Paris

Fashion. Some love to hate it, we love to love it. Last season Marc Jacobs was the villain we loved to hate, this season…well lets just say that Galliano has taken over where Jacobs left off. Dior’s collection for Autumn/Winter 08 has been condemned by the critics. In one collection he’s swiftly fallen from grace. But you know what? In what’s been a bland fashion season, at least he’s given us something to talk about.

Some amazing pieces from China & Shanghai Fashion Week Spring/Summer 07. Click on the pictures to re-direct to info about the designer.

While its quite baffling, there is actually a debate going on as to whether the Chambre Syndicale made the right decision in encouraging fresh new ideas by inviting Boudicca, Lefranc Ferrant, Nicolas Le Cauchois, Cathy Pill, Gérald Watelet and Gustavo Lins to show at Paris Couture week in January 2007. It would be even more refreshing if a designer from a not publicised enough, fashion week was extended an invitation.

{images: Reuters}

We thought it would be Roland Mouret, or rather we hoped, but finally we’ve been released of the suspense. The powers that be have confirmed Swedish designer and ex design director for Marni, Paulo Melim Anderrson as Chloé’s new chief designer.

Central Saint Martins graduate Andersson replaces Phoebe Philo who resigned last year to spend more time with her family. He’ll make his debut in March’07 at Paris fashion week…

“We are thrilled to have Paulo join us and look forward to him becoming a part of the Chloé design legacy,” said Chief Executive Officer Ralph Toledano

[Guardian]

Everyone at the moment seems to be speculating about fashion’s future with Time magazine suggesting the industry is in a “state of medical emergency” and rightly so. Fashion is undoubtly stagnant and stale and with the number of celebrity labels which have infiltrated the market it is no wonder that it has become solely about marketing, i.e Topshop and Kate Moss.

Watching footage of Hussein Chalayan’s show at Paris fashion week Spring/Summer 07 showed and gave hope to all that there is a future and an interesting one at that. Not the first designer to mix technology into fashion, (there are others before such as Alexandra Fede.)

However Chalayan communicated the idea that technology could play an important role effectively and successfully. Using technology to create movement with zippers, hemlines and sleeves and to transform structure. He’s connected the two industries at a time when we are all in desperate need of refreshing and new ideas.

The relationship between fashion and technology got off to a slow start and I must say I doubted if it would work and whether consumers would be accepting of it. But I’m absolutely certain now that technology is fashion’s future.

It’ll be exciting to see the different ways designers will incorporate technology into fashion to create style in their collections.