Even if you dress yourself daily in a beige unisex sack you’ll probably remember hearing about Brighton designer Jess Eaton’s controversial Roadkill Couture at last year’s Brighton Fashion Week. The ‘found fur’ collection created much debate and gained coverage in the national press. The notoriety, rarely a bad thing, has helped cement the five-day event’s worthy position on the UK’s fashion calendar. Now back even bigger and better, the week will see more than 50 local and international designers present their work across Brighton’s venues. Sounds frocking good to us.
Brighton Frocks Catwalk Show
All Saint’s Church Wed 30th May
Readers with their fingers on the Brighton fashion pulse may recall this show’s humble beginnings at the Honey Club. This year’s venue, All Saints Church in Hove, is a prestigious setting for the annual display of boundary pushing fashion and costume design. Expect collections to display Brighton’s love of the wild and wonderful to the radical and rebellious – all with an edgy sense of humour thread through. Look out for I Am. Ralph, whose bold collection is inspired by his favourite superheroes and Jenievieve Berlin’s millinery collection, which charts the reverse journey of hip hop, from 2012 back to the 1980s. Headlining is Walter Works, whose creations confront the wastefulness of society in a witty and insightful way.
Zeitgeist Show
All Saints Church Thurs 31st May
It’s all about the detail in this show, with an emphasis on innovative design, elegant lines, immaculate tailoring and luxurious fabrics. Bringing together emerging and established talent, the Zeitgeist Show will be setting the standards of what is to come in the fashion world and the designs will be as cutting edge as the scissors the fabric is cut with. Our sources tell us the ones to look out for are Yuri Yuferev, a talented designer who has worked with Gareth Pugh, and K And K London, whose Nocturnal collection contrasts textures and techniques. Jess Eaton will be headlining the show and showcasing her next collection, the highly anticipated follow-up to Roadkill Couture.
Photocopy Club
Create Studios Fri 1st June
Pick up Vogue and you might think that fashion photography is all glossy, immaculately lit snaps of immaculate young women Photoshopped to share more DNA with mannequins than the girls on the street. The Photocopy Club – in keeping with the lo-fi nature of its Grazia-endorsed exhibitions – will be showing shots printed in black and white on office paper, bluetacked to the wall. This time the all-welcome set-up is replaced by a more curated offering of 10 photographers including Alex Wein, Sam Hiscox and Kevin Mason. Expect a loose approach to the genre that is full of life despite the monochromatic look.
Ready To Wear
Corn Exchange Sat 2nd-Sun 3rd June
If all that fashion jargon goes right over your head then the Ready To Wear Show is probably more your thing. There’s still the strut of the runway with showcases from Brighton’s independent boutiques, high street retailers and vintage emporiums. You can also buy and take home your favourite pieces from the catwalk. The show takes on an interactive element with hair and beauty demonstrations, workshops, fashion symposiums and networking opportunities too. Look out for Brighton favourites Tramp and Dirty Harry.
