My Little Pony + Origami = Fred Butler's Womenswear for Autumn Winter 2012.

Accessories designer and prop stylist Fred Butler just showed her latest collection at London Fashion Week. Crazy and colorful, it pushes the envelope with fashions and accessories I'd never consider wearing, but might make great props and styling for an editorial or event. With wacky origami-like structured textiles and colorful knitware, it's a bit like My Little Pony meets Fractals.








The following designer profile and interview is courtesy of London Fashion Week

Designer name: Fred Butler

Origin: Colchester, Essex, England.

Career highlight: “Winning New Gen sponsorship!”

Design background: Fred studied at the University of Brighton and worked with Shona Heath and As FOUR (New York), before setting up her own label.

What are your design signatures? “Wearable sculpture, intricate textures, material manipulation, graphic shape and pattern, strong colour contrast with black and white highlights, iridescence and metallics.”

How would you describe the Fred Butler woman? “Anyone who enjoys enhancing their look with an exciting addition to an outfit.”

Three autumn/winter 2012 inspirations: “Getting cosy, quilting and layering.”

What does 2012 hold for your brand? “Spreading the colour further.”

What is your favourite decade in fashion? “The sixties.”

Where do you go in London to seek artistic inspiration? “I go to my yoga class because it's a chance to switch off; that's when I find my inspiration.”


above: fashion and accessories designer Fred Butler (photo by Mishkin)

www.fredbutlerstyle.com
83-84 Berwick Street
London
W1F 8TS

Making Scents Of Fashion: Meet Mary Katrantzou

Chances are you are not yet familiar with Greek fashion designer Mary Katrantzou. But you will be. Her third collection, a Ready-To-Wear line for Autumn and Winter 2009/10 is both unique and beautiful and sure to get her lots of attention.

Before showing this amazing collection to you, I'm going to give you a little background and share with you some pieces from her AW 2008 introductory line as well as her SS 2008 line.

In most instances, a designer's collection inspires fragrances or jewelry, but with Mary, it's the other way around.


above: talented fashion designer Mary Katrantzou

Born in Athens, and now working in London, Mary began her studies at the Rhode Island School of Design before transferring to Central Saint Martins where she received a BA in textile design and then continued there to complete her postgraduate work and receive a distinction in MA Fashion.

The launch of her label began with her AW 2008 collection, which featured trompe l'oeil prints of oversized bold jewelry and as well as actual replicas of the jewelry pieces. Her first collection has won approval from Vogue and secured New Generation sponsorship at London Fashion Week in September. She’s even created a new fabric, a bonded jersey that’s soft yet strong enough to take digital trompe l’oeil prints.

Here's a look at some pieces from her first AW 2008 collection and some pieces from her SS 2009 line:







And some of her jewelry designs that accompanied it:



After receiving sponsorship, she went on to create this amazing AW 2009/10 collection, which like her past pieces explored large trompe l'oeil prints, but this time of perfume bottles and refracted glass.

Her Latest Collection:
These fashions are nothing short of wearable art:








Mary's pieces are now stocked in 15 countries worldwide and she will be premiering her SS 2010 collection on the catwalk, September 19, during London's Fashion Week.

Mary Katrantzou
Showroom in London:
Studio A9
41 Dace Road
London
E3 2NG