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• Australian label Lover was founded by Susien Chong and Nic Briand in 2001; the label began by selling its wares on weekends at a Bondi Markets stall.
• The Lover aesthetic is ethereal and feminine with a rock and roll edge.
• Each of Lover's womenswear collections are based on a central character and narrative; music is a recurring inspiration.

Elsewhere

• Interview with Susien Chong and Nic Briand, Refinery29.com, January 2007
• Article on Lover, Articlesbase.com, October 2008

Media

Lover Fall 2007

Click here for our complete profile of Lover.

• Pelican Avenue was founded in 2004 by Carolin Lerch.
• Lerch graduated from the Antwerp Academy of Fashion and previously worked as assistant to designer Bernhard Willhelm.
• The label's question fashion convention and oppose consistently changing trends.
• Pelican Avenue's are deconstructed yet organic, using earthy tones and prints and unconventional silhouettes.

Elsewhere

• Images of early Pelican Avenue collections, TheFashionSpot.com, January 2006

Media

Pelican Avenue Fall 2008

Pelican Avenue Fall 2009

Click here for our complete profile of Pelican Avenue.

• Bulgarian designer Petar Petrov began to present his collections in Paris while training at the University of Applied Arts, Department of Fashion, Vienna.
• Before going full-time into fashion design, Petar Petrov made costumes for advertising campaigns and music videos, working at Wendy & Jim, "Be A Good Girl" and "Pirouzi."
• Petar Petrov's menswear consists of contemporary sportswear mixed with splashes of neon and the occasional graphic or smiley face to create a fashionable "club kids" vibe.

Elsewhere

• Interview with Petar Petrov, Metal Magazine, November 2008

Media

Petar Petrov Fall 2008

Petar Petrov Fall 2009

Click here for our complete profile of Petar Petrov.

• Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto graduated from Bunka Fashion college in 1969 and first showed in Paris in 1981
• Yamamoto is known for creating avant-garde, androgynous menswear and womenswear with oversized silhouettes, often concealing the wearer’s form with black drapery.
• Yamamoto is the only Japanese fashion designer to have been awarded the French Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres.
• One of the first high-end designers to foray into sportswear, Yamamoto launched Y-3 with Adidas in 2003.

Elsewhere

• Men's collections on Style.com
• Women's collections on Style.com

Media

Yohji Yamamoto Women's Spring 2007

Yohji Yamamoto Women's Fall 2008

Yohji Yamamoto Men's Fall 2008

Click here for our complete profile of Yohji Yamamoto.

• Indian Peachoo Datwani and Danish Roy Krejberg debuted their collaboration brand, Peachoo + Krejberg, in 2004.
• Datwani and Krejberg employ an "architectural approach" to constructing clothing, using traditional couture techniques and ancient handcrafting methods to create layered outfits.
• Datwani and Krejberg do not believe in a specific inspiration for a collection; instead, they draw from a wide range of cultures and references to create modern, avante-garde pieces.

Elsewhere

• Peachoo + Krejberg Fall 2009 photos and video lookbook, Dazed Digital

Media

Peachoo + Krejberg Spring 2009

Click here for our complete profile of Peachoo + Krejberg.

• Korean designer Juun J graduated from Esmod Seoul.
• Juun J worked for Chiffons, Club Monaco, and NIX before launching his line as "Lone Costume" in 2000 during Seoul Fashion Week. In 2007 Juun J debuted his collection on the Paris runway and has been showing there since.
• In his independent career, Juun J had chosen to collaborate on numerous occasions with the Japanese artist Nuts and English artist Simon Henwood.
• The label consists solely of menswear with a unisex aesthetic, and collections often contain multilayered, single color ensembles.

Elsewhere

• Interview with Juun J, AndresChristensen.com, May 2008
• Article and images of Lone Costume Spring/Summer 2009 collection, IanTerrell.blogspot.com, February 2009

Media

Lone Costume Spring 2008

Lone Costume Fall 2010

Click here for our complete profile of Juun J.

