A few weeks ago my Saturday night was spent like any other, in pyjamas in front of the TV happily giving into an hour of ‘X-Factor’ indulgence. But that week, something changed. I found that my inner critic wasn’t concerned with the performers but with Cheryl Cole’s dress.
My mother was perplexed and somewhat distressed by Ms Cole’s choice–a black body-con dress with metal tubing detail. I, on the other hand, was inspired. It was mesmerizing. It was fashion-forward yet wonderfully flattering. Sometimes designers take one step too many into the realm of ‘originality’, their end-products resembling costumes from a pantomime or an opera more than anything else. Though the dress was, arguably, bordering on this line, it wasn’t so far-fetched so as to render it completely impractical. I was eager to find out who had designed it.
That person, I soon learned, was David Koma. Originally from Georgia, Koma moved to England a few years ago to study at Central St Martins College. He graduated in March of this year with distinction in MA fashion and in the same month won the Harrods Design Award (an award which Christopher Kane had previously won in 2006) for his graduation collection which boasted many black and flesh-toned body-conscious dresses with metallic tubing and colourful chain embellishments. The collection showcased his signature style which focuses on strong shapes and tries to convey a powerful sexuality. The collection will be a
vailable to buy from Browns Focus from February.
Koma catapulted into the fashion world when he won the Vauxhall Fashion Scout (VFS) event last season with his S/S ‘10 collection which was inspired by the Catalan architect Antonio Gaudi. VFS is the UK’s largest runway and presentation event for young emerging designers held during London Fashion Week each season. Over the seven seasons which it has run so far, the event has showcased over one hundred and thirty designers including William Tempest.
The collection consists of bold, futuristic dresses with daring shapes and cut-outs. While neutral tones and black and white dominate, they are sharply contrasted with bursts of vibrant colours, pink and orange. Many of the dresses are reminiscent of tennis dresses, summery and playful. By keeping the designs simple with attention focused on single details, Koma manages to maintain his signature modern, cutting-edge chic.
It’s not just Brits who are obsessing over this young talent, Megan Fox and Lady Gaga have also been spotted sporting dresses by David Koma. Moreover, Beyoncé recently wore an off-the-shoulder dress designed specifically with her in mind to the MTV Europe Music Awards in Berlin. It was similar to Cheryl’s, but with an even greater abundance of metallic embellishment. When asked how he felt about celebrities such as Beyoncé wearing his clothes, Koma expressed that he was both proud and privileged. And let’s face it, who wouldn’t be? With stars as big as her and Gaga wearing his designs at a time when he’s still trying to make his name known, who knows what the future holds for this young, emerging talent?
Koma currently has his heart set on winning the LFW NewGen. The New Generation Scheme is run by London Fashion Council and sponsored by Topshop. Its aim is to showcase young, budding fashion talent, to provide marketing and business assistance to designers and of course to provide a launch pad for them to an international market. Already Koma has started on his A/W 2010/2011 collection which he hopes to showcase at NewGen.
Though I’ve decided after perusing his collections thus far that I’m quite a fan of the audacious contours and powerful sexuality embodied by his designs, I’m not sure I’ll be running into Browns anytime soon. With skirts around £500 and a beautiful black coat at over £1,700, his prices are just a little outside of my range. One day perhaps… Until then I shall gaze dreamily at the hallowed pages of Vogue and continue my debates, defending the bold, imaginative designs of David Koma.
