Fashion East is pleased to announce the two new emerging menswear talents selected to showcase at London Collections Men in June 2015. Grace Wales Bonner returns following her impressive debut with Fashion East in January. She is joined by newcomer Central St Martin’s MA graduate Charles Jeffrey. The two designers will both showcase via presentations, staging a takeover of London’s ICA gallery.
Lulu Kennedy, Director of Fashion East: “We believe so strongly in the talent of Grace and Charles that we’ve given them a whole big area of the ICA each to do their brilliant thing in. I love each one’s attitude and vision, and the absolute conviction with which they approach their work. And that’s before we even mention how brilliant the clothes are!”
The designers follow in the footsteps of alumni including: Sibling, Nasir Mazhar, Martine Rose, Matthew Miller, Agi & Sam, Astrid Andersen and Craig Green, who all started out at Fashion East’s Men’s Presentations. Plus special guests hosted by Fashion East such as Gosha Rubchinskiy and Judy Blame.
About the Designers
Wales Bonner
Grace Wales Bonner graduated from Central Saint Martins’ BA in 2014, winning the L'Oreal Professionnel Talent Award. In January she debuted her captivating ‘Ebonics’ debut presentation with Fashion East for AW15. Soon after Grace was invited to take part in the V&A Museum’s prestigious Fashion in Motion series, showcasing a breath-taking tableau with live choir accompaniment. Grace’s design idiom explores black male representation and is recognizable through its opulent use of embroidery, jewellery and hybrid of African craft and couture techniques. Her AW15 collection will be available to buy soon from stores Opening Ceremony (NYC), Vfiles (NYC), Wildstyle (LA), GR8 (Tokyo), and Kuznetsky Most 20 (Moscow).
Website: walesbonner.net
Twitter: @wales_bonner
Instagram: @walesbonner
Charles Jeffrey
Scottish Charles Jeffrey is a Central St Martin’s MA 2015 graduate and illustrator. His striking final collection featured deconstructed jumpers cut-out and collaged with coloured tape, abstract painted jeans with knotted leather belts, completed with shirts and tailored trousers. Charles’ take on menswear draws on his monthly club gathering LOVERBOY, a collaborative project working with artists, photographers and musicians, including a stint with the V&A late series. Already named one-to-watch by US Vogue.com, Fashion East is proud to present his LCM debut this June.
Website: charlesjeffrey.net
Twitter: @_charlesjeffrey
Instagram: @_charlesjeffrey
About Fashion East
Fashion East is a non-profit initiative established in 2000 by Lulu Kennedy and The Old Truman Brewery to nurture and showcase emerging designers through the early stages of their career. Fashion East is credited with kick-starting the careers of some of the UK’s top talent including: Gareth Pugh, Jonathan Saunders, Roksanda Ilincic, House of Holland, Meadham Kirchhoff, Nasir Mazhar, JW Anderson, Christopher Shannon, Astrid Andersen, Simone Rocha, Marques Almeida, Ashley Williams and Craig Green.