10 Years of introducing Fresh Brands & New Designers
The longest running independent fashion trade event in
London, Margin is renowned for providing a successful
launchpad for directional new designers, alongside
credible established brands.
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For their a/w 2008-09 editions, the London trade shows (TBC, Margin and The Park, held February 10 to 11; Pure, held February 10 to 12) all went through something of a renaissance, for better or worse, revealing either new formats, sections or management.
The womenswear show Pure following on from last season’s successful revamp of the Spirit section, the area catering to the young and urban retail segment, saw the launch of Pure Footwear this season. Showcasing a varied mix of labels ranging from Terry De Havilland, Terra Plana, Audley and Melissa to Rocket Dog, Snowjoggers and J Shoes, the space provided a versatile footwear platform that proved a hit with the buyers.
Another new feature at Pure was the Spirit Catwalk Show. Desigual, Entoomemetto and Piezak were some of the new labels exhibiting for the first time at Spirit who also showed their designs on the catwalk.
Change was in the air even at TBC. After a disappointing last season with exhibitor numbers reduced and the show lacking in energy, hopes were high as the new organizing body, Idex Media, stepped in to revamp the show, promising to give it a new lease of life and a more international appeal.
When approaching the show venue it was already clear that TBC had changed hands: huge signposts helped steer visitors in the right direction, unlike in previous seasons when they were confusingly scattered around the streets. Despite the brownie points awarded for organizational skills and corporate value, the new format lacked creativity: the sterile, carpeted space counteracted the energy of the labels on show, and failed to convey the edginess of London street culture that visitors and exhibitors ultimately come to experience, aside from getting down to business.
On the exhibitors’ side, the selection shrank to only about 60 labels including Ringspun, WESC, Garbstone, Farah, Edwin Jeans, Lost Property, Boxfresh, Monkey Genes and Skunkfunk.
The buzz that was lacking at TBC was to be indulged in at Margin (margin.tv), this is a show that nicely captures the young and edgy London vibe with its laid-back feel and energetic array of young labels. The news of the season here materialized in Traidfare, a new section featuring ethically sourced, and in some cases also organically produced, collections from brands such as Komodo, Organic Stereo, and Cyclus.
Images from Margin London in February 2008
Yamama
Trousers London
Double Goose
The Herbaliser wearing Double Goose at Margin London
Kuyichi Pure Premium Denim
Komodo
Justin Hustlin
M.Y Clothing
Regenerate
Brandnativa with Cyclus
InsideOut Agency with Rise-Up, Organic Stereo, Kuyichi and Livity
Cyclus is a range of bags, accessories and footwear with a conscience.
Distributed in the UK by Brandnativa, the Cyclus collection takes some of the millions of inner tubes that are otherwise dumped or burnt each year to recycle them into mens and womens bags, laptop bags, belts, wallets, and footwear including mens sneakers through to womens heels. Having spent time in Colombia and recognising the value of the eco-friendly products being produced there, Brandnativa returned to the UK determined to promote Colombian products. With their ethical range of recycled accessories, Cyclus will be exhibiting on the cusp of GILD, the accessores area at Margin, and TraidFare, the new area at Margin for eco-aware brands.
A Fair-Trade Trade-Fair for Ethically-sourced, Eco-aware,
Sustainable & Organic Fashion from directional streetwear and
casualwear designers in London +
Margin is pleased to announce the introduction of a new exhibition area called TraidFare to showcase directional Fair Trade and organic clothing.
Consumers are more environmentally aware than ever and retailers are increasingly looking for directional product that fits the green demand.
TraidFare will highlight collections from streetwear and casualwear labels that ensure their collections are manufactured ethically from chemical-free fabrics.
As most of the exhibitors at leading London upscale streetwear event Margin are brand new start-ups with home-grown manufacturing, the show has always featured exhibitors with fair-trade eco-aware ranges. The increased amount of sustainable fashion for the February 2008 edition demanded its own area.
Featuring ethically-sourced collections from brands such as Komodo, Rise Up, Cyclus, Moly Kulte, Teori and Markoviec, TraidFare will provide a much-needed affordable platform in London for clothing and accessories with a conscience.
The February 2008 edition of Margin featuring TraidFare will take place during London Fashion Week on the 10th to 12th of February 2008 at The Vinyl Factory Gallery in Soho London.
10 Years of introducing Fresh Brands & New Designers
The longest running independent fashion trade event in
London, Margin is renowned for providing a successful
launchpad for directional new designers, alongside
credible established brands.
Share:
