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shopping and style
Dressforms
If you think charity fashion shows consist of blue-rinse ladies admiring the latest in cashmere, think again. Glasgow designer Kyla Singleton is bringing cutting- edge streetwear to the catwalk as well as raising funds for a good cause.
Words: Louisa Pearson
‘When I first saw Air Organic I knew I wanted to do a fashion show in it,’ says recent fashion graduate Kyla Singleton. ‘The design of it is very similar to the style of some of my Clothes.’
This meeting of artistic spirits sparked off the beginning of what has been a busy period for the designer and stylist. lt prompted her to go ahead and create a showcase for young designers. ‘I thought this would be the ideal opportunity to do it,’ she says. ‘I’m in between graduating and what’s going to happen with my career, so I can put a lot of time and effort into it.’
Putting on a fashion show from scratch is no easy task, but in pledging funds raised to the Multiple Sclerosis Society Scotland, Singleton was overwhelmed by the amount of support she has received. ‘The connection with MS came about because one of my friends got diagnosed with it last year,’ she says. ‘Scotland has the highest incidence of MS in the world. We thought the best thing to do would be to try and create a bit of awareness about it. At the end of the day if we can raise money for it that’s better than nothing.’
Dressforms will showcase clothing by several young designers including
Nikki Taylor, Katzenhaus and Lauren McChesney. Glasgow’s independent retailers such as Tribal Junki and Cake will also contribute some of their latest stock, creating the variety that Singleton deliberately aimed for. ‘When you say “student fashion show” I think people get a certain image in their head. We’re using both established and student labels so there’ll be a good mix.’
With music being provided by the Jengaheads and a sponsor on board in the shape of Smirnoff Ice, Singleton’s fears about succeeding are beginning to melt away. ‘My initial worry was “will we sell tickets?”, but now I’m thinking “will we have enough seats?”’
The buzz being created by Dressforms raises the question of why we so rarely get the chance to see and buy cutting-edge clothing by new designers. Singleton agrees that there’s a huge void, citing the Arches’ annual Intervention event as the only real showcase opportunity outside the college shows. ‘lntervention was such a success,’ she says. ‘But I think its success just shows that there’s so much more room for more events. There are really few fashion events for the less mainstream labels, and these are the labels that a lot of people in Glasgow wear.’
Singleton hopes that her show will inspire others to push ahead, putting young Scottish designers on the map, fighting the ‘inevitable’ migration of talent to London. As Singleton says: ‘The beauty of independent retailers is there’s less of every item — if you go down to London you might find about 1500 people with it on, but that’s what’s nice about Glasgow and Scotland — there’s less of us so the individuals stand out more.’
Dressforms. Air Organic. 36 Kelvingrove Street. Glasgow, 0141 564 5200, £5, Tue 5 Dec, 9pm.
JEWELLER PROFILE Kevan Scott: all that glitters . . .
There was the apocryphal Glasgow wifey overheard telling her husband that ’all what glitters isnae diamonds'. Very true, but in the case of Kevan Scott, it certainly is diamonds and much more. Scott is one of Britain's up- and-coming goldsmith designers and if you fancy a stash of hand-crafted jewellery, a whopping great diamond or some old jewellery remodelled, then look no further.
Starting out as an apprentice with one of Glasgow's leading jewellers in 1985, Scott studied his trade until 1999 before branching out on his own.
118 THE LIST 30 Nov—14 Dec 2000
Modern metalwork
He had started designing and making jewellery as a sideline a few years earlier, and having knocked on every jeweller’s door in Britain he knew exactly what the shops wanted and where today's markets were heading,
With this knowledge, Scott has created a range of traditional and contemporary designs. It includes rings, pendants, bracelets, earrings and cufflinks. Alternatively, he'll design you a one-off piece from scratch or customised from old pieces of jewellery, re-using the gold, platinum, silver and even the stones.
‘Modern but timeless' is the style Scott says he wants to create, pieces that won’t date or be abandoned at the bottom of the jewellery box and
Glasgow fashion hits the catwalk
that his customers Will ’want to put on and enjoy wearing time and again’ The process of turning an idea or a sketch into a unique personal piece of jewellery, With materials s0urced from throughout the world, whether it be an elaborate diamond encrusted ring or a Simple Celtic pendant, is where the designer finds his satisfaction
As for the future, Scott hopes to Open a shop to sell his creations but for the time being he is only too happy to show off his designs and make, remodel and sell his jewellery around the country, because as every girl knows, you can never have enough diamonds. (Jane Hamilton) I Kevan Scott Goldsmith, 0747 639 5793, wwwkevanscottcom