Fashion students’ collection showcased in Soho pop-up
Two London College of Fashion (LCF) students have brought a collection of unique printed clothing and accessories to a pop-up store in the heart of Soho that showcases ethical designers across fashion, jewellery and beauty.
Weber is a student on the MBA course at LCF and has teamed up with classmate Giorgi Cheminava to bring the Weber brand to the pop-up with a range of items that have been designed by Weber along with his business partner Claudia Wang who has an MA in digital design.
Originally from Taiwan, Weber is taking the opportunity to study in London and to showcase his products to a very different market to that at home. He says being included in the pop-up is very much a chance to “connect with local customers and to see their reaction to the clothing”.
The inclusion in the pop-up follows the brand being given an opportunity to show its offering at Tate Modern in 2023 that again proved to be a learning exercise about the London market. “There is an appetite in London for different clothing to that seen in Taiwan and there is also an appeal for brighter colours,” he says. The feedback from the show was very positive and this fuelled the desire to engage with physical retail such as the pop-up.
Subscribe to TRBLondoner’s tastes sit well with the Weber brand aesthetic that includes the use of print designs that are printed onto the items of clothing and accessories. These range from bandanas at £80-100 and clothing items at £100-800. Weber cites Phoebe Philo as an inspiration for his work while for Wang the influencers include Lady Gaga and Leigh Bowery.
The organiser of the pop-up Wen Hsieh, founder of Avantelier, has a small permanent store in Soho and the temporary unit is able to house a greater mix of ethical brands that she has curated. The store will run for one month and includes ranges from designer brands that all have characteristics around ethical products, hand-made, slow fashion and recycling/upcycling.
Hsieh says she had initially seen the Weber brand during Taipei Fashion Week and had wanted to bring it into the pop-up, which was helped by a connection she has with Cheminava.
