Dylan Jones, Editor of British GQ and Chair of the Fashion 2012 Menswear committee made a special announcement yesterday at the Somerset House BFC tent. This season will be the last time that the menswear shows in London are confined to a single day at the end of women’s Fashion Week. Come June, the men’s presentations will span an entire 3 days, kicking off the global showing of the men’s collections. Jones was also delighted to announce that Prince Charles will host a royal reception to mark the occasion, and there will be special events and shows held by the likes of Christopher Bailey, Paul Smith, Tom Ford and Aquascutum,
“From June 2012, (appropriately in the Olympic year) BFC Menswear will have its own global showcase with a series of high profile activities and events that will allow us to shout loud and clear about how we lead the world.” Dylan Jones
The speech introduced the Autumn Winter 2012 Oliver Spencer show, inspired by a young Lucian Freud and 1970s art house. Our Head of Buying Stephen Ayres looked on from the front row as Spencer presented impeccably tailored sperates that are sure to become some of next season’s most desirable items. Many items were made in the UK and some in London, with English-made suiting in wool and herringbone blends.
In November we told you about our new Art & Design Print department on the fourth floor. This year the collection has continued to grow with the introduction of Emma Cowlam, a Chelsea Art School textile graduate whose work is both prize-winning and internationally exhibited.
“Emma is so talented, and her success is in not over complicating the work and sticking true to her design style. We’re thrilled to be stocking her work.” Michelle Alger, Buyer for Home, Liberty
As her gorgeous prints arrived in store, we caught up with Emma to find out more about her unique illustrative style…
How would you describe your work?
My work comprises of hand stitched and hand drawn illustrations, often figurative, on paper. Each illustration takes on a very strong and definite sense of its own identity. They are heavily inspired by my daily life and the images I see around me, becoming a visual record of my everyday.
How did your personal style evolve?
I graduated from Chelsea Art School in July 2009 having studied for a BA in Textile Design. I chose to study at Chelsea as not only did they offer a fantastic course in London but there was also the opportunity to complete a 5 month exchange placement at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan during the second year, which luckily I was successfully awarded a place on. Whilst in New York I was able to take various classes other than those related specifically to textile design, of which illustration was one. Having always been passionate about drawing and image, the foundation of all my design work, I was truly inspired by this class and spent my time whilst in New York concentrating on developing and refining my illustrative style. The tutor of my class was truly wonderful, continually encouraging me to create a beautiful and captivating image. She advised us to use mediums to draw with that we were not familiar with and were not traditionally thought of as drawing materials. With textiles being my background I obviously had lots of thread! I feel so fortunate that I am still in contact with her now and she continues to inspire me.
Where do you look for inspiration?
I get inspiration from all over the place. I might sit and draw in a café in my sketchbook or sometimes I see an image in a magazine and straight away I just have to draw it. I buy a lot of magazines and seem to spend my life tearing our pages of images which I keep to illustrate. I can’t define precisely what it is that makes me captivated by an image; it might be the clothing and its detailing or the context that the figure is in. I am very selective though and if I am not immediately drawn to an image I don’t select it. My favourite illustrations that I have done are where I have turned the page and my heart has done a little jump at how much I am inspired by the image. For me each image that I am drawn to conjures up a little story in my head – it’s almost as if I know all about them and their lives, when really they are just my imaginings.
Do you have a favourite print or one with a particular story behind it?
I have 2 ultimate favourites in my portfolio. One is ‘NY Bike Lovers’ and the other is ‘Saturday Morning Market’. I particularly like ‘NY Bike Lovers’ as it captures such a moment in both the image and reminds me so fondly of the hot summer I spent living in Manhattan in 2010. The image for the illustration was printed in a newspaper which was found abandoned on a subway train. The other illustration is ‘Saturday Morning Market’. It is of a girl who has an entire life in my imagination and one which I want to be living! She lives in a beautifully shabby London mews house located along a cobbled street lined with geraniums of clashing colours in terracotta pots and enjoys nothing more than pottering around London on gloriously sunny mornings.
What’s your favourite place in London?
My favourite places in London tend to be places that are very well known, many museums and galleries etc. I particularly like The Mall and St James’s Park with its rental deck chair system that is great on a summer afternoon and then to hide from the sun you can walk to the big bookshop in Trafalgar Square and browse the books for hours.
What do you love about Liberty?
I love everything about Liberty! I love the historic old building with its iconic Tudor stripes. I love the old staircases and wooden panelling which continually reminds me of the grandeur of my old boarding school. I love the range of homeware products that Liberty stock and I will one day buy for my very own mews house. I love the scarves, of which I one day hope to own many. And mostly I love the way that Liberty always feels so lovely and cosy on a cold winter day in London.
