LFW Fall/Winter 2022 Recap - New Year, New Styles
With London Fashion Week coming to an end, the designers and collections have outdone themselves, with new pieces and new styles. Different patterns, bright colors, silhouettes, and structures have been seen in all of the collections, but these three have truly outshined. Here is a deeper look into some of the collections presented within LFW 2022.
EFTYCHIA
Founded by Eftychia Karamolegkou in 2018, EFTYCHIA is a women-based brand with a focus on men’s tailoring, which can be seen among the pieces. Karamolegkou originally trained as a graphic designer but decided to change paths and began studying at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, before completing a MA in Womenswear at Central Saint Martins. The brand strives to remove any gender signifiers by constructing pieces that reflect a new femininity. The goal is to incorporate men’s tailoring details and construction into women’s garments for a timeless look. Karamolegkou was selected for 1 Granary’s VOID exhibition in London, New York, and Copenhagen and has been shortlisted for the LVMH prize in 2019. The Fall/Winter 2022 collection, named Unfathomable Lights, was inspired by the depths of the ocean. The tailoring was based on traditional elements of evening wear with modern pieces. Sophisticated, thoughtful, simplistic, and well executed, this collection brought out the traditional feel of tailoring as the uniform of empowerment.
David Koma
A London based designer well known for the ultra body-contouring silhouette, David Koma creates dresses inspired by the feinimne form. From a full range of options, he provides looks for all occasions, from red carpet gowns to daily daywear. Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, David Koma discovered his love for dress design from an incredibly young age. He studied Fine Art in St. Petersburg, presenting his first collection at age 15. In 2003, David moved to London to study at Central Saint Martins, graduating with a distinction in MA Fashion in April 2009. Straight after graduation, David Koma launched his ready-to-wear brand and has been a participant of London Fashion Week ever since. For the Fall/Winter 2022 show, he wanted to use his signature diamonds and crystals and make them different. He used silk, polo shirts morphed into mini dresses, and used his love of football as inspiration. The venue was set like a football stadium, with a panoramic view of the Docklands and grass installations. When the David Koma woman hit the runway, all eyes were on her. “I like feeling an inner strength in the girls,” said Koma, who was buoyed by the profile boost the undressed-dressing trend has afforded his brand.
Helen Anthony
Launched by designer Naeem Anthony in 2014, the label Helen Anthony highlights Naeem’s grandmother, Helen, who helped Naeeem develop the skills he needed to create the pieces produced by the brand today. The recognition and reception the brand has received from the fashion industry is the evidence of character, design, style, and quality of the garments that they produce. Since the brand has started, they have put out many collections, including two appearances at Milan Fashion Week and have an established collaboration and store with Maurece Sedwell of Savile Row in london. They have been seen in some of the biggest fashion titles, including GQ, Vogue, Vanity Fair, and Elle. The main purpose for the Fall/Winter 2022 collection was to redefine indiciuatlity and self acceptance. The designer explores the love of freedom with bold colors, vibrant pattern play, and rule breaking tailoring, shapes, and silhouettes. “Each piece is created using a variety of fabrics from cashmere wool and tartan to velvet and sustainable vegan leather. Some pieces are created out of a mesh that is embellished with either pearls or sequins that have been hand-embroidered using meticulous skill”