Few young designers march to the beat of their own drum quite like John Alexander Skelton. A graduate of the prestigious MA course at Central Saint Martins, he steadfastly does away with the shiny facade of fashion week entirely, showing off schedule in East London. It works for a designer whose collections are produced slowly and haunted by the past, figuratively and literally – his fabrics sourced from existing clothing gathered from across time and place. It’s an altogether more steadfast take on fashion – take his wools, for example, knitted from rare breeds of British sheep, which are then naturally dyed and finished. It’s a take on sustainability and eco-friendly fashion that is far from hemp-y.
Showing tomorrow on the Twelfth Night at 8.30pm at St Marks, St Mark’s Rise in Dalston, the collection, entitled Wæs Hæl will look towards British folklore, promising a musing on lost communities. This is intelligent, important fashion, from a young designer on the rise.
