10 Years of introducing Fresh Brands & New Designers
The longest running independent fashion trade event in
London, Margin is renowned for providing a successful
launchpad for directional new designers, alongside
credible established brands.
Share:
For their a/w 2008-09 editions, the London trade shows (TBC, Margin and The Park, held February 10 to 11; Pure, held February 10 to 12) all went through something of a renaissance, for better or worse, revealing either new formats, sections or management.
The womenswear show Pure following on from last season’s successful revamp of the Spirit section, the area catering to the young and urban retail segment, saw the launch of Pure Footwear this season. Showcasing a varied mix of labels ranging from Terry De Havilland, Terra Plana, Audley and Melissa to Rocket Dog, Snowjoggers and J Shoes, the space provided a versatile footwear platform that proved a hit with the buyers.
Another new feature at Pure was the Spirit Catwalk Show. Desigual, Entoomemetto and Piezak were some of the new labels exhibiting for the first time at Spirit who also showed their designs on the catwalk.
Change was in the air even at TBC. After a disappointing last season with exhibitor numbers reduced and the show lacking in energy, hopes were high as the new organizing body, Idex Media, stepped in to revamp the show, promising to give it a new lease of life and a more international appeal.
When approaching the show venue it was already clear that TBC had changed hands: huge signposts helped steer visitors in the right direction, unlike in previous seasons when they were confusingly scattered around the streets. Despite the brownie points awarded for organizational skills and corporate value, the new format lacked creativity: the sterile, carpeted space counteracted the energy of the labels on show, and failed to convey the edginess of London street culture that visitors and exhibitors ultimately come to experience, aside from getting down to business.
On the exhibitors’ side, the selection shrank to only about 60 labels including Ringspun, WESC, Garbstone, Farah, Edwin Jeans, Lost Property, Boxfresh, Monkey Genes and Skunkfunk.
The buzz that was lacking at TBC was to be indulged in at Margin (margin.tv), this is a show that nicely captures the young and edgy London vibe with its laid-back feel and energetic array of young labels. The news of the season here materialized in Traidfare, a new section featuring ethically sourced, and in some cases also organically produced, collections from brands such as Komodo, Organic Stereo, and Cyclus.
Images from Margin London in February 2008
Yamama
Trousers London
Double Goose
The Herbaliser wearing Double Goose at Margin London
Kuyichi Pure Premium Denim
Komodo
Justin Hustlin
M.Y Clothing
Regenerate
Brandnativa with Cyclus
InsideOut Agency with Rise-Up, Organic Stereo, Kuyichi and Livity
Margin hosted two parties during London Fashion Week, the first pre-show party took place on Saturday the 9th February in association with Bread & Honey, Deers, and Kulte.
Under the open roof of members club Century in Soho, exhibitors, buyers and press indulged in cocktails courtesy of Pommery Pop Champagne and danced under the stars to the Parisian sounds of Deers DJ’s Laurents from Bread & Honey, Kitsune’s Jerry Bouthier, and DJ Paulette from Mix Paris.
“This was Marmalade Ho’s third time at Margin and the response has got better and better. It was great to see familiar faces and catch up, as well meeting new contacts. Margin is very friendly and relaxed, it’s a great chance for independents to meet the big boys (and girls) in the game. Looking forward to the next show.” +Marmalade Ho
Artist and illustrator Lucy Oldfield displayed her prints in the Gallery Area at the February 2008 edition of Margin.
Since graduating, Lucy has built up a wide range of clients, most recently producing including illustration work for Amelias Magazine, Orange, 55DSL, The Times, the Sunday Express and National Rail. Her work is detailed and decorative with bold bright colours and delicate lines.
Margin London was pleased to welcome the sounds of New York Club and Record Label Nublu who provided the soundtrack to the February 2008 edition.
As well as providing the backing soundtrack to the show, Nublu provided a limited-edition Margin CD exclusively for Margin visitors featuring new tracks from their stable of artists.
When people ask about the Nublu sound, Ilhan Ersahin, the bandleader and owner/founder of Nublu keeps the answer simple: We play music.
To explain a little more, though, the Nublu sound is a unique blend of elements that could only have been conjured up in the true melting pot of the world, New York City. It started off three years ago at 62 Avenue C with Ilhan and his friends some from Brazil, some from Eastern Europe, some from the UK, and some from the US. They would just come together and jam, their improvisations developing into compositions that grew out of all their influences, shared and individual: the soul of New Orleans, the rhythms of Sao Paolo, the edge of Bristol, the dub of Kingston, and the beats of DJs from across the globe. Eventually those jams became songs, and those momentary combinations of musicians became bands, bands like Kudu, The Brazilian Girls, Wax Poetic, Forro in the Dark, and Love Trio. All representing different moments in time and different sounds, but a similar ideal.
Nublu, the club and the record label, is not about a genre. It’s not about a type of person. It’s not even necessarily about music. Nublu is about right now.
MARGIN x NUBLU CD
1 + Kudu + Hot Lava + 2 + Nublu Orchestra + Downstairs + 3 + Wax Poetic + Guerra Aqui + 4 + Kudu + Love me in Your Language + 5 + Wax Poetic + Istanbul can be Dub + 6 + Love Trio in Dub feat. U-Roy + Goth Dub + 7 + Nublu Orchestra + Sciubba Diving + 8 + Our Theory + Radio + 9 + Forro in the Dark + Forrowest + 10 + Love Trio in Dub feat. U-Roy + Rock the Rhythm + 11 + Wax Poetic + Beauty (Brazilian Girls Remix) + 12 + Kudu + Hey 50 +
10 Years of introducing Fresh Brands & New Designers
The longest running independent fashion trade event in
London, Margin is renowned for providing a successful
launchpad for directional new designers, alongside
credible established brands.
Share:
