Continuing its commitment to the support of up and coming designers, COTTON USA is to sponsor style sensation Louise Gray for a consecutive season. Louise Gray, an advocate for the use of quality U.S. cotton, has once again been selected for the prestigious COTTON USA sponsorship programme, and will show her collection at London Fashion Week, 18th - 22nd February 2011.
Scottish designer, Louise Gray, has been hailed as one to watch by British Vogue, and in 2007, won the New Talent Award at the Scottish Fashion Awards. Having studied at The Glasgow School of Art, Louise went on to graduate with an MA from Central Saint Martins College in London. Immediately following her graduation she was selected by Fashion East, and showed three seasons there.
This will be Louise's fifth consecutive season at London Fashion Week; her Autumn/Winter 2011 collection is inspired by Athar Khan Photography, Jean Michel Basquiat and Cindy Lauper. It includes prints developed into devores, patch work and new craft techniques. In classic Louise Gray style, texture will feature heavily as will hand embroidery, from beadwork to various takes on traditional stitch work. In addition to this, elements of Louise's Scottish heritage will also permeate her latest collection.
Louise's design signature is based on bright and bold colours, texture and specially developed fabrics employing woven, embroidered and printed techniques. Louise uses a wide range of materials, including fabric made from the extra-long U.S. cotton yarn Supima, nothing is quite what it seems in Louise's work. Contrast is key and Louise reworks traditional stitches and embroidery techniques to create a modern wardrobe for women.
On being selected for the COTTON USA sponsorship programme for a consecutive year, Louise commented “I'm delighted to be supported by COTTON USA for a second season, fabrics made with U.S. cotton are some of my favourite – it's incredibly versatile and a great raw material to work with.”
Previously sponsoring Louise's Spring/Summer 2011 collection at London Fashion Week, this is COTTON USA's second sponsorship of the flourishing designer.
Stephanie Thiers-Ratcliffe, International Marketing Manager of COTTON USA, said, "We are thrilled to be working with Louise for a second season and the new collection from Louise is a perfect fit with COTTON USA. Her confidence as a newcomer is a great synergy with cotton, as she is constantly looking at how she can manipulate materials, from the use of texture through to hand embroidery. We have a strong commitment to supporting upcoming designers and we are excited to continue our involvement with London Fashion Week.”
The COTTON USA sponsorship was awarded in previous years to the likes of Richard Nicholl, Meadham Kirchhoff, Nathan Jenden, Sinha-Stanic, PPQ, Preen, Gardem Paris and Deryck Walker, and it is a huge boost for designers looking for ways to grow and improve their work.
Louise Gray's Autumn/Winter 2011 show is scheduled to take place at 14.15 on Saturday 19th February at ON/OFF Mercer Studios.
Cotton Council International
marketing@alchempro.com
