Bite Autumn 2012

THE LABELS

AFTER LASTYEAR’S SUCCESSFUL SHOW IN SHOREDITCH, LABELS FASHION ONCE AGAIN SHOWCASEDTHE WORK OF EMERGING

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

MENSWEAR AND WOMENSWEAR DESIGNERS INTHE

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 HEART OF EAST LONDON. JADA BROOKES CAPTURES THE ATMOSPHERE.

Chelsea Bravo

Gabriella Gambetta

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

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