• Danish design duo Marie Ørberg and Malene Brøchner were best friends for eighteen years before launching their very own womenswear line, Best Behavior.
• Both Ørberg and Brøchner graduated from the Hellrup Textile Academy in 2003 and cite friendship as one of their biggest fashion inspirations.
• Best Behavior consists of chic, baggy layers that maintain an undeniably feminine silhouette while remaining versatile enough "for work or play."

Elsewhere

• Collections on Vogue.co.uk

Media

Interview with Best Behavior at Copenhagen Fashion Week, 2008

Click here for our complete profile of Best Behavior.

• The fashion house Lanvin was started by Jeanne Lanvin, born 1867, when she handmade school clothing for her daughter, Marguerite di Pietro, that brought wealthy citizens to her door asking for copies.
• Lanvin's financial and artistic management has changed hands many times since its creator's death in 1946, much of the time being traded publicly amongst French fashion industry giants such as Vuitton and L’Oreal, but was re-privatized in 2001.
• In 2001, the job of Creative Director was given to relatively unknown Israeli designer, Alber Elbaz, who quickly earned himself industry adoration and, in 2007, was named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in The World.
• Elbaz work for Lanvin masterfully balances femininity and sophistication, creating beautifully detailed frocks that exude elegance. His work is also known for its innovatie use of fabrics and technical excellence.
• Lanvin launched a menswear line in 2006, helmed by Lucas Ossendrijver, focusing on a modern, yet classic male wardrobe.

Elsewhere

• Video interview with Elbaz, T Style Magazine, 2008
• Interview with Alber Elbaz, NY Mag, November 2008
• Brand and designer history, Wikipedia
• Womenswear collections on Style.com
• Menswear collections on Style.com

Media

Lanvin Womenswear Fall 2007

Lanvin Menswear Fall 2007

Lanvin Womenswear Spring 2008

Lanvin Womenswear Fall 2009

Lanvin Menswear Spring 2009

Click here for our complete profile of Lanvin.

• Belgian designer Bruno Pieters graduated from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, founding his eponymous label in 2001.
• Pieters trained at Martin Margiela and Christian Lacroix amongst others.
• Pieters' designs designs are notably tailored and chic but he also incorporates softer elements such as chiffon and jersey. Craftsmanship and ideal proportions are emphasized.
• Pieters has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Swiss Textiles Award in 2006 and the Yves Saint Laurent Award and the Foundation Pierre Bergé award in 2007.
• In 2008, Pieters was named the Artistic Director for Hugo by Hugo Boss.

Elsewhere

• Profile on Pieters, Style Mag.net, June 2008
• Short interview with Pieters, Wallpaper, December 2008
• Collections on Style.com

Media

Bruno Pieters at work

Bruno Pieters Fall 2008

Click here for our complete profile of Bruno Pieters.

Austrians Wally Salner and Johannes Schweiger are the duo behind Fabrics Interseason. The label puts particular emphasis in textiles and the creative effects possible when various fabrics are layered and combined. The Spring 2009 collection uses a rather subdued palette, focusing on texture and subtle pattern.

• Alexandre Herchcovitch was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
• Though raised and educated in traditional Jewish environments, Herchcovitch was also heavily influenced by Sao Paulo's alternative club scene.
• Herchcovitch's aesthetic has changed dramatically since the brand's inception in 1992, but his work is always bold, quirky, impeccably tailored and displays some form of contrast or conflict.
• The label produces several lines a year including menswear, womenswear, lingerie, men's underwear, jewelry and denim.

Elsewhere

• Interview with Herchcovitch, Hint Mag, 2002
• Interview with Herchcovitch, JCReport.com, September 2004
• Collections on Style.com

Media

Alexandre Herchcovitch Womenswear Fall/Winter 2006

Alexandre Herchcovitch Menswear Spring/Summer 2008

Alexandre Herchcovitch Womenswear Spring/Summer 2008

Alexandre Herchcovitch Menswear Spring/Summer 2009

Alexandre Herchcovitch Womenswear Spring/Summer 2009

Click here for our complete profile of Alexandre Herchcovitch.

