The Rising Stars SS12 : The Rising Stars

Teatum Jones caught our eye a couple of seasons ago with their masterful prints and cool, just-feminine-enough cuts, so we’re thrilled that this season the label’s making its debut on the London Fashion Week schedule.
Fashion-savvy duo Catherine Teatum and Rob Jones are the brains behind the label – they met while they were both working for John Richmond and bonded over a their similar approach to style before deciding to set up on their own. Their first offerings landed them a place in the final of Fashion Fringe 2010 and they went on to produce their first full collection the following season. Combing beautifully flowing, digitally printed silks with heavy wool tweeds and mixing up the perfect girl-meets-boy blend, the label is already a firm favourite with the those in the know. And this season Teatum Jones is making its first appearance on the LFW schedule, sure to propel the label into mainstream consciousness.

If your signature style is inclined towards the polished-grunge end of the spectrum then you’ll love Jeremy Laing. The Canadian is a cult favourite amongst New York insiders and it surely can’t be long before the rest of the world catches on.
His career in fashion started early – legend has it that he spent his early teenage years learning to sew from his mother – and he refined his skills at university in both Toronto and London. He also had a stint working at Alexander McQueen, so it’s no surprise to learn that his collections are driven by construction and intricate tailoring rather than trends.  His signature style nails a luxe, layered, sporty vibe that’s beautifully constructed to fit both your body and your wardrobe perfectly. Now who will join our campaign to get him stocked in the UK?

If you’re a self-confessed denim addict then Marques’Almeida should be making its way onto your radar about now. The label made its catwalk debut last season in the form of a CSM graduate collection from Portugese design duo Marta Marques and Paulo Almeida. Now it’s set to grace the LFW schedule having been taken under the wing of Lulu Kennedy and given a much coveted slot in the Fashion East show.
Between them Marta and Paulo enjoyed stints working for Preen and Vivienne Westwood, and their sporty, deconstructed street wear – we’re talking frayed denim tunics, seriously oversized mannish knits and lots of layering -  is the epitome of London cool.

It seems that Tommy’s fashion-savvy genes have been handed down through the Hilfiger family – one half of the duo behind NY label NAHM is his daughter Alexandria. Last season the label presented its debut collection in New York’s uber-cool Milk Studios, and press who turned up out of curiosity left pleasantly surprised.
Ally and her partner in crime Nary Manivong (see how they took the initials of their names to make up their label’s moniker?) took the humble shirt dress as their starting point and re-worked it in myriad ways – some layered chiffon here, a gradiated hemline there, a smattering of leather and velvet, not to mention some uber-sexy dresses that wouldn’t look out of place on the coolest of party girls. And, luckily for us, NAHM is launching in the UK this month, shortly after the second collection is unveiled in the Big Apple.

Paris resident Julien David is not entirely new to the fashion scene – he has been wowing the cool crowd with his tongue-in-chic printed silk scarves for a few years now. But, as of last season, he has expanded his repertoire to include a full womenswear collection, attracted a new army of fans in the process.
Julien’s career to date has taken him across the globe – he studied at Parsons in New York and worked for both Narciso Rodriguez and Ralph Lauren stateside before moving to Tokyo and launching his label. The Japanese influence is clear in his style – a minimalist colour palette (aside from some of his signature silk prints thrown in for good measure), interesting, geometric shapes and sleek, tailored cuts – and we’re looking forward to seeing how it evolves.

Phoebe and Annette Stephens are the latest sisters to take the NY fashion scene by storm. Their speciality? Statement jewellery that blends world-traveller influences with Manhattan polish.
Creativity is a family affair in the Stephens household. Their grandmother, Annette Nancarrow, is a painter, jewellery designer and sculptor whose pieces were worn by the likes of Frida Kahlo, Elizabeth Arden and Peggy Guggenheim; their father, Luis Stephens is a painter. And at last season’s Anndra Neen presentation all three generations showed off their work alongside each other.
The sisters grew up in Mexico City and these days divide their time between there and New York. The influence of both their Mexican heritage and a childhood spent surrounded by artists is evident on the bohemian feel of their much-coveted pieces. And it’s earned them recognition already; the label has been nominated for this year’s Dorchester Collection prize, and they’ve received the ultimate US seal of approval – Michelle Obama has sported one of their signature cage clutches.