Emerging Talent: Mungo Gurney
It’s TellusFashion’s goal to promote the newest talent in fashion, whether that may be in fashion design or any other form of artist within the industry (photographers, make-up artists, hair stylists – you name it) so I take great pleasure in introducing to you an extremely talented designer, a graduate of Central St. Martins College in London – one of the most well established fashion schools in the country, and the only school to ever showcase its students creativity and hard-work on the runways at London Fashion Week. Tellusfashion readers, feast your eyes on Mungo Gurney.
Mungo Gurney is renowned for his outlandish prints which are said to be inspired by many different places around the globe. He has unleashed his very first ready-to-wear swimwear collection to the world which presents itself as a bohemian homage to Northern California and Southern Europe.
In a statement from the designer, his spring summer 2012 collection ” sees bold, modular prints created in a vibrant alchemy of rich navy-blues, fresh mint-greens, soft rose and beige, along with graphic primaries. Forms take shape in graphic dots, art-nouveau motifs and block prints drawn from Matisse’s abstract involvement with architectural decoration.”
Looking at Gurney’s collection, it is obvious to state that the shapes of his pieces remain simplistic yet don’t deny the garment of feminine silhouettes (The clever use of print on the dress and the use of darker colours give the illusion of parts such as the waist, being synched in) and could be said as being reminiscent of the 1920s French Riviera look. We absolutely adore what Mungo Gurney has created here and we will most definitely be watching to see what’s next in his creative pipeline. His work is effortlessly cool and can be translated easily from the catwalk to your wardrobe.
To find out more on Mungo Gurney, visit his website – www.mungogurney.com
Tellus what you think of his work!
Heather
Cool Britannia
London Factory Fashion is the uber cool label that products quirky graphical T-shirts for all shapes and sizes. Inspired by the remarkable city of London, this label is the one to watch and TellusFashion had a chat with Dionne Lester the brainchild behind the brand.
When did you realise you wanted to become a fashion designer? What made you decided to create your own fashion label?
I remember watching an old film when I was little called Mrs. Arris Goes to Paris and the fabulous Dior dresses and knew that I wanted to be in fashion. As the years went on my ideas of fashion evolved and I loved illustrating and re-inventing old garments. Working for prestigious companies like Erickson Beamon, ascension, and being around creative successful people, I knew that even though I enjoyed working for fashion houses, I deep down I wanted to have my own label.
What does fashion mean to you?
To me it’s about people embracing themselves and being totally confident with it. It doesn’t matter if you’re the most flamboyant dresser or someone who thinks less is more. If you wear it walking strong and tall that to me screams fashion.
What’s the best part of being a designer?
I really get to visualize anything I see or feel into my work. I’m a person who feels it is important to express yourself and show how you feel may it be in the art music or text. Luckily I am grateful that I have the gift to do it within my clothing and people like it enough to purchase it. Also I love creating clothes that people feel they need to have in their wardrobe.
Who are some of your favourite designers?
My most favourite at the moment is Jeremy Scott. I think he is totally at the top of his game for the garments and looks he creates. His stuff is bright, fun and incorporates today’s culture making his garments daring yet wearable. I also adore the greats such as Dior and Givenchy, Vivienne Westwood. They were the originals that made me love fashion so they will always have a close part to my heart.
Your designs are inspired by London’s architecture, society and people, what do you love about London and what makes it special?
EVERYTHING! I truly believe London is one of the most creative places in the world. Its unbeatable diversity blended with its remarkable architecture, makes it an amazing breeding place for creativity. I’m just inspired all the time. It could be by the rude girls getting down to the dubstep, the dubsteps beats that make the speakers vibrate into ripples, the vibrant street graffiti. I guess I am lucky that I live in a city that filled with originality.
What are some of your fashion goals? Where do you see yourself in the next couple of years?
I definitely want to expand my brand into a collective. I am always on the lookout for people in the arts that are one the same wave length as London Factory, so that the collect will be known worldwide. I plan to collaborate with artists, photographers, dj’s, stylists, anything to do with art. I aim to have a collective that screams London style, creativity and diversity.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a career in fashion design?
Do what you want to do. Everyone’s interpretation of fashion is different so you are never wrong. As long as you learn the basic from the greats i.e. Dior, Jacques Doucet, Jean Patou, Cristobal Balenciaga you can then adapt it to anything you wish to produce.
