Scottish alert! What do you think of when I say the word “Scotland”?
Tartan? Kilts? Shortbread? Well, it’s time to think again!
Nowadays Scotland’s creative industries are internationally recognised, particularly for their contemporary take on high-demand fabrics such as tartan and Harris Tweed, and quality textiles such as cashmere and wool. The UK’s northernmost country has produced luminaries of the fashion world such as Christopher Kane (whose namesake label is now part of luxury fashion group Kering), milliner John Boyd (whose creations have been worn by various members of the British Royal Family), and well-known designers Holly Fulton and Jonathan Saunders. Its fashion and textiles industry employs 8,500 people with an annual turnover of £838 million (HKD9.3billion).
If this surprises you, then come see this all for yourself in Hong Kong from 14 March to 20 March!
With project founder: Chris Hunt
The showcase, which takes place on the third floor of PMQ (H307 and H308), is part of Scotland Re:Designed (SR:D) – an international exhibition and platform that nurtures Scottish design talent and brings their world-class fashion, interiors and textile sectors to the international stage by building a trade showcase of exhibitions, workshops and shows. It’s attended by top fashion buyers and media from around the world, but you don’t need a ticket to visit it in Hong Kong.
The exhibiting design talents were chosen by respected fashion figures such as project founder Chris Hunt, Susanne Tide-Frater (creative director at Victoria Beckham and Farfetch.com), Simon Carter (designer of his epnoymous menswear line), Orsola de Castro (ethical fashion campaigner and founder of Fashion Revolution), David Watts (designer-mentor to the likes of Christopher Kane), Melanie Rickey (Grazia’s fashion editor-at-large), Sarah Curran MBE (founder of luxury shopping site VeryExclusive.co.uk) and William Knight (director of Clerkenwell Design Week).
Below are the chosen designers that you can meet at the showcase… and don’t be taken aback if they sound more excited than the usual designers you meet here! In fact, it’s the first time many of them have visited Hong Kong or even Asia, so let’s make them feel welcome!
Cats Brothers
Cats Brothers is a luxury knitwear label founded in November 2012. Their debut collection, CRAZY HOMIES, was born from a love of Snoop Dogg and Latino street culture. The collection referenced Mexican Day of the Dead iconography, colours and motifs, and paid tribute to dead rap artists transforming their images with diadems of colourful embroidery and crochet alongside intricately constructed knitted garments.
MYB Textiles
The company Morton Young & Borland Ltd was founded in 1900 in Ayrshire in Scotland, exclusively manufacturing Scottish Leno Gauze weave (later known as Scottish Madras). Morton Young & Borland have developed the name MYB Textiles over the past 20 years to add a contemporary edge to their proud heritage.
MYB Textiles houses the world’s only Nottingham lace design team which, coupled with their specialist knowledge of Scottish Madras, makes MYB an industry world leader. MYB Textiles are recognised worldwide for their commitment to ensuring the highest quality of production, driven by continual product and design innovation, new technology and a highly skilled workforce. This allows MYB to supply both large volume and small runs of bespoke designs quickly, whilst maintaining the highest quality standards in the industry.
Elizabeth Martin Tweed designs and manufactures beautiful garments in iconic Harris Tweed and MYB Textiles Scottish lace, for women who have an appreciation of fashion and quality. The emphasis is on simplicity and elegance.
Kestin Hare, the former Creative Director of Common People and Head of Design at Nigel Cabourn, has launched a new namesake menswear label. Hare debuted his eponymous brand’s latest collection,“White Noise”, at London Collections: Men AW15.
The brand combines Hare’s core values of UK production and quality fabrics, with craftsmanship and the clean contemporary aesthetic for which he is known. The collections are designed from his Edinburgh store/studio on St Stephen Street, Stockbridge.
Vicki Murdoch, the creative mind behind Silken Favours, uses hand-drawn illustrative prints to compose contemporary designs on silk cushions, scarves and skirts. Vicki uses pen and ink techniques to evoke imagery that is “both otherworldly yet reassuringly familiar.”
Stocked internationally and online, Vicki Murdoch’s pieces can be found in Donna Ida, Liberty and Fortnum and Mason.
John MacEwan and Richard Olive head up The Tailor Retailored, a brand that draws on the pair’s fashion marketing, design and cashmere production experience to bring a fresh, modern and seasonal relevance to men’s cashmere knitwear.
The Tailor Retailored aims to redefine Scottish cashmere knitwear. They focus on understated construction and meticulous craftsmanship, with updated fits and well-appointed detailing. Each piece is crafted from the finest yarns in limited runs, providing everyday luxury knitwear.
LULUZULU is a UK childrenswear and accessories label from Scotland, inspired by simple classic designs. The brand was launched by Katie and Richard Kendrick to create soft comfortable pieces with clean lines and a contemporary twist. Made from high quality materials and infused with relaxed styling, their collections are a mix of core staples and key standout pieces all designed to stand the test of time.
The collections include carefully tailored clothes and progressive knitwear designed to encourage a sense of adventure in curious children.
First launched at Scotland Week in New York in 2012, Scotland Re:Designed was created to facilitate fashion, accessories, interiors and textiles designers and manufacturers, giving them an opportunity to build their brand and businesses both in Scotland and on an international stage.
More on Scotland Re:Designed: http://scotlandredesigned.com/
Tags: brands, design, designers, hong kong, London, PMQ, Scotland, 倫敦, 獨立品牌, 蘇格蘭, 設計師, 香港