The Opening Ceremony last night has finally marked the start of the London Olympic Games. It was not only an epic celebration of British history, culture and the coming together of sporting nations, but also an incredible platform for emerging local fashion talents. The British Fashion Council introduced East End based designers Christopher Shannon, Michael Van Der Ham and Nasir Mazhar to the ceremony’s creative director Suttirat Larlab, who commissioned the trio to create costumes for 350 dancers in a performance that represented the influence of present and future British creatives in youth culture. BCF’s chief executive Caroline Rush said of the event-

“Our events and initiatives support and strengthen the UK’s reputations for developing design excellence. There could not be a more outstanding showcase for this talent than the Olympics, and we are delighted to have played a small part in showing the best of Great Britain’s creative talent.”

Other British designers involved in the opening ceremony were Jonathan Saunders who dressed Emeli Sande, Matt Helders of the Arctic Monkeys wore Christopher Shannon during their performance, and Palmer//Harding and Richard James produced clothing for the flag bearers.

 

by Kayleigh Rawlings