I am thrilled to see the return of the London Fashion Week Menswear day on the 23rd September. Following on from the success of the Menswear showcase back in February we see 25 designers hitting the catwalk, installations and presentations.

James Long, Lulu Kennedy & Carolyn Massey

Lulu Kennedy, founder of fashion east, co-curated last seasons day and this season we see a panel of retail and media high hitters advising on the designer selection. We have an eclectic mix of emerging right through to established designers which we here at SHINE can’t wait to see. Carolyn Massey and James Long , recipients of the BFC’s (British Fashion Council) first NEWGEN MEN talent support scheme sponsored by TOPMAN, will open the shows at the BFC venue in Somerset House.

James Long graduated from the Royal College of Art (London) in 2007 with an MA in Menswear and Accessories. He debited his own name collection at London Fashion Week’s MAN show in February 2007, working with AnOther Man / Dazed & Confused menswear editor Bryan McMahon on styling. Following on from this success Long was reselected to show with MAN for the following two seasons.

Carolyn Massey, a 28 year old London based menswear designer, completed her MA at the Royal College of Art in June 2005. After ‘frustration, boredom and demand’ she launched her self-named label, Carolyn Massey in June 2006 in Paris. Known for her quintessentially elegant English cuts and details, a detail obsessive, her work concentrates on what it takes to be a gentlemen.

Fashion East’s menswear installation, curated by Lulu Kennedy, will take place at Somerset House. The 12 designers showcasing as part of the installation are : Blaak, Casely-Hayford, Eastpak by Christopher Shannon, H by Harris, Husam el Odeh, Jaiden rVa James, Jordoan Askill, louise Gray, Martine Rose, Mr Hare, New Power Studio and Sibling.

Savile Row tailors E Tautz and Richard James will be holding presentations in-store. Wintle, usually shown in Paris, will show his collection on the catwalk at Somerset House. MAN will show this season’s three recipients, Christopher Shannon, J.W Anderson and Katie Eary. Lou Dalton will hold a salon style show in The Portico Rooms and A Child of the Jago, co-founded by Vivienne Westwood’s son Joseph Corre in E1. pStore and Tim Soar will close the show.

Nicole Fahri will be holding an evening event in-store celebrating 20 years of her menswear collection.

A truly action packed day with lots to look forward to, SHINE will be keeping you updated with the show reports as they happen.

For the menswear schedule go to www.londonfashionweek.co.uk.