We
have a sneak – peek look of River Island’s Design Forum SS15 collaboration with Central St Martins alumni Jean-Pierre Braganza. The 11 piece capsule collection, launching in February alongside a menswear collaboration with James Long. Featuring contemporary tailoring and draping, with sharp architectural panels, the collection showcases Braganza’s complex prints. From his initial sketches, this looks like one to watch.Expect to see Braganza’s classic handwriting throughout each piece, as well as the Kingfisher bird, the main source of inspiration. Returning from a trip to India, Braganza says ‘I imagined this girl who has a spirit of a Kingfisher – beautiful, wild, colourful and gone before you even knew she was there’.
Since its launch in 2012, the River Island Design Forum has collaborated with the likes of Eudon Choi, Katie Eary and William Tempest. Working alongside the British Fashion Council, the RIDF provides a platform for emerging design talent by bringing exclusive, limited edition collections which push the boundaries of high street fashion.
Jean-Pierre Braganza, a former protégé of the Kaiser himself, Karl Lagerfeld, has grown from strength to strength with Cheryl, Nicole Scherzinger and Eva Longoria to name a few fans. Watch this space for some bright young things hitting River Island soon.