FAB EXCLUSIVE: SAMANTHA COLE PRESENTS ‘ABOVE AND BENEATH A DEFINITIVE STRUCTURE’ AW11 AT LONDON FASHION WEEK

Fabulous, fearless and fierce is exactly what Samantha Cole serves to the fashion feast at every single opportunity and her AW11 collection at Vauxhall Fashion Scout during LFW was no different occasion.

Elsewhere in fashion conveyed collections succumbing to the economic uncertainty, while Cole rebelled representing a resurfacing tough woman. This can be reflected in having a Black model from France open her show which Cole explained to be “extremely significant and important to me to have this representation. Likewise Bunmi Koko used Black models in her show when I heard there weren’t many who walked across the board.”

Something we are used to seeing is Cole’s heavy affiliation with the colour black, however this collection was a refreshing awakening to the very cold and dark winters we’ve had and may have to look forward to again which was further reinforced by the strong use of leather, knits and suede.  

Pepper - FAB Fashion Editor & Samantha Cole

Sinem - FAB Editor-In-Chief & Kele Le Roc

The unplanned collection was interestingly inspired by the frontiers of space too. The feminine yet structured composition of leather, knits and suede were made from materials used for making space Astronaut uniforms. “The materials were sent to me from Germany, it was about using fabrics that were not necessary fashion to create the 3D effect, and it was literally going beneath the surface of the leather to create the pieces in collection.” The human etchings on the leather surface showcased innovation and was reminiscent of ancient Aztec. The 3D spiral motif running throughout the collection especially on leggings and dresses was regal and superb.

The Samantha Cole woman explained by Cole “is strong, independent and confident, most of all someone who is not afraid to wear a different style garment without feeling overwhelmed.”  Cole will also show at Arise Africa Fashion Week in Lagos and is certain to serve pure innovation for the discerning Samantha Cole woman in that neck of the woods. 

See the full collection:
Image Credits: SubySinem



Samantha Cole - The Interns



VFS/LFW BUNMI KOKO & SAMANTHA COLE & ZIAD GHANEM

Bunmi Koko AW11 edit from VAUXHALL FASHION SCOUT on Vimeo.



Ziad Ghanem AW11 edit from VAUXHALL FASHION SCOUT on Vimeo.

And here are our takes:

FAB FASHION WEEKEND

SINEM IN THE HOUSE!

Hello FAB People, 

Another Friday, another blog post. However, this Friday is ever so slightly busier for those of us here in London as we prepare to swap the Choos and the Louboutins (Ok ok, perhaps the Barratts and the Aldos!) for running shoes and trek the length of the Strand from one show to the other. 

Let's have a look at my schedule, shall we?

First, I am heading to Tuffnell Park to mingle with the FAB ladies behind WASP - no not White Anglo-Saxon Protestants, the Wardrobe Swap Party. I know, how cool, right?

The Wasparty, organised by the FAB ladies Detola Amure and Ronke Odewumi whom I am hoping to meet tomorrow, is a cloth swapping event organised and held regularly all over London through out the year, giving us ladies a chance to swap clothes in a friendly environment provides and enabling them to de-clutter and upgrade their wardrobe in an environmentally friendly way while also providing them the opportunity to network with like-minded women from all around town. 

Then in the evening I am off to the first LFW show I have on my schedule - Bora Aksu at the BFC Shpw Space. The invite is pretty cool: A little black booklet of with a simple 'You're invited' note on the first page of about 10-15 graph pages - clearly for the more artistically inclined to sketch out the designs. Not for me, then! 

Bora Aksu, my fellow Turk, is the four-time winner of the prestigious Topshop New Generation Award, whose collections have dazzled the likes of Domenico Dolce and Stephano Gabbana who purchased pieces from his 2002 collection as inspirational items and singer Tori Amos who bought the entire Spring Summer 05 Living Waters collection for her Bee Keeper tour.

You can see more from Bora at www.boraaksu.com

BORA AKSU S/S 11

Saturday I am back at the Strand first for Jacob Kimmie's show. The Johannesburg-born designer's work is influenced strongly by his upbringing in apartheid South Africa. (www.jacobkimmie.com) 

JACOB KIMMIE SS11

In the evening the venue is Pierre Garroudi's studio where he will be showing his AW/11 collection. The invites are hot: 

Pierre Garroudi was born in Teheran, Iran. He studied in Paris, while working as a hairdresser in his spare time and moved to New York in 1986. There he joined the Fashion Institute of Technology after working at various retail and design houses, Garroudi started his own label in 1993. For more on Garroudi, visit www.pierregarroudi.com

PIERRE GARROUDI SS 11

Sunday, by far, is the quietest day - for the time being, that is, until a few more invites arrive by post or via email. While we are in for a good time in the morning having our editorial meeting at Lara's place (with pancakes, I am lead to believe... Lara?), the afternoon is bound to be a fashion feast with Kiki Kamanu (www.kikikamanu.com) showing at the Fashion Mavericks. Met Kiki in Lagos in 2009 so it would be great to catch up after the fashion show. 

Monday is back to my trusted Chucks as from early afternoon we'll be rushing to see first Fabryan (www.fabryan.com) at the Fashion Mavericks, then the absolutely FABulous London-based Nigerian designers Bunmi Koko (bunmikoko.com) followed by Samantha Cole (www.samanthacolelondon.co.uk) and the London-based Lebanese designer often referred to as the 'cult couturier' Ziad Ghanem (www.ziadghanem.co.uk) at the Vaxhall Fashion Scout.

FABRYAN

BUNMI KOKO

SAMANTHA COLE

ZIAD GHANEM SS11

Will keep you all posted on the schedule for next week, but now I am off to get some much-required rest before we hit the streets for a fun FABulous fashion weekend!

Stay FAB x