Where would you most love to see one of your pieces hanging?
In a house with a studio of my very own which of course would be the beautifully shabby London mews house of ‘Saturday Morning Market’!
Make sure you visit us in store tomorrow Wednesday 22nd February between 6-7pm for your chance to meet none other than the shoe maestro himself, Manolo Blahnik! Manolo will be autographing shoe purchases made in his brand new shop on our second floor, click here to see some of the drool-worthy styles available.
It was quite a whirlwind weekend at London Fashion Week for Team Liberty, as we hot footed around town to see the latest offerings from the capital’s finest. From Jonathan Saunders sunset show with views over London from the 19th floor to Teatum Jones‘ intimate film presentation in our very own Heritage Suite, we’ve been on the look out for next season’s hottest trends and must-have pieces. Make sure you follow us on Twitter for live updates from the front row – here’s what’s got us excited so far…
Polly Wilkinson is one half of London design duo Draw In Light, who were discovered at the Liberty Best of British Design Open Call. Polly, together with Harriet Barford, makes beautifully hand printed pieces which are available online and in store now. Polly kept a diary of her day as they presented at London Fashion Week, in a unique set-up where artists took part a live life drawing class whilst modelling the Draw In Light Autumn Winter 2012 collection…
2:00am
My day starts. Going through what we need for the show in my head, making sure we remembered everything! I try to get some more sleep.
4:30am
Jump into the shower, do my make-up and get dressed into a white shirt, black cashmere jumper, silk jacquard trousers and Dries Van Noten perspex heel boots. Feeling anxious about the show.
6:00
My car arrives. In it already is Brian Doherty, our set photographer. We drive on to pick up Harry, dressed in a beautiful red paint Draw In Light dress with creeper boots, and head into Fashion central.
7:00
The set is ready from the day before; hair and make-up prepare their stations. The models, life models and art teacher arrive. The hair team is headed up by Yumi who has just got back from shows in New York.
7:30
Harriet has her fringe cut by Yumi whist I get a blow dry. Models are made to look like English schoolgirls, fresh faced and natural with a British side-parting and slight scruff… We have cast a mix of real Central Saint Martins students and models from Premiere.
8:30
Girls are dressed in Draw In Light’s AW12 collection “Take Heart”
9:00
Our Life Drawing Teacher talks the girls through the class.
9:30
Our three beautiful nudes arrive on set. Ffion – Saint Martins student and life model, Kim – life model and 55-year-old novis and life model Inderjeet Lee, who stole the show with her slender limbs.
9:45
Debussy’s notes filter through the air. Scented candles fill the room, huge plumes of white flowers are displayed in the fire hearths. The sun shines though the leaded glass windows of 2 Temple Place, onto polished wooden floors and our fresh-faced class.
10:00
A last scuffle as we get the final things in place. Running only a few minutes late…
10:10
Press, buyers, family and friends enter into the class, including Norman, Harriet’s 91-year-old grandfather. It is an intimate affair: my two sisters, Phoebe and Hermione, model and draw in the class.
10:30
The class is in full swing and the teacher is directing the girls and life models in practice and poses.
11:00 Caroline Issa arrives along with Susie Bubble and sister Louisa Lau – dressed in Draw In Light. Max from Art Wednesday pops in and tells us while tweeting what an innovative idea he thinks this is.
11:30
The room has a great atmosphere and mix of people looking at the live class, sketches and drawings that have been produced.
11:45
The class is told to finish off their drawings, which by now have got a beautiful flow to them.
12:00
Our Nudes are applauded for the uninhibited generousity they showed to bare all in the name of fashion and art.
12:05
North6 production have whisked us out of the room, our set is cleared and we are back in the green room to pack up our kit and change the girls.
We only found out about our presentation at LFW last Monday so it is an incredible feat… Our team have been dedicated and hard working over the last five days to get the show ready.
The result of all that effort was a flurry of interest in Draw In Light, the support from Caroline Issa, Yasmin Swell, Susie Bubble, Kyle Robinson and Paper Mache Tiger (our agent) along with Tamsin Blanchard from the Telegraph was integral to its success. Relative|Mo played the biggest part of all our supporters for offering us the opportunity to express ourselves as Draw In Light. Harry and I are now sitting in our local pub in Hackney eating pizza, drinking wine with our wonderful team, feeling humbled, proud and happy. Thank you especially to Liberty London for being Draw In Light’s first stockist and believing in us. We hold you in the highest esteem.
