The independent global fashion showcase On | Off

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Fashion & Beauty

Welcome Back On|Off

Published on 23 September 2015

The independent global fashion showcase On | Off was founded by Lee Lapthorne in 2003 as an alternative platform for talent during London Fashion Week. Providing a space for some of the world’s most innovative young designers, On | Off bridged the gap between on and off schedule designers, becoming the first of its kind. It went underground for a little while, while minimalism ruled the catwalks, but now it’s back, and with a brand new shiny website to boot.
To celebrate the return of the On|Off collective we look at our top 10 favourite moments, both past and present.

Charlie Le Mindu

Was there ever a more memorable off-schedule event than visionary hairstylist Charlie Le Mindu’s controversial A/W 11 show where he sent naked models walking the catwalk? Perhaps that one where he sent them down covered in fake blood to the sound of a screaming pig. Both courtesy of On | Off, and both held, if my memory serves correctly, at 9am. Strong.

Charlie Le Mindu

ZANDRA RHODES

This season Dame Zandra Rhodes, London’s undisputed queen of colour, returned to fashion week after 10 years. However for A/W 12, On | Off organised Zandra’s retrospective, as well as her first show in Paris in 30 years. Always ahead of the curve.

Zandra Rhodes

YANG DU

On | Off have supported young womenswear designer Yang Du since 2009. Her surrealist pieces are some of our Fashion director Kim Howells’ favourites.

Yang Du

J.W. Anderson

On|Off first featured the work of LFW darling J Dubs after hosting an exhibition and catwalk display that celebrated 50 Years of Italian Vogue at the Royal Academy of Arts. His unique design aesthetic, that offers a modern interpretation of masculinity and femininity, fit perfectly with their radical approach.

JW Anderson

PAM HOGG

Fashion designer, music icon and all round creative force; Pam Hogg has been a recurrent feature of the fashion and music scene since the 1980s. Although alternating between fashion, film and music throughout her career, she showcased on the On|Off catwalk during 2009 with her trademark catsuits (the same year, she received a lifetime achievement award from the Scottish Fashion Council).

Pam Hogg

CLIO PEPPIATT

London based womenswear designer Clio Peppiatt only launched her label in 2014, but she has garnered much attention for her intricate hand­-drawn prints, meticulous attention to detail, joyous use of colour and an underlying tongue in cheek sense of humour. On | Off are supporting her for S/S 16.

Clio Peppiatt

PETER PILOTTO

On|Off supported Peter Pilotto with their first ever London stand alone catwalk show in September 2007. The label was also awarded NEWGEN sponsorship to showcase within the London Fashion Week exhibition the same year.

Peter Pilotto

Gareth Pugh

A designer instrumental in the emerging British fashion scene, Gareth Pugh’s debut stand-alone catwalk show was with On|Off in 2006 at the Royal Academy of Arts. A show that was supported by NEWGEN and attended by Anna Wintour, his sinister, cultish work is as impressive now as it was at his introduction.

Gareth Pugh

ROBERT WUN

Robert Wun is a London based fashion designer who uses the interplay between silhouette and an abstract approach to composition as the centre of his design aesthetic. On | Off supported his S/S 16 presentation.

Robert Wun

LOUISE GRAY

Hand embroiderer Louise Gray was quickly snapped up by Fashion East following her graduation from Central Saint Martins. She then went on to show with On|Off in for three seasons from 2010 to 2011.

Louise Gray