By Chelsea Davis
The fourth installment of the Flash Fashion commission by the Portobello and Golborne Management committee took place on May 25th. Well known for promoting diversity and creativity of local markets, the event fills Notting Hill with new designers and promotes local brands.
Designers like Paul Smith and Vivienne
Westwood as well as up-and-coming designers and stylists have been known to
attend the Flash Fashion event as a source of inspiration. The market is
transformed into an 'open-air' catwalk with models wearing clothing and accessories from market stalls
and the local shops. Most of the garments are vintage, locally made, upcycled
and fair trade clothing. Live window displays show the new season trends and
diversity of the market sellers. It is the perfect place for local designers
and creative's to get their foot in the door to the fashion world.
The models used the sporadic poor weather
to their advantage; walking the catwalk with umbrellas, making them a fashion
statement. Contributing retailers and volunteer models spread the word of Flash
Fashion with the help of social media. Constantly uploading images and current
information to their Instagram and Facebook accounts, Flash Fashion was able to
have a larger audience than last year, proving the power of the digital world.
The 'Square Route' and 'Woodstock' theme were evident throughout the catwalks, with tartan and tweed being a major fabric trend. Up and coming Milliner and brand Sara Tiara Headwear graced the Acklam Village Market catwalk with a vintage take on modern headpieces. The company expressed on their social media how they were 'grateful to Flash Fashion Portobello for bringing such style to Portobello Road on Saturday. Thank you so much for supporting Sara Tiara and all the other fellow local businesses and designers.' The community powered fashion show was a huge success, confirming the power of local designers and their impact on Notting Hill fashion.
