With London Fashion Week just around the corner we quizzed some of our favourite designers on the inner workings of their studios in the run-up to their a/w 2014 shows.
HENRY HOLLAND
What is the current mood in your studio?
Angst.
Whats on your studio playlist?
Whats your top tip for surviving fashion week?
Drink loads and tell everyone you meet they look amazing.
Describe your a/w 2014 collection in three words.
Dirty, dangerous debutantes.
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Dominos pizza for everyone the night before.
How will you relax when fashion weeks over?
Sleeping and getting wasted at the ELLE Style Awards natch.
MARY KATRANTZOU
What is the current mood in your studio?
It changes every hour! Excited, happy, disappointed, stressed and excited all over again - all in the course of one day.
Whats on your studio playlist?
Today it was Beyonce, Drunk in Love, and Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing, from Eyes Wide Shut. Were waiting for Frederic Sanchez to send his track suggestions for the show and then well all listen to that until a winner emerges.
Whats your top tip for surviving fashion week?
Coffee and a great team!
Describe your a/w 2014 collection in three words.
Symbolism , symbolism, symbolism.
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
I like to take the journey to the show venue with my partner and my team and have enough time backstage to do any last minute alterations and fittings on the girls.
How will you relax when fashion weeks over?
There is no time to relax! The next day it's straight back to the studio to work on the Paris Sales campaign!
HOLLY FULTON
What is the current mood in your studio?
Pensive and expectant. The last high pressure push is the most exciting bit and we always run very close to the wire time wise so theres a feeling of anticipation; I'm used to not having things until the last 48 hours but it can be a bit hair raising if you aren't.
Whats on your studio playlist?
Chvrches, FKA Twigs, Beyonce, The Associates, Rhye, John Grant.
Whats your top tip for surviving fashion week?
Rescue Remedy, San Pellegrino, manuka honey and ginger, Eight hour cream and an ability not to panic if things don't go right. Sometimes you just have to roll with the punches and thats when the best things can evolve.
Describe your a/w 2014 collection in three words.
Super chic power.
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
I always get my make up done by MAC at the last second as I look pretty exhausted by that point. As long as I have lashings of red lipstick on then I'm ok.
How will you relax when fashion weeks over?
I'll remain in bed for the majority of the day then get up briefly to have a full English, watch Antiques Roadshow and have a long hot bath filled with Jo Malone oils. If Im coherent enough we'll go for dinner with my mum, dad and partner in the evening to reflect and speak Scottish. I may have a glass or two of Sancerre along the way too. Essentially good food, friends and TV and wiling away the hours with my bf, he's a tolerant man pre-show.
MICHAEL VAN DER HAM
What is the current mood in your studio?
Slightly worked-up. No-one has a lot of patience left anymore.
Whats on your studio playlist?
Everything but the girl, Drake, Maccabees, The Orb, Deee-Lite.
Whats your top tip for surviving fashion week?
Preparation is key.
Describe your a/w 2014 collection in three words.
Blocky, graphic and textured.
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Only the usual; casting the models the two days before the show and having meetings with stylist and hair/make-up tests.
How will you relax when fashion weeks over?
Unfortunately, I wont. Its straight to Paris to look at new fabrics for s/s 2015 and start the sales campaign. After that I'll have some time off.
EUDON CHOI
What is the current mood in your studio?
Tired but upbeat! As you can imagine it is quite hectic, but were really excited about this new collection.
Whats on your studio playlist?
The collection is actually based on the early 1960s British music scene, so weve been listening to early Beatles and Rolling Stones quite a lot. But recently we have been mixing it up with Haim, London Grammar and Goldfrapp.
Whats your top tip for surviving fashion week?
Keep as healthy as possible; the long days and lack of sleep can really take their toll. I take quite a few vitamins and supplements in the run up to Fashion week. I also live on Vita Coco Coconut water, as often I dont have time to stop to eat and it is a great pick me up.
Describe your a/w 2014 collection in three words
Rock, masculine, fun.
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Strangely the closer it gets to the day of the show, the calmer I get. On the day of the show, I am up really, really early so I give myself time to have a great breakfast as its probably the only time I will eat that day! I will use that time to sit in a nice quiet place and go through the running order of the show in my head and make any last minute adjustments. Its rather like the calm before the storm.
How will you relax when fashion weeks over?
Ill spend the weekend with my partner and our dog, Barney. We will also probably have a catch up dinner with some friends, as I have not seen anyone for ages!
