fashionUK

Today over a thousand people gathered inside Spitalfields market to enjoy the fourth catwalk presentation of this year's Alternative Fashion Week. Chelsea College of Art and Design showed a collection by textile students which focused on print techniques and was heavily influenced by Eastern shapes and colours. Japanese waist bands were on a extravagant full-length printed dresses and appeared alongside a Susie Wong satin dress with high side-splits and a luxurious purple and blue sari.
	Cassandra Postema's collection features of recycled one-off pieces including cropped mohair cardies, Oriental-influenced shapes for dresses and skirts, watercolour tunics and transparent trousers. The focus on separates and individual style echoes Owen Gaster and the Portobello look which is so popular at the moment.
Ray Antony French offered the first menswear collection of the day with his range of streetwear one-offs which includes dark green suits, baggy skirt-fronted tailored trousers with side pockets and gold star buttons.
	With Scarecrow the mood moved from the street to a summer meadow. Empire line dresses in cheesecloth and cotton appeared alongside crocheted tops and pastel jumpers with feather collars and cuffs. The colour palette concentrated on warm natural shades of blue and green interspersed with sunset reds and oranges and vibrant pinks. Highlights included simple drawstring wide trousers (for men and women), tie dye T's and knitted pink bell bottoms.