OUR 2022 DESIGNERS

Created in London, in 2018, by Santana Queiros, NARCISSISM (or House of NARCISSISM) was conceived as an activistic, political act - and only secondly fashion-driven. The main goal was to create a sustainable platform to showcase the biggest range of trans individuals possible to customers. Therefore, the clothes were created as a mechanism to get to know the faces and bodies that were wearing them - that’s why so much of the brand’s references are based on costume design and performance clothing; the more flamboyant they are, the more visible the person who wears them becomes. 

Inspired by diverse pinpoints in fashion history, most of the garments start from the central figure of the corset, re-imagined in its many forms, decorated in either historical-inspired fabric or bdsm leathers and pvc’s. The brand mixes different inspirations together, in a performative-based scenario that is mostly known to be embraced by all sorts of drag and music performers in London (and the world!)

Hailing from Eritrea, London based fashion designer Zekaryas Solomon is an inventive, multiple award-winning creator. He initially began his career as an architect, studying architecture, design and art at Wuppertal University in Germany. He graduated in 2005, but has since focused his artistic attributes on fashion design. Graduating from The London College of Fashion in 2010 with a Master’s degree in pattern design and garment technology.

Already considered to be amongst Africa’s top designers, he was awarded the BEFFTA award for best menswear designer in 2012. A growing reputation fuelled by passion and entrepreneurial zest. Zekaryas Solomon has grown his brand progressively, and has been invited to showcase his collections at such events as the Ethno Tendance in Brussels and the FAFA Gala in Nairobi Kenya amongst others.

Since his theatrical primary menswear collection aptly tilted ‘ME’. Zekaryas has since created 4 additional collections. With the latest being his ready to wear ‘Never Clash’ collection, which includes tailored garments for both men and women. The addition of accessories to his design repertoire in 2013 along with his first women’s collection, punctuates his ever evolving and conceptual design ethos.

Striving for brilliance and elegance when he designs and crafts garments. Zekaryas Solomon fuses a captivating mélange of components to form his distinctive and contemporary style. Drawing inspiration from his heritage, architecture and the fabric of life itself. He transforms high quality materials into chic and luxurious pieces with individual charm and personality. Balancing his designs with delicate silhouettes and a futuristic edge, whilst capturing the mood of his ever-growing audience.

This collection was born during the lockdown in the year of 2020. The idea was to pick one or two pieces of my previous collections and make them into the statement styles as a renaissance collection called "NEW BEGINNINGS". I looked into an idea of a colour theme which would relate to my traditional heritage (Religious, Uniqueness, Innocence, Purity ) architectural background (Cleanliness, Simplicity, Perfection) and the whole pandemic situation (Making others feel good, Provide hope & clarity, New Beginnings ). And so the colour white stood out in comparison to all other colours, as it confirms the match to my traditional heritage, architectural background and the pandemic situation and for what it stands for.

The NEW BEGINNINGS collection is a celebration of ZEKARYAS SOLOMON'S past, present and future within the fashion industry.

Olli Hull is a London based artist and designer. Olli navigates the space between fashion and art, romance and punk, old and new. Through the process of up-cycling old garments and fabrics, Olli creates clothes that are individual pieces of wearable art. Each item is hand painted with a visual language that explores the experience of being different in an indifferent world.

“I’m excited to take part in the LQFS and to create a show with likeminded people who understand the experiences, challenges and beauty of being Queer. Three words I would use to describe my collection are; vulnerable, honest, and rebellious.”

JEAN is a Filipino fashion designer and creative based in London.

He explores fashion through various physical forms and dark narratives through the use of black and white. His work is a mixture of conceptual wearable art and ready-to-wear.

Stevie Crowne Limited is a brand that manufactures collections by reimagining, reinventing, and repurposing vintage clothing and deadstock fabrics into on-demand styles and bespoke apparel. He specializes in non-binary high streetwear, ready to wear, womenswear, and wardrobe for performers. Throughout his circular business model, the ethos is driven by inclusivity and accessibility via sustainable design. He showcases collections bi-annually which are socially fueled and equally individualistic.