Images from London Factory Fashion
Prices start from £5
Available from: http://londonfactoryfashion.kk5.org/#/home/4548842830
London Street Style
I love the cardigan she’s wearing. I love the coloured diamonds that pop up and the black lines. A loose hair do with some grey peep toe pumps makes this look effortlessly chic.
Streetstyle: Fashionable black on Oxford Circus
Hello everyone,
Thought it would be nice to introduce myself first. I am a new blogger in the tellusfashion team and my name is Yuliya. I will be posting London street-fashion straight-ups from today.
So here goes my first try and forgive me if something is not right. I will get there in no time!
Two completely different girls connected by the almighty black colour in their wardrobe.
Name: Alisa
Age: 26
Hobby: cats
Favourite brand: JNBY
Why we love it: Ultimate asymmetry! Stands out from the crowd with its unique simplicity.
Name: Cassandra Green
Age: 20
Hobby: Knitting
Favourite brand: my nan
Why we love it: Leather + red lipstick are the classics that are loved since the Kings Road’s punk era!
Who is Toni Bonoj?
First things first, I cannot believe this is happening to me! The last few months have been nothing less than amazing, a rollercoaster ride and begging God daily – we cannot stop this ride now, please.
Lets get to a better introduction, my name is Tosin (toes-in), I am youngish years old, and a budding International fashion designer and label owner. I guess the fact I have a business makes me a business woman too? Nothing sounds sexier than that; Entrepreneur, nice.
I don’t have the same background as most fashion designers because I spent a long time using the left side of my brain doing non creative stuff like completing A’ levels in Physics, Maths and Computing Studies, followed by a degree in Information Engineering and Technology Management then 10 years working with blue chip companies gaining experience in IT, Management Information and Marketing as well as accumulating several certificates to help me perform my job better. So you see what I mean when I say ‘I’m not your usual fashion designer’? So how did I end up where I am today?
Well, earlier this year I lost my job in the city, I was very ill and for the first time since I was 17 years old, I had time to think of what I would really LOVE to do next. When you’ve had a job since you were legally allowed to, and suddenly lose your job (which I later found out was very central to me), there is an initial feeling of shock and despair (well there was for me), add denial too. I wanted to go find a new role immediately but I couldn’t. Whilst I got myself better, I had a light bulb moment of styling my own work wear, usually these thoughts come and disappear as soon as they arrive because my busy life wouldn’t have allowed it; I was always rushing from one thing to the other. In my previous job, commuting to London meant very long days, so having time to think outside of my job, role as a wife and Sunday school teacher was a luxury!
Back to my light bulb moment, well I had more time on my hands so I began to enquire about tailors I could work with to design my outfits. Soon enough I wondered to myself why I couldn’t make these clothes and sell them. I had a niche idea (which I will tell you more about later) and was certain there would be many people who would want to buy these outfits. That was it, I started drawing and loved my drawings even as amateurish as they looked. I prayed about it and trusted God to make things work alright.
I slept on the idea for a few more months but was lucky to speak to a fashion designer friend of a friend – that was fantastic! She suggested I attend a short course at one of London’s art colleges and contact my local college re: Sewing or garment construction. This was the best advice ever and if you’re like me, coming into the Fashion Industry with little knowledge of it and would like to pursue a fashion designing career, I would really advocate this route. Sewing courses can be really cheap or even free at your local college so unless you want to major as a seamstress, the most important knowledge worth paying for is how the industry works; releasing collections, understanding the customer, trend research, the fashion calendar and important people who make the industry tick just to mention a few.
If you are young or not in a hurry to run your business as I was, then go ahead and get a degree from a University; find one that is very respected worldwide and whose students have gone on to successful careers. In London, I can suggest London College of Fashion and Central Saint Martins College of arts; they are both renowned colleges worldwide. Do your research, competition will be high for entry places – good luck!
So there we go, a little introduction about me. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment, it would be nice to know your thoughts, did you find any of the information useful? Or maybe you have questions, let me know.
I will be back in a few days, until then I will leave you with this thought:
You only have one life, live it to its fullest. It sounds corny but it is true. Follow your passion and when you do, you’ll never have to work again because everyday will be like enjoying your hobby!
Catch you later!
Much love
T
xxx
Alice Grace Carroll
Danielle Jennings
Eleni Sendona
grandeaz
Hayley Smyth
Heather Mhari
Kerrie Loughran
Blogger Off
Laura Roberts
Najla
Olivia
Upaul Chowdhury
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