On|Off Land Rover Visionary Award - Driving Design Innovation
“I'm really thrilled to be asked in the selection for On|Off. I've always respected their taste in designers and think they have a completely unique vision, which is interesting and slightly subversive. This year's winner, Cunnington and Sanderson are new stars in the making. Their presentation was professional and thought provoking. I wish them the very best of luck for the future."
– Katie Grand
In 2006 On|Off created the Visionary Award in order to promote and showcase new designer talent and support their businesses. Previous Visionary Award winners include some of the leading UK-based fashion names: Charlie Le Mindu, Louise Amstrup, Hannah Marshall, Sinha Stanic and Peter Pilotto.
On December 2nd 2011 On|Off and Land Rover’s specialist panel met the shortlisted designers (Thomas Wakeford, Raphaelle H’Limi, Naco Paris and Cunnington and Sanderson) to decide the winner.
THE WINNERS
CUNNINGTON & SANDERSON
The British duo Matthew Cunnington and John Sanderson began their collaboration after meeting in their final year of Fashion Design at the University of Central England in 2005. Since Graduation Matthew has gone onto complete the M.A. Fashion Design and Enterprise course at the University of Westminster, London. John has gained valuable experience working with two leading Fashion Designers in London. Some of their highlights have included exhibiting at the British Embassy in Paris and in April 2008 Matthew went on to win the Grand Prix at the Hyeres Festival with the collection entitled 'Hail Mary'. Their most recent collection ‘Mourning Weeds’ has been shown at the Museo Della Permanente, during Milan fashion week and at the 24th Festival International de Mode and de Photographie – Hyeres, 2009. Cunnington & Sanderson's signature is to create emotional constructions, with the intent to make a connection with the wearer. Experimental folding, draping and cutting play an important part in their work, using fabric as a medium to sculpt with onto the body.
Judging Panel
Katie Grand
Editor-in-Chief Love Magazine
Named by British newspaper The Daily Telegraph as “one of the most powerful stylists in the world”, Katie Grand began fashion styling while still at St. Martins, directing and styling fashion shoots for, Dazed & Confused. Soon after this, Katie was made Editor-in-Chief of POP magazine. This position brought Katie many famous friendships, including celebrities Madonna and Agyness Deyn, and designers Stella McCartney, Luella Bartley, Miuccia Prada and Giles Deacon. Grand is the editor of LOVE, a bi-annual fashion magazine she launched herself. Katie styles many fashion photo shoots and shows including Giles and Unique at Topshop. She has also worked on fashion shows for Louis Vuitton and Prada.
Lee Lapthorne
Director of On|Off
As the founder and director of On|Off, Lee has produced, directed and called shows for Pam Hogg, Robert Cary Williams, Preen, Jasper Conran, Karen Walker, Nicole Farhi and Gardem during Paris Fashion Week. A truly international showcase, On|Off is the centerpiece of fashion weeks in London, Milan and Paris.
As the director of Doll, On|Off’s parent company, Lee’s clients have included Gucci, BBC, ITV, Land Rover, John Lewis, Sky, Specsavers, BNTM, P&G and Italian Vogue.
His award winning productions include the Clothes Show Live 2009, which was awarded the exhibition feature area of the year, by the industry Event Awards.
Tuuli
Model
Model and wife to Rankin, Tuuli began her modeling career at the age of 16 when she joined top modeling agency Storm. Campaigns with Arena, Cosmopolitan, Jitrois, Harpers Bazaar, Byblos Blu and a role in Richard Curtis’ Love Actually followed. Having built up a strong modelling career – Tuuli is now keen to pursue more projects behind the camera lens through art direction and curation.
Brigitte Stepputis
Head of Vivienne Westwood Couture
Brigitte Stepputtis is perhaps best known for her role as Head of Couture at Vivienne Westwood. But, in addition to her work at Britain ’s most influential designer for the last twenty years, Brigitte Stepputtis has pursued her parallel personal interests in art. Working across the disciplines of design, photography and creative direction, her practice has often had a documentary aspect to it in addition to more traditional approaches to creative direction.
Sarah Bailey
Deputy Editor Harpers Bazaar
Sarah Bailey is a former deputy editor of Elle Magazine. Sarah was a contributing editor to the US edition of Harper’s Bazaar and was deputy editor-in-chief of the title between 2004 and 2007. Between 2002 and 2004 Sarah edited the UK edition of Elle. She also launched ElleGirl and edited of Just Seventeen. Sarah has contributed to various magazines including New York Magazine and Sunday Times Style.
Jane Shepherdson
CEO Whistles
Jane was previously the brand director for TopShop. She is now producing a fashion chain for Oxfam, aimed at “ethically conscious shoppers”. As of January 2008, Shepherdson bought a 20 per cent share in Whistles and was appointed chief executive.
Roksanda Illincic
Fashion Designer
Belgrade-born Roksanda Ilincic has been showing her womenswear collections on the London Fashion Week schedule for the past 3 years, in which time she has honed and refined her beautifully crafted demi-couture, notably her evening dresses, which combine elements of 40s and 50s Parisian haute couture, which she slices with her unmistakable modern cool. She is highly regarded for her unique sense of colour, tonal shades and how she works bold colour with a more subtle palette, as well as her innovative application of decoration. Each season there is a steady increase in her network of international retailers which now include 36 stockists in 22 countries and an online presence that includes net-aporter. London boutique Browns recently held an exclusive trunk show for their VIP customers.
Claire Ginzler
Fashion Director of On|Off
Claire Ginzler is the critically acclaimed Fashion Director of On|Off, London Fashion Week’s highly respected independent fashion showcase. Responsible for selecting which designers get the opportunity to show at the event each season.Since On|Off began in 2003, she has been discovering, and working with, the up and coming design talents of the future, with names such names as Osman Yousefada, Peter Pilotto, JW Anderson, Hannah Marshall, Gardem and Mark Fast. Claire is also a freelance stylist and has styled many shows during London and Paris Fashion week, as well as styling shows for well known retailers such as John Lewis, Debenhams, Clothes Show Live, Lyle and Scott and a Very/XFactor show.