September 12, 2019 |
The London Fashion Week Men’s schedule hasn’t quite been the same since Nasir Mazhar quit showing back in 2016. His sexually-charged, hyper-confident take on menswear mixes utilitarian aesthetics with highly advanced technical design ability. Mazhar has drawn from touchstones that continuously feel centric to the trends of the now, whilst simultaneously spearheading sportswear to terrific new stratospheres. He is one of the most exciting menswear designers to come out of the capital in the last ten years. Despite no longer showing on-schedule, Mazhar has been keeping himself rather busy. He’s released a line of Nasir Mazhar jeans, created caps for Mary Poppins Returns and even designed the costumes for the BalletLORENT production of Carol Ann Duffy’s The Lost Happy Endings. Now he is about to add “retail curator” to that list of accolades.
Mazhar is transforming his studio in Forrest Gate into a new concept store, Fantastic Toiles. Similar to the store Mazhar opened back in 2017, select pieces from the designer’s archive will be on sale. Though now, Mazhar will be joined by 26 other creatives from various fields who have created a cave of curiosities open for three days only. Whilst it hasn’t been disclosed what exactly will be on offer at Fantastic Toiles, a range of bags, accessories, clothes, artwork, and zines will be available to purchase. Contributors range from Tottenham-based queer club night Adonis and nightlife legend Princess Julia, right through to the Rottingdean Bazaar boys and even the English National Opera Costume Archive. If you’re looking for some killer new fashions, Ed Marler, recent CSM grad Marvin Desroc and make-shift designer Max Allen will also be flogging some of their finest garms. So if you’re needing a well deserved break between shows this fashion week, or fancy the possibility of nabbing yourself a Mazhar Bully Cap, you know where to go.
‘Fantastic Toiles’, a shop curated by Nasir Mazhar opens September 14th-16th from 11am-7pm at Railway Arch 434 Avenue rd E70LB. Images taken from Issue 44 of 10 Men; shot by Sam Bayliss Ibram, with creative direction and fashion editor Nasir Mazhar.
