Emily Lambert, Russell Square

Emily Lambert is a WSET (Wine and Spirit Education Trust) Level 3 certified sommelier, which means she knows significantly more about wine than the self-proclaimed aficionado at a posh dinner party. At twenty-two years of age, she is among the youngest at her level (one step away from Master Sommelier), but she has high aspirations, which include dismantling the elitist preconceptions surrounding wine, and educating the likes of you and I on the finer qualities of this very accessible drink we often take for granted. Emily currently works for Coravin, an ingenious tool that pours wine without having to uncork the bottle, although she is soon launching her very own website to complement her regular Instagram content, among other exciting projects. If gin can have its heyday, then surely so can wine, and Emily is the woman to lead the way.

Isabel Manns SS20

 

While the world debates the environmental impact of consumerism and fast fashion, British womenswear label Isabel Manns seeks to provide sustainable design with reversible garments that are made to last a lifetime. In the bright and airy presentation space of Victoria House, floral fabrics in a swathe of reds, purples, pinks and blues have been consciously and economically cut to create classic styles with minimal waste, of which said few off-cuts are displayed like vibrant stalagmites rising from the floor.

Between these and models stood on white pedestals are three washing lines airing the breadth of Isabel's 1960s-inspired collection, which reminds us that beyond the seasonal disposition and luxury labels of London Fashion Week, these are clothes to be worn and loved. The garments are reversible as mentioned, each featuring a plain and printed side that offers the wearer two separate looks in one - although I'm embarrassed to say this did not become apparent to me until long after wondering why the models were contually hitching up their dresses!

Available online and from independent designer boutique Wolf & Badger, Isabel's eponymous label is a bright and beautiful example of designers' shared aspiration towards a sustainable fashion industry. I only hope we as consumers can follow suit and allow such collections to fulfil their timeless quality as intended.

Siobhan Maroney, Victoria House

For the SS20 season, the folks at Fashion Scout have upped sticks to Victoria House in Bloomsbury with a brand new showspace. Frustratingly however, shooting the runway from anywhere besides the front row or the packed photographers' pit has suddenly become somewhat of a challenge, so I resigned myself to a second row seat for yesterday's I Love Four Seasons show. On the flip side, I bumped into the delightful Siobhan of Just A Uniform fame, who was sitting across the aisle from me. Not only does she have impeccable style (I am loving her Alzang dress), she has been posting some amazing videos to her IGTV lately, which alone is worth a follow.