U.K.: MARIA CHEN PASCUAL AND MICHIKO KOSHINO UNVEIL THEIR LATEST COLLECTIONS ON THE OPENING DAY OF THE LONDON FASHION WEEK

Record ID: 190473

  • Title: U.K.: MARIA CHEN PASCUAL AND MICHIKO KOSHINO UNVEIL THEIR LATEST COLLECTIONS ON THE OPENING DAY OF THE LONDON FASHION WEEK
  • Date: 15th February 2003
  • Summary: (U7) LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (FEBRUARY 15, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. VARIOUS OF BACKSTAGE AT MARIA CHEN PASCUAL SHOW (4 SHOTS) 0.19 2. SCU: DESIGNER MARIA CHEN PASCUAL DRINKING CHAMPAGNE 0.25 3. SCU: MODEL HAVING MAKE-UP APPLIED 0.29 4. SCU: SOUNDBITE (English) DESIGNER MARIA CHEN PASCUAL SAYING "The collection's called 'Love is stronger than Death' and I think that pretty much sums up what I'm trying to say with the collection. The background behind the clothing comes from Vita Sackville West and the Bloomsbury set and about femininity and the strength of women." 0.45 5. LILAC MINI DRESS WITH BLACK SATIN JACKET 0.55 6. PATTERNED TOP AND BROWN LEATHER TROUSERS 1.04 7. NUDE COLOURED DRESS WITH FRINGING 1.17 8. SV: SILVER CHAIN-MAIL TOP WITH GREY CARDIGAN 1.27 9. SV: CREAM PATTERNED MINI-DRESS AND CROPPED LEATHER JACKET 1.34 10. PALE GREY CHIFFON DRESS 1.41 11. BLACK SATIN TROUSERS SINGLE BREASTED JACKET 1.48 12. MODELS ON CATWALK AT END OF SHOW 1.56 13. VARIOUS BACKSTAGE AT MICHIKO KOSHINO SHOW (3 SHOTS) 2.15 14. MODEL WEARING CAMEL COAT WITH GOLD TRIM 2.24 15. PEACH CHIFFON TROUSERS AND CREAM WOOL TOP 2.31 16. PEACH TOP WITH GREY MINI SKIRT WITH PINK TRIM 2.38 17. NAVY PINAFORE DRESS WITH SILVER STRAPS 2.43 18. CREAM DISTRESSED WOOL TOP AND NAVY SKIRT 2.51 19. LEMON TRENCH COATS AND FLORAL SATIN SHORTS 3.00 20. KHAKI BELTED JACKET AND FLORAL SATIN SHORTS 3.09 21. GREY BOX-PLEAT PINAFORE DRESS AND PINK SATIN HOODED TOP 3.18 22. GREY WOOL CARDIGAN AND GREY TROUSERS WITH LEG-WARMERS 3.23 23. DESIGNER MICHIKO KOSHINO ON CATWALK WITH MODELS (2 SHOTS) 3.42 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 2nd March 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVA1AN2RT6RCIOJCTSKJ78LP562Y
  • Story Text: Schoolgirl pinafore dresses and tiny chain-mail tops
    have been among the diverse designs vying for attention
    on the first day of London Fashion Week.


    In a collection entitled 'Love is Stronger than Death',
    British designer Maria Chen Pascual blacked up her models'
    eyes, scraped back their hair and sent them down the catwalk
    on Saturday (February 15) in shades of grey, black and brown.

    "The collection's called 'Love is stronger than Death'
    and I think that pretty much sums up what I'm trying to say,"
    the designer said.

    "The background behind the clothing comes from Vita
    Sackville West and the Bloomsbury set and about femininity and
    the strength of women", she said, refering to the circle of
    artists and intellectuals in 1920s London renowned for their
    bohemian attitudes.

    Bomber jackets, belted trench coats and tight leggings
    figured heavily in the androgynous collection. But tiny
    floral-printed satin shorts peeked out from underneath the
    masculine coats and jackets, and softly-draped grecian-style
    dresses also made an appearance.

    Fabrics were leather, denim, velour, corduroy and draped
    jersey. The predominantly dark colour palette was accented
    with burnt oranges and dusky pinks.

    The overall mood was individual. The 1980s were recalled
    with tight velour leggings and asymmetrical tailoring, but
    brought up to date with silver chain-mail tops and dresses,
    and given a feminine edge with soft draping and feminine cuts.

    Maria Chen Pascual trained at Parson's in New York, where
    she won a menswear design scholarship, then Central St.

    Martins College in London, and is now completing a doctorate
    at the Royal College of Art.

    Known for her original fabric techniques and conceptual
    cutting, She has designed a customised collection for
    sportswear company Adidas and a T-shirt range for British high
    street chain Top Shop.

    Michiko Koshino showed an equally muted colour palate in
    her Autumn/Winter collection, but with a liberal splash of
    metallic silvers and golds.

    Deconstruction was a theme running through the collection.

    Wool dresses had torn box pleat panels and runs and snags were
    built in to knitwear. Fabrics were faded and bleached, but
    given a new lease of life with metallic patches.

    Printed fabric peeped from under the hems of tiny wool
    skirts and dresses. Schoolgirl-style pinafore dresses were
    held up with shiny silver straps. Trousers had high waistbands
    which unzipped to reveal contrasting inner panels.

    Michiko Koshino recently celebrated 21 years in the
    fashion industry. Based in London, she has built up a strong
    reputation as a leading designer pushes the boundaries of
    fashion design. She is internationally known for her
    innovative use of high-tech fabrics and unusual cutting
    techniques.

    As well as clothes, Koshino also designs cosmetics,
    underwear, sunglasses and watches and was the first designer
    to market condoms under her own name.

    London has long had a reputation as a breeding ground for
    young talent and the schedule of 50 catwalk shows over the
    coming week is packed with little-known names.

    But most designers who unveiled collections on Saturday
    would have been disappointed at the poor showing of important
    international press and buyers.

    While Paris, Milan and New York, chock full of big names
    and money, know their place at fashion's high table is
    assured, London has struggled in recent years to prove its
    stable of edgy young designers can cut it with the best.

    Only a handful of names showing are widely recognised
    outside fashion circles. Among them are celebrity favourites
    Julien Macdonald, Roland Mouret, Burberry and Paul Smith.

    Clements Ribeiro and Katharine Hamnett are returning to London
    after several seasons showing elsewhere.

    Lesser known designers tipped as rising stars include
    Alice Temperley, Warren Noronha, Emma Cook and Sophia
    Kokosolaki.


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