My Fashion Life

Friday 3 June 2005
19.00–19.30

Part of Late at Tate Britain

From the eighteenth century to Wallpaper*, glamour has had an impact on more than appearance and image. It is lifestyle: fashion, music and art. This Late at Tate brings together practitioners from different disciplines to talk about the Collection displays and their lifestyle. With SHOWstudio editor in chief Penny Martin and fashion designer Roland Mouret.

Tate Britain Room 24
Free, no bookings taken

A 2002 graduate of London College of Fashion, Gavin Pierre Medford in his own words “designs for both masculine or feminine women and straight laced or eccentric men”. His collections are beautiful and draw upon his obsession with surface design, attention to detail and inspiration from the past/movies. Ask Gavin about his Spring/Summer 2006 collection and his eyes beam with excitement and passion, without a doubt Gavin Medford is one to watch!

Describe the type of person you design for?

My aim as a designer is to see a broad range of ages, backgrounds, lifestyles etc wearing my clothes so I find it a (welcome) challenge to try and incorporate as many styles as possible into my collections. I want to see teenagers to older business people finding something in my collections that they can easily incorporate into their everyday wardrobe.

What one thing would you change about the fashion industry?

I would like the fashion industry to use a wider range of ages, ‘looks’ and body shapes to exhibit and promote their clothes. I have no problem at all with current agency models but I do think showing a broad range of people would give teenagers a greater choice of role models so they don’t feel the need to conform to a stereotype they see in magazines and on TV.

What do you have in store for us for Spring/Summer 2006?

I won’t give too much away but this will be the most advanced, technical, challenging and creative show to date. I’m also using some new cutting techniques and lets just say it will be a fashion ’show’.

What changes do you think need to be made in order to help fashion designers establish themselves?

I think there should be some sort of sponsorship each season that helps fund shows at London Fashion Week but designers should only be allowed sponsorship once to give exposure to as many as possible.

What the designers do and how hard they work to stay where they are with their new found fame is up to them but at least they will all at some point have the stage to been seen at the most prolific event - London Fashion Week - to be seen by buyers, journalists etc. From there they can eventually, with hard work, get more established in the fashion arena.

Which 2 designers would you credit as being an inspiration to you?

Erte
Parisian designer from the early 1900’s. Erte was one of the most beautiful and extravagant illustrators and designers, very innovative and creative. Nothing like the quality of his work has been seen since.

Madeline Vionnet
Designer from the late 1920’s - early 1930’s. Created the bias cutting technique making garments drape and mould to the body of the wearer. She was another wonderful innovative designer.

They both created looks, ideas, techniques that have influenced designers over the last century. I aspire to do the same.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Never give up.

For further information contact gavinmedford@hotmail.com

Visit gpmedford.com

What is the cost of fashion?
June 8, 15, 29 & July 13
6.30 – 8.00pm

The Fashion & Textile Museum is proud to continue its much-anticipated series of Wednesday evening talks. Sponsored by Newham College, this particular series will explore and debate four controversial topics whilst attempting to answer the question ‘what is the cost of fashion?’

8 June: Fashion and the Environment:
What does the fashion industry and consumerism really do to the environment?

A Discussion lead by Dr. Kate Fletcher, whose PhD in 1999 at Chelsea College of Art and Design investigated eco design strategies in the UK Textile Industry. She has published and lectured widely on eco design, and worked as a consultant for clients as varied as Marks and Spencer, People Tree and The Salvation Army. Fletcher will lead a discussion and present how eco textiles is not only about resource flows and quality of life, it’s also about fashion, politics, consumption, feeling empowered and being creative.

15 June: Fashion and Body Image:
Is the fashion industry responsible for promoting an unrealistic body image, leading to anorexia and other disorders?

A short film by fashion photographer Rankin is followed by a discussion with an exciting panel including Dr. Susie Orbach (Fat is a Feminist Issue), Susan Ringwood, director of EDAUK (Eating Disorders Association U.K.), plastic surgeon Mr. Simon Withey, and members of the fashion press.

29 June: Fashion and Working Conditions:
Is there an ‘ethical revolution sweeping through the world’s sweatshops?’ as the Independent suggested in a recent article?

Are large fashion companies really cleaning up their act and turning away from inhumane working conditions? A distinguished panel, chaired by a marketing guru with a conscience, Diane Verde Nieto from Clownfish Marketing, includes fashion icon Katharine Hamnett, fashion journalist Fleur Britten, Chad Hagen, CEO of Wildlife Walks, and a member of the pressure group Labour Behind The Label.

13 July: Fashion and Faith Imagery:
Does the fashion industry have a responsibility to show sensitivity towards people’s religious convictions?

Or can sacred images be plundered in the name of art? A thought-provoking discussion led by art critic and fashion writer Ana Finel Honigman will be based on controversial instances of high fashion appropriating religious garments and referencing images considered sanctified by religious groups.

Tickets: £7 per person (Concessions £5)
Capacity per event – 100
To book please call: 0207 407 8664

For further information please contact:
Michelle Arnusch on 020 7407 8664 or e-mail marketing@ftmlondon.org

MEDIA INFORMATION

Fashion and Textile Museum, 83 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3XF

Tickets: Adults £5; Concessions £3; Family Ticket £13

Opening Times: 10-16.45 daily. Last admission 16.15

Public Information: 020 7407 8664

Website: www.ftmlondon.org

“F!rst Point Magazine is being launched as a U.K. distributed quarterly publication to give students and graduates in the creative arts a chance to exhibit their talent on a national stage. The Editor will work closely alongside university, college & individual contributors to ensure both practise and product are as professional as possible.”

visit www.firstpointmagazine.com

“Project Catwalk” is an exciting new reality series for Sky One that gives 12 talented and hungry fashion designers in womenswear the opportunity of a lifetime - a chance to have their collection shown in front of the global fashion community in London and displayed in the pages of a top glossy magazine.

To earn this honour the chosen 12 have to compete against each other in a series of challenges that will determine who has what it takes to be the next “It” designer. They will be put through a range of experiences that measure their creativity as well as their character. Set in London, one of the fashion capitals of the world, “Project Catwalk” is a hip and entertaining series that will break fashion’s next big name.

The 3 finalists will have the golden opportunity to show a womenswear collection during Fashion Week 2006. The chosen winner will then get the chance to showcase their designs in a spread in a top magazine and a big cash prize to help start his/her collection.

For more application form visit “Project Catwalk“

Show your support. Wear the T-shirt!

Visit Fashion Targets & Breakthrough,

Friday 27 May 2005
Anne Valérie Hash
Fashion shows at 13.30, 15.30, 19.00 & 20.30
Raphael Gallery

One of France’s rising couture stars, Anne Valerie Hash cites Coco Chanel as her greatest inspiration. Her deconstuctionist styles have been internationally applauded for their unique blend of menswear and delicate femininity and the subtle craftsmanship of their external seams and bindings. Fashion In Motion presents Hash’s Summer 2005 couture collection.

Free entry but tickets are very limited so booking is essential
Tickets are available from 16 May 2005
Call +44 (0)20 7942 2820
Visit www.vam.ac.uk

Will Kate Moss finally turn her hand to a singing career? Well if her recent antics at her boyfriends recent gig are anything to go by then watch this space…

The model took to the stage with boyfriend rocker Pete Doherty and his band Babyshambles during a student gig at Trinity College in Dublin.

According to The Daily Mail, Kate climbed on stage halfway through the night and grabbed the microphone.

An onlooker told the paper: “She started singing along. Surprisingly, she has a really good voice. She got a big cheer.”

read more with Sky News