Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) have set up a project to help upcoming talent create links in the fashion world. For the project, world famous designers such as Paul Smith, Donatella Versace and Karl Lagerfeld have picked their own protégé to help create a collection using merino wool. The designers will then show their collections at Pitti Immagine Uomo at Palazzo Corsini in Florence, Italy next year. On Tuesday night, at AWI's 200 years celebration I caught up with Jean-Pierre Braganza (left) and Kristian Aadnevik (right).
Both designers have just shown their latest collections as part of London Fashion Week, Braganza had a presentation in Covent Garden boutique TwoSee of his latest Spring/Summer collection. For the AWI protégé project he will be working with Chanel's creative director Karl Lagerfeld. He explained that he is very nervous about meeting the man (whom he will meet in a few weeks to begin designing his collection). He trained at Central St Martins and has previously worked with Cary Williams and Roland Mouret.
Norwegian born Aadnevik is concerned about the language barrier between himself and his mentor Donatella Versace. He admitted to being excited about the project, which he has already begun designing for. Aadnevik trained at the Royal College of Art and has been producing collections for London Fashion Week for several seasons. His designs have been worn by Jamelia in a music video and his dress features on the promotional images for the Vogue Italia exhibition which you can see here.
Other people involved in the project include Julian Louie who will be working with Francisco Costa, Ioannis Cholidis whose mentor is British designer Paul Smith, and Sandra Backlund working with Franca Sozzani.