Central Saint Martins: Where Fashion Legends are Born
Not every designer who walks through the doors of Central Saint Martins becomes a legend, but it’s safe to say that many of the biggest names in fashion have passed through its halls. A quick Google search of fashion legends will likely bring up a list of CSM alumni, including Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Phoebe Philo, Stella McCartney, Riccardo Tisci, Simone Rocha, and more.
London Fashion Week kicked off with a bang on Thursday night, as the program’s annual graduate collection hit the runway. This year’s lineup featured a talented group of designers, including Petra Fagerstorm, Jake Zhang, Tuuli Turunen, Yaoyao Huang, Phinyophummin, Isidora Durovic, Liu Xueyang, Kelechi Mpamaugo, Jane Fu, Lucas Moretti, Zihan Miracle Liu, Oriol Clavell, Lily Teiger, Jude Braganza, Scar Kennedy, William Palmer, Jacek Gleba, Alison Keogh, and Kate Dewar.
The prestigious L’Oreal Professionnel Award was given to two standout designers: Petra Fagerstorm and William Palmer. Fagerstorm, who opened the show, has already made a name for herself in the industry, having worked for major brands like Acne and Balenciaga before launching her own label under the Swedish Fashion Council. Palmer also has experience in the industry, having worked as a designer for Craig Green, Walter Van Beirendonck, and COMME des GARÇONS before enrolling in the M.A. program at CSM.
One trend that stood out among the collections was the use of AI. Several designers, including Fagerstorm, used AI as both a starting point and a tool to rebel against in their designs. Alison Keogh and Kate Dewar even fed AI generic images of menswear staples, like collared shirts, and attempted to recreate the choppy iterations it produced.
Another standout in the lineup was 23-year-old Catalan designer Oriol Clavell. His collection explored queer identity through the use of draping, 3D printing, and reworked materials. Clavell is also set to debut his collection at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Madrid.
Stay tuned for more updates on London Fashion Week, and be sure to follow along for all the latest news and trends.
