONCE AGAIN
SHOWCASEDTHE
WORK OF EMERGING
MENSWEAR AND
WOMENSWEAR
DESIGNERS INTHE
HEART OF EAST
LONDON.
JADA
BROOKES
CAPTURES
THE ATMOSPHERE.
Chelsea Bravo
Gabriella Gambetta
and has featured in various magazines
including
Qlix, Masquerade, Disorder
and
Bambi.
Chelsea Bravo’s casual pieces captured
great geometric patterning in palettes
of white, beige and blue. The menswear
designer, who graduated from UCA
Rochester in 2010 with her collection ‘Soft
Armour’, articulates a refreshing approach
to modern menswear through fusing
installation ‘Architecture as Air’ was an
early inspiration and influence in the
development of the collection.
Through her label, RePhlexx Designs,
which was founded in 2010, east Londoner
Marsha Bigby aims to create a fusion
between fashion and sportswear. Her first
ready-to-wear collection, which produced
cool and comfortable shapes for both
men and women, was showcased at last