International Fashion Showcase 2012

Dress by Mayumi Yamamoto, Finalist from the Alexander McQueen Graduate Competition, held in conjunction with the exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photography by Mariano Garcia

‘Lost Time is Never Found Again’ is part of the inaugural International Fashion Showcase set to take place during London Fashion Week, February 2012. The theme of the showcase is ‘emerging talent’ and each country has been asked to present a selection of designers whom they feel best represents the future of fashion in their region. 19 embassies and cultural institutes across London will open their doors and display the work of over 80 international emerging designers. A map, guide and passport will encourage the public and the London Fashion Week audience of UK and International Press and Buyers to follow the trail of the International Fashion Showcase around the diverse series of venues in central London. Countries including Australia, Belgium, Botswana, China, Estonia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Nigeria and USA will participate.

The US Embassy in conjunction with the MFA Fashion Design and Society at Parsons, led by the inaugural Donna Karan Professor of Fashion and MFA Program Director, Shelley Fox, will present a selection of its first graduate students in the exhibition ‘Lost Time is Never Found Again’ at the Benjamin Franklin House in London this month. Among the work on view will be award-winning looks from recent competitions held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute in conjunction with Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, and also as part of Pitti Immagine Filati, the premier Italian knitwear industry event. The participating designers are Paula Cheng, Beckett Fogg, Aina Hussain, Soojin Kang, Noriko Kikuchi, Sinead Lawlor, Jie Li, Kaoru Oshima, Talia Shuvalov and Mayumi Yamamoto.

Sarah Mower MBE, BFC Ambassador for Emerging Talent and Contributing Editor to US Vogue, will chair an advisory panel that will judge each piece of work, with an award given to the country that presents the best emerging fashion talent showcase. This will be announced and awarded with a sculpture designed by BFC NEW GEN award recipient Jordan Askill at the BFC Showcase Space at Somerset House on Sunday 19th February at 1.30pm – 2.30pm GMT.

The exhibition ‘Lost Time is Never Found Again’ is featured on www.notjustalabel.com as well as an interview with Donna Karan Professor of Fashion, Shelley Fox.

For more information visit www.vogue.co.uk and to download the official International Fashion Showcase Booklet visit www.britishfashioncouncil.com