• Anntian is a Berlin-based clothing line created in 2006 by Germans Anne Hilken and Christian Kurt.
• Hilken’s background is in graphic design, while Kurt's is in fashion design.
• Anntian collections consist of geometric, printed, graphic-heavy clothing and accessories that are based on a specific theme. Each season themes like "Pottery" or "The Box" are given intense, modern, graphic interpretations.
• Regional manufacturing and the use of eco-friendly materials are also important the label.

Elsewhere

• Review and images of Anntian 2008 collections, Shift.jp.org, 2007
• Interview with Anntian, PingMag, April 2007
• Anntian Spring/Summer 2009 collection images, NotJustALabel.com, 2008

Media

Anntian Spring 2009

Click here for our complete profile of Anntian.

Eygló is an impishly pretty line of women's clothing based in Reykjavík. There's not much we could find about the label other than some lookbook images on their MySpace page so we decided to interview founder Eygló Margrét Lárusdóttir.

What is your background in fashion/design? Do you have any formal training?

Yes, I graduated from the Iceland Academy of the Arts in 2005, from the fashion department of course.

When did do start the Eygló collection/label?

After my internship in 2005 with Jeremy Scott, so I started selling my clothes in Kronkron in 2006.

Plants/animals and the natural world in general seem to be an inspiration for your Fall 2008 collection. Is that correct? Where does this come from? What are some of your other inspirations?

This collection was inspired by birdwatching. I bought this beautiful book in Paris with drawings of birds. The pattern on the white dresses comes from an owl's chest and then we have the binoculars. Now I'm working with string art, we'll see where it takes me, hopefully to a good place.

Are there any designers that you particularly admire?

Well, there are the ones that i interned with. Bernhard Willhelm,(Three)AsFour and Jeremy Scott. Then I also like Balenciaga for example. But then again I can love one brand for one season and dislike it the next season.

What are your goals/hopes/dreams for the label?

To be able to live off designing and to be available worldwide.

What is your favorite place in Iceland?

I have so many places left to go so it doesn't really feel right to name one place. But probably the way to Strandir is the most memorable and the area around Thingvellir. Landmannalaugar, Vik i Myrdal and Husafell are also pretty nice places to visit. I would also love to go hiking for a few days out of nowhere.

Can you recommend some favorite Icelandic designers and/or Icelandic boutiques?

Absolutely, check out Kronkron, Trilogia, Systur (gorgeous lingerie), Naked Ape (dontbenaked.com), Aftur and Belleville on Laugavegur. Birkiland.com sells Icelandic design (including me). Hiddengoods.net makes the most beautiful bags. Also Thelma design (makes headpieces), Mundidesign.net and Steinunn.com.

Eygló's collections are available at Kronkron. Pieces from Eygló's Fall 2008 collection will be for sale through the label's MySpace page in the next few days.

Rochambeau is the Egyptian name of the rock-paper-scissors game. It's also now the name of the latest promising menswear label to come out of New York. Creative director Michael Venker graduated Parsons in 2007 and was the recipient of the prestigious Golden Thimble award. It was at Parsons' senior thesis show that Venker met partners Joshua Cooper and Laurence Chandler and so Rochambeau was born.

A study between the push and pull of minimal modernism and the intricate detailing of classic menswear, it's no surprise that the Spring 2009 collection was inspired by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. Kuma weaves intricate patterns into his consummately modern structures. Similarly, the details in the Rochambeau collection are an essential but not overwhelming part of what is a thoroughly modern and primarily minimal take on menswear.

Rochambeau's Fall 2009 collection will be available at Oak.

Californian Lina Rennell's Spring 2009 collection is called "Big Sur Meets Helsinki." Big Sur, a magical place where ocean dramatically collides with forested cliffs is translated into hand-printed textiles reminiscent of Finland's Marimekko. We're thinking of the line as Mociun West.

Available at Totokaelo and Beklina