SS11 fashions on Roman pavements with top show producer John Walford and stylist Rebekah Roy; Julian Roberts Subtraction Cutting Workshop; talks by Iain R Webb and Karen Nicol and more.
Bath in Fashion 2011 is drawing together the city’s fashion community to create a stunning week of catwalk events, exhibitions and talks. This high profile festival is taking place 23rd to 27th March 2011.
Show highlights include designer labels paraded on 2000 year old pavements at The Roman Baths; spring and summer collections at The Octagon at Milsom Place, formerly a Georgian Chapel and urban fashions at Bath’s slick new shopping centre, SouthGate. Bath in Fashion 2011 promises to be edgy and exciting with one of the UK’s most creative show producers, John Walford, working with top stylist Rebekah Roy, both from London Fashion Week.
Bath Spa University’s renowned fashion design department has secured a two day workshop by Julian Roberts to be staged at the Assembly Rooms. Julian Roberts, who has shown 13 collections at London Fashion Week, is the inventor of a garment pattern cutting method called “Subtraction Cutting” that he demonstrates internationally to fashion, architect and 3D design students and professionals. He will be demonstrating his techniques live followed by a hands-on workshop where participants will create their own dress that will be exhibited.
Local fashion guru Iain R. Webb will be in conversation with Rosemary Harden, Manager of the Fashion Museum. “Candid Catwalk” will provide insights gleaned from Iain’s illustrious years in the industry with observations from a front row seat of top designer collections. Textile artist Karen Nicol will be sharing her expertise in a talk at Bath’s cool new venue, The Loft on Bartlett Street. She is currently “Designer in Residence” at Bath Spa University and has worked for a string of impressive names from Chanel to The Pope and from Matthew Williamson to The King of Qatar.
Show producer John Walford originally worked with Vivienne Westwood, and has produced shows for designers like Hussein Chalayan, Stella McCartney, Diane Von Furstenberg and Donna Karan. He founded Vauxhall Fashion Scout, the largest independent production company at London Fashion Week with no less than twenty shows this year. He has also organised the shows for the Britain’s Top Model tours and was one of the founders of Graduate Fashion Week.
Top fashion stylist and editor of Fashion.Music.Style magazine, Rebekah Roy will be styling the shows at Bath in Fashion 2011. Her impressive client list includes Harvey Nichols, Kate Nash, the Feeling and Little Boots and she works extensively with cutting-edge designers like William Tempest, Stefan Orschel and Alice Palmer as well as styling shows at London Fashion Week.
John Walford and Rebekah Roy make an impressive team and each event will be produced and styled with its own unique identity to celebrate the breadth and style of fashion in Bath.
Bath in Fashion is supported by one of the world’s best collections of contemporary and historic fashion at the Fashion Museum. The museum is planning a block buster exhibition called “What will She Wear; The Enduring Romance of the Wedding Dress?” which will include twenty wedding dresses from the museum’s collection. Vintage is in vogue in the Spa City and a Vintage Fashion and Textile Fair on 27th March is to be staged in the Assembly Rooms. No 1 Royal Crescent will be reminding us all just how glamorous the Georgians looked and the American Museum in Britain will be showcasing glamour from Hollywood with their Marilyn – Hollywood Icon exhibition.
In a collaborative exhibition for Bath in Fashion, ‘All That We Are’ at Bath Fine Art Gallery is inspired by our desire to understand who we are, featuring fashion photographer Marko Dutka.
The Bath in Fashion Charity Shop Challenge, led by the Oxfam Boutique is seeking inspirational styling in the city’s well stocked charity shops. Recycling fashion is on message at Bath’s Big Swish in the Octagon at Milsom Place raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. Watch out for a wall of street style images created by Bath Spa University’s talented fashion and photography students who will be creating images that reflect the city’s take on the season’s fashions.
Bath was the Georgian’s favourite city for fashionable society to shop and socialise and today it has a thriving retail scene with designer brands in Bath’s independent boutiques and all the top high street names. Milsom Street was voted the UK’s most fashionable street in the Google Street Awards 2010.
Headline sponsor this year is Bath’s brand new 5000 square foot fashion store, Banana Republic opening mid March on Union Street. Delivering elevated design at approachable prices, Banana Republic presents a range of great working wardrobe solutions to create an uncomplicated style that works from day to night.
Bath retailers are organising their own creative in-store events and promotions. Store windows will come to life with live mannequins throughout the city on Saturday 26th March.