Great Global Designer Face Coverings Project: Meet the Designers
Our latest project is our Great Global Designer Face Coverings, a collaboration with the British Fashion Council, and the Council of Fashion Designers of America, which saw us create a range of 6 reusable face masks, designed by British and American designers, to help raise money for charity and aid the fight against the coronavirus.
This collaboration follows on from the success of our first round of Great British Designer face coverings, where we raised £1million for charity. Our new range features a variety of prints from a range of designers from global backgrounds, and really showcases the very best of design from across multiple continents.
Here we want to introduce you to the wonderful faces behind each design, and give you an insight into who they are, what they do, and what inspires them.
Here we want to introduce you to the wonderful faces behind each design, and give you an insight into who they are, what they do, and what inspires them.
Our 6 designers are:
From the UK, Ahluwalia, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi and Marques’Almeida, and from the US, Mara Hoffman, Lemlem, and Kim Shui.
Ahluwalia:
Priya Ahluwalia is a 27 year old Londoner who is taking the men’s fashion space by storm. After winning last year’s H&M Design Award, Ahluwalia has seen her brand rapidly grow in popularity, which all pay homage to her maternal Grandfather’s favoured tailored silhouettes. She graduated from the University of Westminster, and was incredibly interested in the traditions of menswear, but has now moved to designing with almost a genderless focus.
Ahluwalia’s mask design is a blue checked print, paying homage to her genderless style of design, a print that can be worn by both men and women.
Preen by Thornton Bregazzi
Preen By Thornton Bregazzi was founded in 1996 by Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi, built on an aesthetic of darkly romantic and effortlessly modern, juxtaposing the masculine with feminine and mixing of hard and soft. Over two decades, Preen has evolved from a small boutique in London’s Notting Hill to a globally loved brand stocked across 5 continents and an industry insider favourite.
Preen’s mask design features a bright floral print on a pink background, perfect for the coming spring months and for adding a pop of colour to any outfit.
Marques’Almeida
Marques ‘Almeida was created in 2011 by Marta Marques and Paulo Almeida who, both trained in womenswear, subscribe to the Helmut Lang school of thought where “fashion is about attitude not hemlines.” Recently M’A showed in the official calendar of Paris Fashion Week and collaborated with brands like 7 for all mankind as well launching an M’A Kids line.
Marques ‘Almeida’s face coverings features a modern tie dye print in a deep purple.
Mara Hoffman
Originally from Buffalo, N.Y, Mara, after graduating from Parsons School of Design in New York City, founded her label in the year 2000. Fifteen years later, the brand committed itself to implementing and developing more sustainable practices.
Mara’s face covering is a beautiful floral print on a brown background.
LemLem
Lemlem is an artisan-driven sustainable fashion label for women, men and kids, founded by supermodel Liya Kebede. She founded LemLem as a way to preserve the centuries-old weaving techniques of her native Ethiopia.
LemLem’s face covering features a gorgeous ombre blue print.
Kim Shui
Kim Shui was born in the US, and raised in Rome, Italy. She graduated from Duke University with a double major in Economics and French before pursuing Fashion Design at Parsons The New School for Design, New York and Central St. Martins, London where she graduated with Distinction. Sponsored and selected by Vogue Italia, she exhibited Autumn/Winter 2016 at Pitti Super Talents in Milan. She was also one of five designers selected by Not Just a Label to show under full sponsorship at Capsule NY.
Kim Shui’s design features these striking orange and yellow flowers.
To shop the collection, click here.
