London Fashion Week catwalk report: Ada Zanditon

The models at the Ada Zanditon show this London Fashion Week stomped their way down the catwalk in some of the most alluring, creative and polished designs we saw all fashion week. With impeccable tailoring and bright, exotic patterns- Ada Zanditon pointed to a bright future for ethical fashion designers in this new decade. George Walker writes.

The Freemasons Hall was packed, one of the busiest shows we’d seen at Vauxhall Fashion Scout, with people peering over shoulders, waiting to see if all the anticipation around Ada Zanditon’s show was really worth it. And let is tell you, it certainly was.

The clothes form the Autumn/Winter 2010 range ‘Echolocation’ were very wearable, but utterly distinctive, with that trademark Zanditon creativity evident in the patterns and cuts. The dresses had many onlookers drooling; the bright peacock blue and magenta pink fabrics were all cut to hug the figure in the most flattering of ways. For added allure, ruffled panels on the front of the dresses created texture and movement, bringing those vivid colours alive.

Whilst everyone seems to be looking for influences of Alexander McQueen in new lines this fashion week (often when there is little reason to), the influence of McQueen really does seem to crop up in Zanditon’s designs. Zanditon interned with McQueen in the early stages of her career and the patterns in this collection, plus the billowing shapes of some of her jackets, certainly follow the air of trepidation that McQueen was so famous for.

Ah yes- the jackets- let’s not just pass over those. Zanditon exhibited her wide-ranging design talent perfectly by introducing more architectural jackets as the show went on. In a contrast to the slim-fitting dresses, these jackets created a dramatic silhouette with big collars and strong shoulders.

Zanditon is a true ethical fashion pioneer, using organic materials and sustainable production methods to produce dramatic and commercially viable designs. She has designed clothes for Patrick Wolf, the Puppini Sisters and Robots in Disguise, alongside working with such fashion luminaries as Alexander McQueen and Gareth Pugh. Last year Zanditon came to Vauxhall Fashion Scout as ‘One to Watch’- now we just can’t stop staring.