When London Fashion Week Men’s rolls around, we’re always eager to see what Fashion East have to offer. In fact we might go as far as to say it’s a highlight of the schedule. Maybe we’re biased, but since it’s inception in 2005 the menswear wing of the designer talent initiative (f.k.a. MAN) has provided mentoring, support and showcasing opportunities to a roll-call of our all-time favourite designers from J.W.Anderson, Martine Rose, Grace Wales Bonner, Craig Green, Liam Hodges and Charles Jeffrey to Dior’s menswear creative director Kim Jones. And the list goes on…
After an on-schedule presentation, followed by three thrilling seasons of catwalk shows, sadly it’s time to bid a fond farewell to designer duos Rottingdean Bazaar and Art School who graduated from the mentoring scheme last season. Shortlisted by Fashion East’s tight-knit team of three, led by founder and director Lulu Kennedy, and selected by her panel of illustrious industry insiders, this coming season we’re truly in for a treat. For AW19 Stefan Cooke returns for a third season and will be joined by new comers Robyn Lynch and Mowalola Ogunlesi.
Here’s what you need to know about the two new designers: Dublin-born and bred Robyn Lynch joins the roster fresh from graduating from the University of Westminster MA in June. Alongside studying Lynch gained experience at Phoebe English and Cottweiler, and her Irish flag colour-blocked graduate collection explored her cultural heritage and upbringing through a series of sporty silhouettes and completely covetable cable-knit jumpers. Since Mowalola Ogunlesi presented her acclaimed Central Saint Martin’s BA collection in 2017 inspired by the petrol heads of Lagos, the Nigerian-born London-based designer has gone on to design outfits for for Nigeria’s World Cup team, Skepta’s ‘Pure Water’ music video and seen her clothes worn by Solange Knowles. Mowalola’s breed of menswear is branded as “sexy and unhindered by stereotypes” – enough said.
“The power and simplicity of both Mowalola and Robyn’s singular visions hit me right away at their graduate shows. Theirs is a fabulously concise exercise in storytelling and editing – untroubled by the usual rules and regs – which doesn’t mean their lines don’t have commercial appeal; they’re already being worn,” explains Kennedy. “And just as we have proudly watched Stefan’s highly crafted runway collections land straight into top international stores, we have great ambitions for our new female additions to the line-up.”
Portrait by Carly Scott.
Stefan Cooke
Robyn Lynch
Mowalola
