CHRISTOPHER SHANNON: PROVING MENSWEAR SHOULDN’T BE SIDELINED
Christopher Shannon is a force to be reckoned with; he has produced consistently exciting and forward thinking collections since he received NEWGEN MEN sponsorship in autumn 2010.
His Autumn/Winter 2012 collection at London Fashion Week was one of the most eagerly anticipated and it certainly did not disappoint. Graduating with an MA in Menswear from Central St Martins, Shannon set out to create a youthful, clean line of men’s clothes that are still commercially viable. It is difficult to put a signature to his work as what is integral to the success of this designer is his ability to create clothes that evolve with the ever growing world of menswear. For his AW12 collection, Shannon showed a variety of sportswear-style pieces, each adorned with a quirky touch; one that is unique to him. The inspiration for this collection came from an unlikely source; the singer Sinead O’Connor. He was inspired by images of the star with her signature shaved head, along with revisiting his archives for further ideas, which included faces woven into bomber jackets and a bold Burberry-esque check print. The result? Cleaner lines and an overally more polished aesthetic; this was perhaps Shannon’s most mature and inspiring collection.
With the recent launch of ‘Kidda’, Shannon’s jersey line, and the announcement of London’s first men’s only fashion weekend in June, this is the designer’s chance to prove that menswear can be just as exciting as womenswear. Menswear is an intrinsic part of British fashion; tailoring has long been the country’s forte, and creative young talents, such as Shannon, are bringing the industry up to date with vigour and a unique vision.
