GARETH PUGH

Out of all the avant garde designers I've come across, my undoubted favourite has got to be British born Gareth Pugh.


Pugh's design aesthetic is unmistakable; from his signature monochromatic palette, use of volume and shape to distort the human form, and  his use of unusual materials such as perspex, synthetic hair, inflated PVC 'balloons' and parachute silk.

His previous collections have been truly avant garde, with his pieces resembling architectural sculpture more than clothing. Which may be the reason he has toned down his style as of late. Pugh said himself that despite the critical acclaim of his shows, he had yet to achieve commercial success...Which may have led him to produce more wearable and practical collections.

Here are some of his early 'contemporary' pieces.

With a league of celebrity fans including Gaga, Beyonce and Minogue, Pugh has obviously struck gold with his more recent collections!

His sleeker, ready-to-wear collections are still undoubtedly Pugh, although he is playing it a lot more safe. I'm glad to see a lot of his signature design aesthetics are still in place though, such as embossed leather, elaborate weaves, fish-scale like armour and a strict colour palette of black/white/grey/gold

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ASHER LEVINE

Whilst looking through the Autumn/Winter collections of various designers, I came across the work of the brilliant Asher Levine.

My favourite pieces from his latest collection could easily be mistaken as the costume for a modern day superhero, toying with form and unexpected material to create an avant-garde uniform fit for any fashion conscious crime fighter!

His earlier work evokes a futuristic dystopia, the kind of landscape frequented by Mad Max and nomadic scavengers. Levine's use of bold silhouettes and abstract cuts along with bleached-out fabric and tasselled hems is provoking and inspired, definitely not for those faint of heart!

Visit Levine's site to view his past collections, as well as sneak a peek at what's available to purchase from his web store! www.asherlevine.com

VIRGIN BLAK

One of my favourite on-line brands at the moment is Virgin Blak. Hailing from Seoul, South Korea, Virgin Blak offers a contemporary range of menswear unlike anything I've yet to come across. The mix of studs 'n' spikes with a minimal colour palette, along leather and print, appeals to just about all my tastes! The signature style of the brand is applied to just about every type of apparel and accessory you can imagine, right down to sunglasses and gloves!

I also LOVE how inventive they are when styling the models for the photos on the sight. Its fresh, innovative and definitely gives them that something extra!

All the pieces above are available directly from their site www.virginblak.com

I'd love to know what you guys think of the brand! Which pieces do you LOVE?