As well as all the action happening in the main BFC tent at Somerset House, during London Fashion Week there is plenty of inspiring, creative fashion to be found on the off-schedule catwalks, and Prophetik at Vauxhall Fashion Scout was a prime example.
Words and pictures: Phoebe Frangoul
Jeff Garner's sustainable fashion label has the welfare of the environment at its heart and that was made clear by the film that played at the show's start, showing the terrible effect of poaching on the diminishing rhino population in South Africa and the work done by the Lawrence Anthony Foundation (who sponsored the Prophetik show) to combat the illegal trade. Following the film, a violinist treated us to a burst of classical music, and then came the clothes...
Over the past few seasons Garner has refined his signature style - a mixture of courtly dress, rakish pirate garb and Southern Belle costumes. So we had corseted gowns with panniered skirts featuring dip-dyed, gently worn fabric, ditsy floral prints and homespun quilting. Ice cream colours dominated - rose pink, pistachio and dusky peach.
The collection had a romantic, old-fashioned feel running through the Empire-line dresses and cut-away jackets with britches, and an equestrian flavour courtesy of the beautiful leather riding boots that finished each look. This reflects Garner's personal style - he is a true Southern gentleman with a passion for horseriding and Prophetik is based in Franklin, Tennessee in the Deep South.
Prophetik is worn by eco-conscious stars including Livia Firth, Sheryl Crow, Taylor Swift and the Kings of Leon who all appreciate the sustainable origins of the clothing (plant and earth-based dyes are used on hemp/silk fabric blends and every stage of the process is as environmentally friendly as possible) and the romantic aesthetic of the label.
Like last season, fragments of Jeff's grandmother Lola's handstitched quilts were worked into the final dress which was also adorned with a vintage pocket watch, peace silk and naturally-shed ostrich feathers. This attention to detail and Garner's sense of romance and high drama demonstrate that eco or sustainable fashion needn't be bland, but can be full of Southern soul.
