fashionUK

Today, it was the Colchester's Institute's turn to open the catwalk proceedings with a vast collection, 'Sensory Overcoats', inspired by Picasso portraits and a Peter Greenaway film. Their impressive collection of Japanese outfits offered little for street fashion enthusiasts, but plenty for talent-spotters looking for costumers. Acres of silk, satin, bamboo and quilted fabrics combined to create an opulent Oriental collection. A change of direction next with an urban range from 'Breathe'. PVC, hot air balloon fabrics and nylon were all featured in this neat capsule collection of black and white womenswear.
	Laurel Keenan's Rotor Babe label claims to be a socio-dissociate multi-gender sub-cultural statement! The range includes silver puffa jackets, plastic buckle wrap-around skirts, luminous vest tops and fleece trousers. With strong colours (lots of orange and blue) and fun but functional separates, this was a squat punk meets clubber collection full of wearable pieces and clever touches.
By contrast, Andrea Fishley opted for a sullen minimalist approach. Models without make-up and simple swept-back hair wore brown panelled leather jackets with extra long arms and linen skirts with visible wavy seams.
	Alessandra Beggio has shown at three previous Alternative Fashion Weeks and today showed 'Alexina', a continuation of her 'Space Wear' line. It features choker-neck mini dresses in white and silver, dip-fronted mini skirts with matching tops, foam padded trousers, plastic belted tiny tops in nylon and funky full-length tiered foam skirts. Foam hoops are used on dresses, skirts and tops and with the tribal look make-up, body glitter and frizzy hair the overall look one of futuristic functionality.