Over the last six months, The Lab E20 has seen a flurry of fashion activity. From charity fashion shows to the unveiling of SS23 presentations by the most exciting emerging designers, we’ve had a blast helping to curate the events programme for the expansive Stratford space. Let’s take a look back at the last half of the year and uncover some of our favourite fashion highlights.
Soboye – Lagos 54
Renowned for their beautiful, handcrafted clothes which champion the African diaspora, SOBOYE’s pop-up showcased their latest collection, Lagos 54. Paying homage to the iconic 70s nightclub Studio 54 and the vibrancy of Lagos, Nigeria, the collection featured razor-sharp tailoring, electrifying colours, sequins, hot pants, and jumpsuits. The pop-up followed an invite-only launch in collaboration with The Company at Winchester School of Art – an enterprise project which connected 20 MA students with the SOBOYE team to help provide behind-the-scenes assistance with the pop-up and launch.
Check out SOBOYE here.
Rosie Evans – Leave Nothing But Footsteps
Inspired by her childhood in the Welsh countryside, Rosie Evans’ SS23 fashion presentation paid homage to the hippy culture of the 2000s and childhood nostalgia. A combination of easy pieces layered to create wearable but outlandish outfits, the collection honoured Rosie’s commitment to second-hand fabrics, sourcing fabrics from charity shops, car boots, and the streets of Brighton. Even the jeans – sourced from a charity shop and ripped beyond repair – were given a second life with patched flowers, epitomising the collection’s mantra “Things Can Change.”
Find out more about Rosie Evans on her website.
Molini London – Élégance éternelle
Marking Molini’s London Fashion Week debut, their SS23 collection ‘Élégance éternelle’ consisted of sixteen looks that embodied the timeless elegance of femininity. The show was opened with a performance by the ballet dancer Alice Oakley Jones and set the tone for the silky, sophisticated collection. Operating on a ‘minimum waste policy’, Molini sustainably sources everything, from fabric to packaging. Every piece was made from GOTS-certified organic peace silks produced from regenerative farming and recycled polyester and the entire collection was made locally in East London.
See more of Molini London here.
SansPeng – Fantasy Extravaganza / Golden City
Taking inspiration from cross-cultural and fuzzy-boundary domains, London-based designer SansPeng unveiled his latest collection of reinterpreted gender-fluid clothes at his September SS23 Fashion presentation. Artist Luca Asta kicked off the night with a choreographed pole performance, followed by an evening set from DJ Sonora as guests checked out the innovative collection. Expressing delicate elegance and fragile power, the presentation showcased SansPeng’s various methods of re-creation which signify state of freedom and randomness.
Immerse yourself in the world of SansPeng via their website.
Give Your Best – The Good Fashion Show
The Good Fashion Show by Give Your Best was a night full of colour, joy, and empowerment. Continuing their mission to use the power of fashion for good, The Good Fashion Show saw refugees from the GYB community take to the catwalk to showcase looks from fifteen sustainable brands. Some of the brave, resilient, gorgeous women were seeking asylum, some had refugee status – all of them felt empowered. As the women walked the runway, their voices played over the speakers, sharing their journeys and personal experiences. Members of the audience laughed, cried, danced, and celebrated the stars of the show – an inspirational, unforgettable night!
Learn more about Give Your Best here.
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