“I’d like to say that I enjoy Margin probably more than the other shows - I like the way you let new blood make their first forays into our industry.”
Andy - Owner/Buyer - Natterjacks, Kingston

www.natterjacks.com

Margin, renowned for its upscale streetwear and directional tailoring, has been one of the best platforms for new talent for the last four years. WGSN reports from London.
Attracting a host of new names, Margin had the biggest show to date covering 9,000 sq ft. The show made the move to the new venue of the Horticultural Halls to accommodate growing ranges of labels that have been exhibiting at Margin since its beginning.Not only is the number of exhibitors increasing, labels such as Dephect and Lazy Oaf, which used to manage with only one rail as a stand, have successfully grown their business and ranges accordingly, consequently requiring more space. Hopefully this won’t jeopardize the intimacy normally praised at Margin shows, and we continue to see fresh directional brands showcasing and debuting.Over 60 exhibitors attended, with at least half making their debut at Margin. This season, five new Finnish brands had chosen the show for their first UK appearance. These included Annukka Takala, Keto, and Zukale & Huoviala, which are all recent graduates or students of the University of Art and Design, Helsinki.WGSN loves directional, sultry womenswear label Tiia Vanhatapio and the designer’s baby range Quelle Jolie Bebe. Vanhatapio’s two ranges were undoubtedly one of the highlights of the show.Margin has also organised an exchange program with International Fashion Fair (Tokyo) and chose Japanese menswear label Agent Knock Peaceful to exhibit in London. London-based womenswear streetwear brand Girlgang showed at IFF Tokyo in July.Margin is held at the same time as TBC each season, falling on Sunday and Monday of a designated week. Margin is great for attracting international buyers to London.

The overall impression for the show this year as it continues to increase in size with its great new venue, is that it is slightly more commercial than previous years but is still gaining the enthusiasm that makes it so special. FULL REPORT HERE

LONDON TRADE SHOW REPORT
London, England, 4 Aug. 2006

The edition of London trade shows spring/summer 2007 - encompassing TBC, Margin and The Park - took place July 30-31, [2007].

At all the shows, the color palette was muted and looked suspiciously autumn-like: black, white, gray and khaki ruled. Keeping with the subdued hues, womenswear captured a prim and proper air. Never have so many puff-sleeved, round-collared polo shirts hung under one roof at the same time.

Menswear, too, had a formal, dandy-ish vibe. These elements materialized in smart cuts and accessories as well as in prints. The new label T-Book offered neat tie/neck piece hybrids with its cleverly printed tees and shirts; Luke matched scarves to its grandpa cardies and sweaters; Red Dot embraced the trend by printing silk scarves on to its tees.

This edition of Margin drew a large proportion of international names, including an entire Finnish brigade among the show’s 80 exhibitors. These included Zukale & Huoviala and Tiia Vanhatapi, whose cute naively printed tees and pretty dresses made of nappy gauze were lovely. Another great name to watch there, albeit not Finnish, is Muffty, a menswear label offering a new spin on the polo shirt: a neat shawl collared version.

In addition, Wayne Pinnock Live’s quirky men’s separates also stood out in all its modern-art-meets-tribal ethnicity glory.

Drapers Report July 2006

Drapers Margin London report + highlighting Isis Cashmere, Dangerous Breed, Tranzit, Girlgang, Laysick, I Saved Laurence, Peace Industries, and Wayne Pinnock Live

Report from the fashion tradeshow

Sliced and Diced: Dice graphics were seen several times in jewelry and accessories. At Lady Luck Rules OK, tiny dice cubes were used as part of a hair bobble accessory. Wendys and Zukale & Huoviala both showed a string of dice on wallet chains, and Zukale & Huoviala also showed slim neon yellow belts printed with dice. Sliced was also a common theme this season. On Tour Lab’s Slicedworks collection featured circular saw graphics on vests and tees, while Concrete Lawn’s debut collection of hoodies and sweatshirts were sliced at the yoke with contrasting colored jersey fabrics. Block Headwear also got sliced with segmented baseball caps in contrasting fabrics.

Mini-Me: Children’s versions of adult collections were noticably more prominent this year. Maak en Herstel who showed a range of women’s detailed bird image applique tees had cute identical versions for toddlers. Finnish womenswear label Tiia Vanhatapio has a separate newborn line, Quelle Jolie Bebe! which included a very modern take on the christening gown in a folded and pleated pure linen. New to Margin this season was London label Map Nap, with a cute range of prints especially for the kids, including Fuzzy Felt, which pays homage to the 70s art and craft phenomenon.

