Bite Autumn 2012

bite fashion

EmergingTrendsPari

CORRINE MCCONNACHIE REPORTS ON THE EMERGING TRENDS FASHION CHALLENGE HELD IN PARIS WHERE UP-AND-COMING FASHION DESIGNERS ARE GIVENTHE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE THEIR DESIGNS.

P aris: the birthplace of haute couture and the romantic city that has produced fashion greats such as Coco Chanel, Christian Dior and Hubert de Givenchy. In the deeply woven tapestry of fashion history no other city has made such an impact.With that in mind, what better place was there to host the Synergy Events Emerging Trends Fashion Challenge for up-and-coming designers? On July 7 th , five chosen designers from across the globe battled it out on the catwalk at the Emerging Trends Fashion Challenge in Paris. Held in the grand Espace Saint Martin, the catwalk show consisted of three rounds in which designers showcased pieces interpreting past, present and future trends. The competition was judged by co-founder and producer of Aurora Fashion Week,

Artem Balaev, British fashion entrepreneur Barry Laden and Olivia Pinnock, editor of TellUsFashion online magazine. With a prize of $5,000 and the opportunity to showcase at Boston Fashion Week or the Cannes Loves Fashion event at the 2012 film festival, the level of competition was high. Nineteen year old Jamie Ochrey, a graduate from the Blanch MacDonald Centre in Vancouver, created an entire ready to wear collection from eco-friendly materials. Composed mainly of neutral colours, Jamie’s take on all the trends was very minimalist,focusing on the finer details in the seams of her feminine silhouettes. Using traditional Pakistani materials, Saman Arif of Nayna’s designs proudly represented her country with a collection that embraced both local and haute-

couture techniques. The vibrant colours and sparkle gave the collection a glamorous edge. The chain pattern featured in each piece linked the trends from past, present to future. Kristi Vosbeck, who came third in the competition, took classic styles and gave them a modern finish. Kristi, who launched her womenswear company in July 2010, now sells through boutiques in New York. The satin material used in each of her designs flattered the feminine shape whilst pleats and ruffles were used to create unusual architectural structures. “I think my designs could be popular in Europe, and I would like to, hopefully, go global in the future.” The extravagant ex-costume designer, RudyWolff fromNorway made a statement with each separate piece of her collection.

PHOTOGRAPHY: LAURA MCKINNON