Thursday 6 January 2011

A Royal Duty




 Happy New Year! 
It was announced on the cusp of 2011 that the reigning head of state was to have a selection of diary dates with Alice Temperley, Beatrix Ong and the first lady of ethical fashion, Ms. Katherine E. Hamnett. The occasion?  The trio have been named on the Queen's new year's honours list 2011.


Temperley is ten years old and has Kate Middleton to Kate Beckinsale as clients. With boutiques in London to New York and Dubai , the collections are sold in 300 stores across 35 countries. Raised on a cider farm in Somerset, Alice honed her skills around the seasons - and now produces 4 collections per annum. From AW to Cruise to SS and pre-fall ( not to mention beachwear, bridal-wear and accessories).SS11 sees a muted cool collection with a late 70s appeal with big brim hats and sheer balloon jumpsuits.


Beatrix Ong is one of today's most acclaimed shoe designers. Her first steps on the fashion path were at Harpers Bazaar as an intern and then later filling the shoes of creative director of couture at Jimmy Choo, at the age of 22.  Admired  by fellow (and later collaborator) nominee Temperley, Ong set up her own label in 2002.  Choo founder Tamara Mellon said of Ong in fashion bible Vogue, ' In my eyes the biggest thing in shoe design in the future will be Beatrix Ong'. From customizing Nike's Air ID trainers and womenswear blazer (the designer has brought street style swag to  Harvey Nichols' 4th floor) to being the set designer for the English National Ballet production 'Shoes'; the current AW collection is the seductive conceal/ reveal which places Ong firmly in pole position. SS11 showcasing soon...


Save the future!Stop traffic! Choose life!... this designer even got Campbell to condone wearing condoms with her statement tees. Way before Henry Holland and ethical designers, Katharine Hamnett was placing an ethical stitch into her clothing. From touching on issues from suicide to sweatshops, Haute-Fly feels  that Katharine E.Hamnett is the real Queen of  fashion.
Congratulations.