Fashion East’s James Long and Agi & Sam launch party.

Wednesday 18th April was the launch party for collections by James Long and Agi & Sam, who have teamed up with Fashion East to create some truly eye-catching fashion. Buzzing with people eagerly perusing James Long’s glitzy and textured designs and Agi & Sam’s bright and fun prints, the Start shops  on Rivington Street were warm, fun places to be; people sipped on prosecco and beer to ambient tunes played out by DJ Hanna Hanra – all tucked away from the rainy streets of East London yesterday evening. 

James Long specialises in sequin administration, which definitely shows in this new collection – more sequins than you could ever possibly count. They dazzled in a rainbow of colours that were sewn on to black, simple and well-cut garments in a complimentary way, creating a definite WOW factor.  The textures that the sequins created made people just want to reach out and feel them (something that I saw many people do). 

Vivid prints, bright colours and a slice of humour summed up the Agi & Sam AW12 collection. With inspiration behind the collection being taken from the nostalgically, intellectual worlds of MC Escher and Stanley Kubrick, the collection is influenced by the science fiction idea that in the future, before the end of the world, man attempts to replicate the fine clothes of the past by using plastics and recycled fabrics. The repeating, tessellating patterns that are printed across the garments were fun and cheeky, making the collection a change from the “classic” monotone menswear design, but also not too garish or over-the-top.

The night was a success with the two standout collections going down very well with the stylish crowd. What more could you want on a rainy London night?

Rebecca Saunders

Photos: Sara Reverberi & Rebecca Saunders