Cool New Labels: Muffty from London showed slick upscale menswear, including a take on the polo shirt was with a new open and curved collar. Accessories designer Wendee Ou’s bag and purse range mixed glamour with utility, as seen in her silver pleated leather clutch bags with twill and d-ring clasps. Menswear from Tranzit highlighted the trend that casual menswear is taking more and more inspiration from traditional tailoring. Blazers in crumpled linens and slacks in traditional wovens were big hits in this collection.

UBIQUITY

Award-winning Californian Record Label Ubiquity Records returned to Margin in July 2006 with their range of music-influenced Mens- and womens-wear.

Ubiquity produced their third limited-edition Margin CD exclusively for Margin visitors featuring tracks from fresh artists such as Radio Citizen, Nino Moschella, Nomo, and Ohmega Watts, as well as providing the soundtrack to the show.

1. Everything
Radio Citizen UR196
2. The Fix
Nino Moschello UR193
3. Floor Rock
Ohmega Watts UR174
4. Legs
Darondo UR12148
5. Creole Girl
Victor Green - from Bay Area Funk 2 LH050
6. Didn’t you see her
Nino Moschello UR193
7. Groovin on Sunshine
Ohmega Watts UR174
8. How do you really feel (Cut Chemist Atkins Edit)
Breakestra UR178
9. Voices
Radio Citizen UR196
10. Delirium (Morgan Geist Tongues Remix)
Owisu & Hannibal UR183
11. In a Hurry
Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra UR186
12.Move
Ohmega Watts UR174
13. Fourth Ward
Nomo ; UR194
14. Seven Eight
Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra UR186

http://www.ubiquityrecords.com/

Jordan Atkinson

Having previously worked for streetwear label Criminal Clothing as graphic designer, Jordan Atkinson has recently returned to the UK after living in Sydney Australia for 9 months.

With pieces helping Jordan to switch titles from Graphic Designer to Illustrator to Artist, Jordans work varies by medium to encompass striking graphic work to detailed pencil art.

Jordan Atkinson exhibited pieces in the lounge at Margin in July 2006.

For further details, visit the website at:
www.jordanatkinson.co.uk

Football Heroes

To wrap up the Summer of football and remember the World Cup, prints from the collectors picture album ‘Football Heroes’ were on display at Margin London in July 2006.

Featuring 60 World Cup teams, ‘Football Heroes’ pictures all the 2006 qualifiers plus the most famous teams from World Cup history, including England 1966. It contains over 700 individual player portraits drawn by 50 illustrators from 17 different countries.

‘Football Heroes’ is a non-profit project. All the illustrators involved have donated their time and talent for the love of the game. The book was conceived and designed by Jerzovskaja and Ashi, two Swiss illustrators obsessed with football, sticker albums and illustration.

Football Heroes exhibited pieces in the lounge at Margin in July 2006.

For further details, visit the website at:
www.footballheroes.org

Eleanor Bowley

Before even graduating this year from the Arts Institute of Bournemouth with a degree in Illustration, Eleanor Bowley has already come to the attention of the fashion world.

With her unique style of creating images from stitching and trimmings on recycled fabrics, Eleanor was commissioned as part of her final year project to design a range of clothes sold within the Urban Renewal area of Urban Outfitters.

Eleanor Bowley exhibited pieces in the lounge at Margin in July 2006.

For further details, visit the website at:
www.eleanorbowley.co.uk

Art work by See

Contemporary abstract work, utilising aerosol techniques with vivid colour mixes and hints of chrome.

Influences include Graffiti, John Hoyland, Manga and skies lines to name but a few.

Exploring abstract proportions and playing with both bright and soft colouring, making work suitable for not only for student gaffs but also in luxury flats and inner city apartments.

Fusing the art work with sign making vinyl’s and alternative substrates the work becomes a 3 dimensional piece.
These are niche interior decor pieces and large scale installations.
Interiors Clients include Selfridges, Popcorn Design and Radiator PR.

Art work by See exhibited pieces in the lounge at Margin in July 2006.

For further details, visit the website at:
www.seeincolour.com