London Fashion Week AW18: ones to watch

Teija
Although the Teija studio is based in north-east London, the brand’s aesthetic celebrates Nordic minimalism. Teija has a truly Scandinavian look, and its ruffles, shirting and oversized sleeves make for brilliantly trend-driven collections. Since the brand launched in 2012 it has been nominated for multiple awards and is regularly featured in fashion editorials across top magazines. Teija’s London stockists include Matches Fashion, Liberty and Dover Street Market, making it easy to own a piece from this name-to-know.

Baia
Handmade by a small studio team in Yorkshire, Baia’s fun and vibrant leather bags are the perfect addition to any wardrobe. The minimalist, modern designs have been created with the ambition of bringing a little luxury to the everyday. Now in its third season and currently stocked in London department store Fortnum & Mason, Baia is going from strength to strength. With its mini drawstring bag proving to be a sell-out for autumn/winter 2017/18, Baia is certainly a name to know now.

Daou
Bijoux Daou was originally launched in Beirut in 1930. After 47 successful years, including acquiring royal warrants and attracting celebrity fans, the boutique was forced to shut its doors during the Lebanese civil war. Fast-forward to 2013 and the London-born granddaughter of Daou’s founder made the decision to revive the brand. The modern incarnation of Daou both honours the brand’s heritage and looks to the future, with bright colourful collections featuring precious stones set in thoroughly modern designs.

Ranjana Khan
Influenced by her Indian heritage, Ranjana Khan creates colourful statement earrings that really stand out. The bold creations are all handcrafted from semi-precious stones, crystals, feathers and vintage trinkets sourced by the designer. Khan began her career designing accessories for labels such as Balenciaga, Valentino and Alexander McQueen before launching her eponymous brand. She counts Michelle Obama, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé among her fans.

For Art’s Sake
With the on-going trend for sheer lensed sunglasses, For Art’s Sake’s pink, yellow and purple creations are flying off the shelves. The London-based brand champions both sustainability and affordability with its designs, which are created to enhance existing personal style rather than define it. The brand has already gained a celebrity following across the Atlantic, with its styles being worn by the likes of Olivia Palermo and Eva Chen.

Lily Kamper
When Lily Kamper began her namesake jewellery label, she became known for modern colourful pieces made with hand-turned resin and Perspex. Similar geometric designs were developed into a fine jewellery line, featuring the boxy shapes reimagined in gold with diamonds and other precious stones. Alongside the main collections, the brand has now also become known for its quirky and unusual engagement ring collection, which takes the designer’s trademark shapes and offers them as vibrant designs.

Matter Matters
Based in London and Hong Kong, Matter Matters is a handbag brand that promises ‘youthful, playful and creative’ products for modern life. Its Bauhaus-inspired designs draw influence from artists such as David Hockney and Andy Warhol, making for colourful and quirky creations. The brand’s signature circle fastenings give each piece a pop art feel, just perfect for cheering up a simple ensemble.

Maxine Shoes
Marc Jacobs alumna Maxine Wille launched her label in 2017, setting out to create luxury Italian leather shoes designed not only to stand the test of time but to bring a smile to the wearer’s face. The brand’s quirky and playful prints are all hand-drawn in the London studio, giving each pair of shoes a different story to tell. The brand’s philosophy is that life is too short to wear boring shoes; the designs embody that perfectly.

Con Artist
Launched in 2017, Con Artist is a modern womenswear label based in east London. The brand takes influence from European fashion and from technical flare from the Far East. For the autumn/winter 2018/19 collection, reworked shirting and flamboyant feathers take centre stage alongside fluid feminine dresses, perfect for the everyday and beyond.

Porthia
Shortlisted for the Drapers Footwear Designer of the Year 2017 award, Porthia creates shoes that are ladylike, elegant and playful. Founder Porthia Tantivorawong created the brand in 2015 after working for luxury footwear labels such as Tabitha Simmons and L K Bennett. Throughout the seasonal and signature collections, Porthia’s shoes are defined by colour. Vibrant pops of blue, coral and pink take the brand’s classic designs to another level of style.