McArthurGlen launch exclusive designer collection
Published: 08 September, 2011
Royal College of Art Alumni Rachael Barrett, Carolyn Massey and Matthew Miller unveil their limited edition designs for the McArthurGlen’s Spirit of Fashion Collection.
The three recipients of the first McArthurGlen Spirit of Fashion Awards, in association with the Royal College of Art, revealed their unique designs on the 7 September at an exclusive McArthurGlen Spirit of Fashion pop up shop in London’s Seven Dials, Covent Garden.
The winners of the Spirit of Fashion Awards were announced in June 2010 and were briefed to reinvent a timeless classic fashion garment in their own ‘handwriting’ creating unique, commercial, designs.
As part of the award, McArthurGlen has provided the designers with 12 months PR support, access to leading industry professionals, and commercial exposure through the manufacture and sale of the Spirit of Fashion Collection which they have designed exclusively for this project.
After the debut of the Spirit of Fashion pop up shop in Covent Garden, where it will stay open for 12 days, the pop up shop will then move onto Matthew Miller’s home town of Manchester, before completing its journey in Rachael Barrett’s hometown of Glasgow.
Shaeren McKenzie, director of McArthurGlen Group, said: “Reinventing a classic is one of the most difficult challenges any designer can face. To take something iconic and attempt to completely remould it from the original is a risk, and we were keen to see how each designer would approach this brief.
“What we ultimately wanted was a finished project that was true to each designer’s own personal style but at the same time demonstrated true commercial potential - and that in itself is a challenge. Getting the combination right was a real balancing act but has given the designers invaluable experience for their own labels.”
