SFD, London

We have had just the best evening of LFW and London Design week and its not over just yet.  We partied with the best of the industry and have only just got back to show some of it to you.  Naturally this is just a 'smidge' snapshot although it is late and these images aren't even the half of it although we will share some more with you shortly.  Are we slurring?  Anyway, here we go, SFD, Rubber covered mannequins and a fantastic collaboration with Lauren O'Hara.  An amazingly creative team.  Thank you guys for such a fun evening.

Karen Millen, London

Karen Millen always seem to work with such sophisticated and sensitive architects with their RIBA collaborations (remember Manu Mani from last year?)  This collaboration with EKM architects 'brings the Karen Millen woman to life in an evocative snapshot of the energy and character of their atelier in London's East End'.  'Three dimensional mannequins were scanned and animated, sliced and projected to generate a feeling of movement mirroring the daily adventures of the modern urban woman'.  Think Gunthur Von Hagens Bodyworlds but without the gory bits and a whole lot more palatable.

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Planet Aspects, London

What a treat we've had this evening spending it with the lovely guys at Planet Aspects.  We've been thoroughly 'wined' and presented with the most incredible show from the clearly talented Christopher Beales' latest collection here in the heart of London.  The new and fantastic collection from Planet Aspects was our main focus and features figures generated from Cotton mesh.  Yeah we know..! How amazing is this new innovation.  Each figure has been created from this mesh which can be reused just by dipping it back into hot water and yet pliable to dress effortlessly.  There aren't even numerous separate parts to loose and this material comes in a multitude of outcomes which can be interwoven and delivered in a gloss or matt finish.  Just check out their website at http://www.planetaspects.co.uk and contact the ever so gorgeous Julie Foster for more details.

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Hobbs, London

We have a few launches to include in the next batch of entries as there are so many events and new collections being delivered for London Fashion Week.  We thought that we would squeeze this entry in of another RIBA collaboration, which in this case is between the fashion brand Hobbs and Donald Insall Associates.  The concept apparently responds to the ongoing regeneration of Regent street 'bringing the external scaffolding internally, creating a sculptural installation'.  We have to be honest with you that we didn't actually realise that this was one of the collaborations as the scaffolding is indeed on the outside of this building too.  We are really pleased that this brand have done something different, but really, really?  We're not actually 'sold' on this concept which is such a shame for such a high profile site and an Architectural brand which normally do some incredible projects.  We would have expected to see something a little less shirking and so ordinary particularly as some of the other brands have raised the bar so high.

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Desigual. London

Desigual have a giant Red Snail in their window.  We don't know why, but they do.  With their Neon signage screaming 'Have Fun' flashing on and off (which is why we have two separate images to demonstrate this) and gorgeous mannequins with articulated arms and hands (which they use so effectively and thankfully not in a giggly covering an embarrassed laugh way as so many other brands are doing) but actually gesturing and supporting their usual strong promotion.  You know that we love this tiny window space along Regent street here in the centre of it all.  Thanks guys, looks really fun.

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Aquascutum, London

Continuing with our RIBA theme here we have Aquascutum.  This scheme produced in conjunction with PPR Architects includes 'a cloud filled vista'.  'Vivid bursts from the seasons colour palette grow like clouds which have been created using a large lenticular'.  A coloured cloud backdrop then we guess?  

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Banana Republic, London

This is a very deliciously moody scheme at Banana right now and another brand taking part in the RIBA collaborations.  The installation by Make Architects 'unifies the key themes behind Banana Republic's AW collection with an optical illusion which enables the passers-by to experience two of the key product pillars taking shape through the complex geometrical forms as they move around the object' (yes, we're not quite sure what they mean either).  It does look so interesting though.

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Gant, London

We were rather stopped in our tracks when we saw this amazing scheme.  As you have seen over the passed few days' entries, London is looking fricking amazing at the moment and this scheme at Gant is no exception.  This is another collaboration with RIBA and in this case with the selected Architects Sybarite.  The installation drew inspiration from the 'hull of a boat morphed into a sculptural form to showcase an emerging human form.'  Collaborations are absolutely hot right now and generates perhaps much needed assurance that it breathes such new life into brands who appear to become less of a slave to the brand 'look'.  You look amazing guys.  

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Joseph, London

Images Courtesy and Copyright Joseph

Did you ever go and experience the Turner Prize nominee Roger Hiorns' Seizure installation here in London in 2009?  If you didn't or don't know about it then essentially a council flat (or apartment owned by a local authority if that makes sense to our international readers) was sealed with mostly all components within the interior remaining in tact then filled with a liquid which was left to solidify until if formed crystals (image at the bottom of this entry).   Even the bath and lighting were covered in the most intense Blue crystals which generated a fantastic experience similar to what we see here in the current and incredibly delicious scheme at Joseph.  You wont need the gloves and obligatory 'wellies' however to experience it.  OK, well we are making the connection here rather than where the scheme necessarily came from, but how vibrant and incredible is this scheme?  The installation in conjunction with the designer Mary Katrantzou and Harlequin-Design includes two characters, Tikiman and Clocktopia constructed from signs and signifier's that would probably have Ferdinand De Saussure reeling.  The Fashion Visual Merchandising benchmark just got a whole lot higher.   

Roger Hiorns' 'Seizure' installation, Elephant and Castle, London 2009

Copyright www.aqnb.com

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Brooks Brothers, London

Here's the first of the many collaborations between Architects and Retailers along Regent street here in the centre of it all.  'The concept draws on the story of the Golden Fleece from Antiquity (around 8th Century B.C.) and the historical symbol of wool merchants which has also formed part of the Brooks Brothers Branding since it began in 1850.  The installation comprises of two Golden fleece created from an incredible over 800 individually hand sculpted sheep suspended from Golden thread.  The one seen here has been delicately covered in Dutch Gold leaf and encased in a Golden box.  As you know, we are night time flaneurs so we missed the chalk sheep prints and the life sized cast bronze sheep outside the store although we will pass by shortly during the day to take another look.  In the meantime, do swing by and take a look.  Brooks Brothers has never looked so interesting.

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Louis Vuitton, London

Louis Vuitton have recently installed their incredible new scheme here at the Maison along Bond street.  Currently (and actually all of a sudden) there appear to be a mass of Architectural references within the latest schemes around town.  There is of course the incredible RIBA collaboration happening also right now as well as Tiffany's latest offering so clearly everyone is 'singing' from the same hymn sheet.  We will show you the RIBA collaborations over the next week or so.  In the meantime, while we're not entirely sure what this scheme is about there do appear to be references to Architecture / sailing / movement although its just a guess.

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Uniglo, London

We feel that we have gone back in time with this 'strand' theme here at Uniglo right now.  Using its technical term we would describe this as repetition of vertical lines of various colours (or in layman's terms, we've seen it all before).  The whole 'strand' theme travelled through its usual journey led by luxury brands down to mid-range retailers and then down to value two years ago and globally too.  Very odd to see this again Uniglo?

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Ermenegildo Zegna, London

Zegna always looks so incredibly sharp, shiny and every so slightly sparkly in a manly way.  We have seen a few hands being used in schemes recently (remember Selfridges promotion of Patron Tequila?)  Anyway, the hands here are holding the various tools to create their ever so sharp tailoring creating a narrative around the product.  A fairly simple scheme but it does what it does perfectly well. 

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