The UK has always been a breeding ground for some of the most exciting, eccentric and even enfant terrible talent to ever grace the name of fashion.
With exports such as Westwood, Galliano and McQueen, it's hard to dispute that Britain's got raw talent. And as for London? It's a fashion capital in its own right because it's probably the one that's spawned the most iconic trends in sartorial history. In the 60's we brought you mod, in the 80's it was punks, and in the noughties? Well we brought you the nu-rave klub kids.
It's the british 'yoof' (youth) culture that really makes London brilliant. Our great design schools produce an influx of fresh faced, hungry-for-it new designers who give the industry much needed diversity. Their bold faced cheek and creative conviction mean that the Gareth Pugh's and Christopher Kane's of the world get recognised and gain more column inches than their continental counterparts. No other cities give the up-and-coming as much support and chance as perhaps London does, and the gamble pays off.
This month, at London Fashion Week, the hottest tickets were for Gareth Pugh (so popular it led to certain esteemed journalists having to resort to sitting on fire escapes just to get a look in), Henry Holland and Mario Schwab. Despite competition from the reunion trio, Westwood, Luella and Matthew Williamson. As Schwab himself says, "The fashion world is at a bit of a standstill at the moment, and is looking to London for a change."
But I think it's The Clash who sum it up best, in their classic song London Calling;
"London calling to the under world
Come out of the cupboard, you boys and girls
London calling to the imitation zone
Forget it, brother, you can go it alone"
So why is London great? Cos it's full of young risk-takers who don't just follow the trends, they create them. And I'm just glad to be part of it!
