HAVING announced its 10 semi-finalists on Monday, the Fashion Fringe panel for 2007, including chairman Tom Ford and Christopher Bailey, today revealed the names of the four finalists whose collections will put them head-to-head during London Fashion Week in September: Graeme Armour, Andrea McWha, Degan Agatonovic and double act Maki Aminaka Lofvander and Marcus Wilmont. “We are very pleased with the level of candidates,” said Ford. “So many of them were so balanced, they were technically good and they were very good during the interviews. Fashion Fringe is very good at fostering young British designers. Last year I stepped in at the last minute, just for the show, but it’s great to be involved form the start. I’ve been surprised by the level of talent and it will be nice to follow the four finalists as you know the history. A few of the semi-finalists were too commercial and some thought more about creativity and less commercially. We were looking for a balance of both things. You can’t be a designer if no one is buying your clothes.” Christopher Bailey was equally enthused by the level of talent. “It’s been an amazing day,” he said. “We’ve been here since this morning and the semi-finalists have been incredibly articulate and confident which is surprising as this is a senior, major player panel. It’s scary to come into this room and it has been impressive that they have believed in themselves.”
Source: Vogue.co.uk