Last night I attended Elle’s 25th birthday party at The Whitechapel Art Gallery in East London. Amongst the shiny party people were many British designers that Elle supports, including Holly Fulton & Zoe Jordan of Irwin & Jordan, two of the winners of The British Fashion Council/ ELLE Talent Launch Pad Awards which were announced last week.
I was able to spot Zoe immediately, as she was wearing the beautiful lace dress pictured here. It was a happy co-incidence as this post was already planned for today, and we spoke for a while about her plans for the label in London, New York and Japan.
It was the second time that we had met this year. Much to my disappointment, my schedule at London Fashion Week last season left me a scant hour to nip around the LFW Exhibition, but I spent a chunk of that hour with at Irwin & Jordan’s stand, whose collection warranted more than a quick squint. I liked Zoe Jordan’s immaculate tailoring, luxe fabrics and uncomplicated lines that spoke to the minimalist that lurks within.
These are a few reference photos I took of their great collection for AW10.
It was one of those collections which I thought interesting from both a fashion point of view and from a I-want-this-in-wardrobe-next-season point of view, and I’m particularly pleased to see the label recognised for this award, which gives exactly the kind of firm support burgeoning designers need in this tricky retail climate.
The inaugural winners of the BFC / ELLE Talent Launch Pad 2010 are six new designer businesses, Clemency London, David Longshaw, Eudon Choi, Holly Fulton, Irwin & Jordan and Yunus & Eliza, who have all been selected for this new initiative to develop a British retail base with professional support to develop long term business success.
Props to Elle, the BFC and, of course, all the winners.
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That dress is gorgeous!
I love Irwin & Jordan — that dress is beautiful!