- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: London Fashion Week gets off to a head start
- Date: 19th September 2009
- Summary: (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) LONDON MAYOR BORIS JOHNSON AND BRITISH FASHION COUNCIL CHAIRMAN HAROLD TILLMAN ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (English) LONDON MAYOR, BORIS JOHNSON, SAYING: ''London Fashion Week is the embodiment of that creative talent that rests, rests, it's entrepreneurial flair that allows this city to put New York and Paris in the shadow.'' BORIS JOHNSON WITH MODEL ERIN O'CONNOR (SOUNDBITE) (English) LONDON MAYOR, BORIS JOHNSON, SAYING: ''Ladies and Gentleman it's a huge pleasure to be here before what is I think, I think contestably, one of the most intimidating audiences I've ever seen in my life. If I was president Nicolas Sarkozy of France I don't think I would, I would refuse to be pictured with a group of people so glamourous, so tall and so nerve-wrackingly big.'' HAROLD TILLMAN, BORIS JOHNSON, ERIN O'CONNOR AND STEPHEN JONES POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) LONDON MAYOR, BORIS JOHNSON, SAYING: ''As I have anything to do with the government of this country there will be no ban on high heels. Thank you very much for having me along and I take great pleasure in declaring Fashion Week open. Thank you.'' MORE OF HAROLD TILLMAN, BORIS JOHNSON, ERIN O'CONNOR AND STEPHEN JONES POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS ACTRESS JOAN COLLINS WITH HAROLD TILLMAN MORE OF JOAN COLLINS (SOUNDBITE) (English) LONDON MAYOR, BORIS JOHNSON, SAYING: ''I my general position is, I think that we've got a fantastic industry and with amazing talents, and you there's some great guys from all over...you know there is a huge range in death an talent in london, but it would be invidious of me, invidious of me, and it would be jealousy provoking among great talents if i were to single out any names in particular such as the range and depth of our talent.'' ERIN O'CONNOR CHATTING ERIN O'CONNOR'S HAT SOUNDBITE (English) ERIN O'CONNOR, MODEL, SAYING: ''I think first, it's almost important to acknowledge that we were striving as one of the strongest capitals, four capitals in the world, in fashion today. But what reminds me of why we inspire those capitals is our sort of mission to sort of always keep our identity, to you know, the only thing we should have in common are our differences.'' LONDON FASHION WEEK TENT WITH SIGN
- Embargoed: 4th October 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Kingdom
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Fashion
- Reuters ID: LVAD8HRT2JQT609O1YQO8ESZ3NTT
- Story Text: London Fashion Week was officially opened on Friday (September 18) by the city's Mayor Boris Johnson.
Welcoming the fashionsitas and the crowds to the fashion spectacle was model Erin O'Connor and milliner Stephen Jones. Jones is curating the Headonsim exhibition, which is an initiative set up by the British Fashion Council to promote the new talented milliners working in the city.
Showing off their artistic creations was J.Smith Esquire who works as a milliner and hairdresser. Little Shilpa, who is originally from Mumbai, India also showed off her masterpieces.
Noel Stewart, Piers Atkinson and Soren Bach also wowed the crowds with their headpieces.
Among the hats being modelled, was a twist on the pill box style hat with toile and moustache, a hat layered with bras, and another with flashing lights.
Each of the milliners showcased five couture pieces from their Spring Summer 2010 collections.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson commented on the creativity that makes London stand out from the other fashion capitals.
''Ladies and Gentleman it's a huge pleasure to be here before what is I think, I think contestably, one of the most intimidating audiences I've ever seen in my life. If I was president Nicolas Sarkozy of France I don't think I would, I would refuse to be pictured with a group of people so glamourous, so tall and so nerve-wrackingly big.'' Before declaring Fashion Week open he said he would be part of the style police and would never ban stilettos.
''As I have anything to do with the government of this country there will be no ban on high heels. Thank you very much for having me along and I take great pleasure in declaring Fashion Week open. Thank you.'' London Fashion Week attracts style queens and celebrities from around the world. Among the crowds at Headonism was actress Joan Collins who posed for the cameras alongside British Fashion Council Chairman, Harold Tillman.
Model, Erin O'Connor who will be walking the catwalk at this year's fashion event said London is so special because it has its own identity.
''I think first, it's almost important to acknowledge that we were striving as one of the strongest capitals, four capitals in the world, in fashion today. But what reminds me of why we inspire those capitals is our sort of mission to sort of always keep our identity, to you know, the only thing we should have in common are our differences.'' London has produced some of fashion's biggest names, including Stella McCartney and John Galliano of Dior, and its designers are regarded as among the world's most avant garde. But the city's fashion shows have struggled to maintain their global profile on a par with Milan or Paris, and without the backing of big design houses emerging talents have decamped to New York and other cities to nurture their careers.
The hats shown at Headonism will be on display at Somerset House for the remainder of Fashion Week.
This year London Fashion Week celebrates its 25th anniversary at its new venue of Somerset House. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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