Yixin Zhang

Yixin Zhang's surreally sophisticated MA menswear collection for the London School of Fashion consisted of soft pastel colour block wool blazers with wooden hats and ties.

"My whole collection looks very cured – the colour I chose also makes people feel pleasant. I focused on researching the behaviour habits of compulsive hoarders and the relationship between hoarding and their objects for my design. Through exploring compulsive hoarding behavioural habits, I have used my research to influence my menswear pattern cutting and garment colours. I made my design by using the subconsciousness of a hoarder and varies different methods. I created personal pattern blocks constructed with intercross structure and showed it through colour. I used mohair fabrics to show the colour and texture, finding this technique incredibly useful to my design. I also created accessories for the collection. Here I focused on using wooden material in fashion design, exploring the potential of diversity through material." Yixin Zhang

Minghui Cai

Minghui Cai's 'Creepy Romance'  satin, eyeballs, and roses exquisitely tailored jackets, shorts dresses and trousers, her MA collection of menswear at the London College of Fashion.

There are two main influences on me. On the one hand, my grandfather is a traditional Chinese painter, I feel that keeping a traditional element to my collection is extremely important. on the other hand I was attracted to fairy tales and non-human's fiction since I was a child and most themes of my illustration have shown this influence on me. Minghui Cai

Influenced by romantic novels which were popular when she was a teenager in China, Minghui Cai has developed an imaginary world, of non-humans living among us. A particular story that gripped Minghui's imagination was 'The Legend of the World of Fish Beauty' based on the stories from the Ming Dynasty. This story she developed into her own imaginary world by creating illustrations, gifs, furniture designs and fashion.

Kate Cockburn

Kate Cockburn's Outer Space, Outer my Mind' SS 2016 menswear collection, from ECA fashion show's graduating fourth years last month, was a bold striking menswear collection that brought to mind great American sporting hero's of baseball and American football. Pieces with larger than life silhouettes created
large body forms for Kates statements and bold floral motif.

"Outer Space, outer my mind’ was inspired by the idea of space tourism and holidaying in amongst the planets and stars of the universe (hence the brit abroad socks and sandals). The Hawaiian print references  films such as Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet. Space monkeys inspired the long, rounded arms even inspired some of the bold, black fur print. The overall atmosphere I wanted to create was fun, laid back, sporty and humorous with a bold and graphical feel. 

I wanted to create slogans such as Astronaut of my mind and Outer Space outer my mind to create discussion as I love to hear all different opinions of what other people think my collection is about."  Kate Cockburn

Andrew Dhesi

'The Lost Boy' SS 2016 is the graduate collection of Andrew Dhesi who is about to graduate from ECA with a BA hons in Fashion.
Andrews collection involves many layers of intricate laser cut designs on sheer and opaque fabrics, like paper cuts. Andrew's collection including beautiful visors and head pieces in the shape of fish made from clear plastic that resembled ice. Andrew is to continue his studies with an MA in menswear at The Royal College of Art.

"My work is about searching for a sense of belonging. I've always found it hard to feel like I belonged anywhere so found myself interested in the escapism of the fantasies depicted in video games, books and anime. The main idea behind the collection was to try and to take inspiration from this escapism and create a world where I felt I belonged, while knowing it could never really exist. There are suggestions of death and afterlife being where I would feel like I would finally belong as maybe I could finally be part of this fantasy world that is in my head. It's a light take on death with a sense of hopefulness and naivety." Andrew Dhesi