Hussein Chalayan

-went to Central St. Martins.
-graduate collection titled 'The Tangent Flows' contained clothes which he had buried in his back yard and dug up again.
-whole collection was purchased and sold in Browns.
-designed for M&S
-British designer of the year 1999 & 2000
-clothing is more than just a garment
-innovative use of materials
-progressive attitude to new technology

http://www.husseinchalayan.com/

Nicholas Ghesquiere

-French designer
-was an assistant to Jean Paul Gaultier
-creative director for Balenciaga
-completely turned Balenciaga around
-ineffably cool and cutting edge designs
-has the ability to feel and shape fashion
-was called "fashion's most sought after and influential figure" (american vogue)


http://www.balenciaga.com/

Issey Miyake

-Japanese fashion designer
-first asian designer to gain renown worldwide
-technology driven designs
-created a new technique called garment pleating
-mens and womens
-studied haute couture in Paris

"design is not for philosophy, it is for life"

http://www.isseymiyake.com/

Undercover

-Japanese street wear brand
-founded by Jun Takahashi
-been branded the 'essence of Japanese cool'
-finely crafted clothing peices: strange but beautiful
-references to punk
-incredibly influenced by the sex pistols
-feminine cuts and colour printing

Rei Kawakubo & Comme des Garcons

-Japanese fashion designer
-founder of Comme des Garcons
-studied fine arts, was never trained as a fashion designer
-started with womens but added mens soon after
-shows in Paris
-Comme des garcons specialises in anti-fashion, austere and deconstructed garments
-challenged established beauty
guest designed fro H&M

" I am not conscious of any intellectual approach as such. My approach is simple. It is nothing other than what I am thinking at the time I make each piece of clothing, whether I think it is strong and beautiful. The result is something that other people decide"

http://www.comme-des-garcons.com/

Yohji Yamamoto

-born in Tokyo
-Debuted in Paris 1981
-both men and women
-known for avant garde spirit in his clothing
-designs often have nothing to do with current trends
-textures, drapery, over sized black silhouettes
-fabric is always the foundation of his design
-always questions fashion - wants timeless elegance

"I hate fashion"

http://www.yohjiyamamoto.co.jp

Raf Simons

-Belgian designer
-Worked for Margiela & Gaultier
-started with menswear
-influenced by youth culture
-combines strongly cut classic menswear with baggy street wear.
-Shows in Paris
-runway shows with a difference.. models running down street
-collaborated with Fred Perry
-was creative director for Jil Sander (the working woman)
-reluctant to appear on stage at end of shows

"I dont want to show clothes, i want to show my attitude, my past, my present, my future. I use memories and future visions and try to place them in todays world."

Possibly the top menswear designer working today.


http://www.rafsimons.com/