Our goal is to re-configure solutions to the fashion industries' monumental excess while re-framing manufacturing landscapes and consumer mindsets.

Our SS23 Atmosphere collection will be launching during @londonfashionweek, running from September 16th-20th, 2022.

It will be a narrative on society's problem with overconsumption which is contributing to the global climate crisis. Aesthetics will draw from the cross-contamination between nature and humans who are being affected by this continued unsustainable direction in economics. It will integrate awareness expressed through our ethical signature craftsmanship in order to bring forward the true beauty of nature offset by pollution.

Yer Won is a queer owned and run lycra clothing brand, creating everything from thongs to catsuits. The brand is named after the Irish phrase “Yer won” which basically means “That woman”, more often than not its used as “Jaysus, would you look at what yer won has on her'' which is exactly what the Yer Won customer wants, all eyes on them. Each garment is made to order, to reduce waste, by an Irish queer in London. Yer Won also offers a custom garment service which provides bespoke lycra pieces for drag, burlesque and Queer nightlife performers. The show will be a celebration of that special queer joy that comes when you slip on a tight lycra number, that brings out that saucy gal inside.

Eliza Parla Gürocak, is a fresh graduate from Sheffield Hallam University. She recently finished my final collection in June, where she was inspired by my culture and heritage to celebrate my Turkish identity.

She is super excited to see all the inclusivity and to see everyone's unique collections at LQFS which will be held in an exciting and vibrant environment to celebrate such an important subject.

Returning Queen is a sustainable custom-made fashion and costume oddity, using found materials from the streets and studios of Hackney Wick. Born in the cabaret shows of Dalston, RQ has since sold in Selfridges, been seen in Hunger Magazine and dressed the queens of RuPaul's Drag Race.

Compton Q is a Black Non-Binary designer hailing from the very Black Queer rave and house music scenes of Chicago. They design primarily for other people who fall within this spectrum, inspired by themes ranging from dance, sound, sci-fi and historical African art practices.

“The Black body in motion is never without consequence.” - Wallace Best

Garments cannot singularly contain their wearer just as a body doesn’t contain all of who you are. When I describe myself as non-binary I become intesely aware of how I’m referring to myself as what I am not. What I am gets described only by my relationship to a power system that hurts me. Clothing that exists within the Western binary doesn’t function for me in the context of gender affirmation or euphoria. In confronting this reality I know that my body is the most important tool.

Getting dressed is a ritual we all perform therefore garments should be seen as ritual objects with a ritual use. As you connect with material your body communicates to the artifact and together you transform, reaching closer to a sense of euphoria. Non-Western ways of relating to material objects and clothing influence their use. Little cutting, large shapes, wrapping and tying, amorphism, accommodating materials. A largely shapeless garment’s silhouette is dictated by the wearer’s specific need, whether that be practical or ritual, rather than by the garment itself. Because of this there is a sense of limitless form. Every person understands the motion of putting on a sleeve, each movement has been made countless times in the cycle of life and death.

“We Black people deserve the best that any of us have to offer. We do not have to be perfect or powerful or in pain or in performance in order to be celebrated and protected.” - Dante Stewart

We are Charlie Orr-Ewing and William Kerr launching BELLADONIS by O.E.K. because we want to create more variety and options for luxury queer event wear, to create a brand where queer people feel not only included but celebrated, expressing queer joy whilst still keeping the quality and care of luxury fashion. Our made-to-measure products are available for all genders and sizes whilst being inclusive to trans bodies.

BELLADONIS is steeped in mythology and this first collection takes inspiration from the myth of Atlantis being reclaimed by the sea. As a slow fashion brand, we are conscious of our impact, we source and produce everything in the UK using responsible materials where possible. By creating relationships between the customers and their clothes we would like to be part of the transition away from fast fashion towards more conscious consumption.