London Collections Men is a biannual showcase that takes place every January and June to celebrate the creative and commercial importance of the British menswear industry. The event took place from Friday 10th – Monday 13th June, where 180 Strand became the sole hub for fashion activity. London is one of the fashion capitals, brimmed full of inspiration and creativity from young designers to big brands it plays host to an amazing generation of young creatives. This year proved no different with designers from the likes of Astrid Andersen with her sports inspired aesthetic to narrative-focused collections from Timur Kim, demonstrating that menswear designers are ones to keep your eye well and truly on.
Highlights from the weekend included that of Kiko Kostadinov, the Central Saint Martins student wowed the fashion press with his ‘Displacement’ collection, which saw Stussy garments ripped to shreds, before piecing them back together, creating a series of one-of-a-kind streetwear pieces. Kostadinov explores the functionality and silhouettes of everyday practical workwear by applying innovative new pattern cutting and garment construction techniques. This latest and most personal collection from Kostadinov is a perfect reflection of the designer’s ‘anti-decorative’ approach to design.
Another highlight from LCM was the character driven collection from Liam Hodges. Big, garish shapes and hard wearing, workwear detailing, communicated itself through a strong graphic language presented on signature oversized t-shirts and knitwear. Liam’s designs are influenced by hip hop, punk, guerrila militia and balls out folk, expressing masculinity in a contemporary way and resulting in real clothes that men want to wear, or as Hodges puts it : ” Ultimately, I’m taking something quite normal and making it beautiful”.
And finally, the collection from the dynamic London-based label KTZ combined the contrasting elements of modernity and the ancestral. Known for its raw energy and its contemporary edge, KTZ showed a dark futuristic and monochromatic style in the form of oversized wear. With the whole collection nearly in all black, the leather pieces satisfied any sartorial fetish desires. Comprising of fashionable fetishism and fantasy, KTZ used leather, PVC and nylon, not for the faint-hearted..
Men’s fashion and grooming is one of the fastest growing industries in the UK, alongside the figures, the rise of male bloggers and street style imagery has aided to the buzz and popularity of men’s dressing like never before. LCM is well and truly on the map for being an event not to be missed, Sportswear and oversized garments seemed to be at the realm of LCM’s core and the contradiction and combination of streetwear to bespoke tailoring at LCM this year is what keeps the excitement of men’s fashion on its toes and forever guessing.
Written by Kerry McCauley
