With the news that Loewe has snapped up London’s designer-of-the-moment as its Creative Director, we explain why JW Anderson is smokin' hot fashion property right now.
1. Despite the rumours, JW Anderson's appointment is a surprising one. Loewe’s old-school credentials had many critics guessing that the brand would plump for a more established designer to take the reigns. The Spanish leather house Loewe is owned by LVMH, who have followed fellow fashion super-conglomerate Kering, who earlier this year bought a stake in Christopher Kane. LVMH's shopping basket also includes shoe–king Nicholas Kirkwood as well as a minority stake in JW's own line.
2. Actually called Jonathan William, the Northern-Irish designer studied at the London College of Fashion before forming his eponymous menswear label in 2008, and branching out to womenswear in 2010. This transition spurned JW’s signature style of wardrobe-sharing that sees him design pieces that are created for both women and men. JW’s highly conceptual designs and to-die-for stacked loafers always get the fashion pack in a flurry.
3. JW Anderson's first collaboration (spring/summer 2013) with high street giant Topshop was the most successful collab of all time. It had fashion editors chomping at the bit, and every style-savvy girl clad head-to-toe in his looks. There are rumours of a third line, so watch this space!
4. During London Fashion Week, the city's hottest and coolest queued in the rain, and round the block, to get entry to JW Anderson's SS14 show.It was a barely-there collection that had a Japanese sensibility in the origami style dresses but also a sensuality, in the revealing cuts and ghost-like translucent fabrics.
5. Earlier this year, JW created a capsule resort collection for Versus. The pieces were raw with 90s punk-grunge attitude. We saw slashed mini-dresses, cropped tops and details that gave a cheeky wink to Versace’s golden age - think Medusa heads and safety pins.
It's been an incredible year for JW Anderson and it promises to just get better. We say ‘bonne chance!’ to our Brit boy à la mode.
Eco fashion: 10 designers that create genuinely amazing clothes