It’s been ten years since Fashion East and Topman first hooked up to launch MAN, the debut menswear showcase of its kind – then an add on type part of London Fashion Week – and now 24 hours of the former’s big SS16 idea.
As FE founder Lulu Kennedy attests, “It’s crazy to think we’ve been doing MAN for a whole decade – I’ve enjoyed every moment and am so proud of the brilliant talent that has come through our scheme! We embarked on this journey with our fantastic partners in crime Topman back in 2005… and look what happened as a result!”
“Without MAN,” panellist Charlie Porter concurs, “There would have been no London Collections: Men. It shows how both critical and commercial success can come from pure altruism, passion and belief.”
Following yesterday’s announcement that Liam Hodges and Rory Parnell-Mooney will return to MAN for the June showcase, today Grace Wales Bonner and Charles Jeffrey have been confirmed for the Fashion East Men’s Presentations.
Each marking a new stripped back approach for the relevant schemes – presumably offering a stronger focus on the four designers – the latter two will debut their SS16 collections with a takeover at the ICA gallery.
“We believe so strongly in the talent of Grace and Charles that we’ve given them a whole big area of the ICA each to do their brilliant thing in,” offers Kennedy. “I love each one’s attitude and vision, and the absolute conviction with which they approach their work.”
For Wales Bonner this will be her second time presenting under the umbrella of Fashion East, and follows a critically acclaimed production at the V&A (here). Jeffrey meanwhile, is a just outta Central St Martins graduate – his MA collection was part of the school’s recent ‘Nude’ exhibition – and will make his debut this season.
A special 'MAN TURNS 10' film will be screened at the preceding MAN event at the Topman show space, alongside catwalk shows from Hodges and Parnell Mooney.
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