Lulu with stylist Richard Sloan
With news that acid house makes a better soundtrack to the office than Kelly Jones covering Rod Stewart and that some kid called Aaron from Westminster is wearing the future of fashion on his khaki sleeve, a very down to earth Lulu Kennedy talks Vice, Volvo and Vivisection (ok, we made that last one up) and tells SUPERSWEET that it’s talent, not training, that gets you ahead of the competition.
SS: Could you tell us a little about how you got started in Fashion? Career-wise did you always have a clear idea of where you wanted to be?
Lulu Kennedy: I used to put on raves, make movies and work in art galleries... I have zero training in anything fashion! Although I always loved clothes I never took fashion seriously or imagined I'd end up in it. It came about by accident from working here at The Old Truman Brewery – I used to rent venues out to fashion designers for their shows, got friendly with them, helped them out informally with production issues... That's how I got an insider viewpoint and a taste for producing catwalk shows.
SS: What sets LFW apart from other fashion capitals?
Lulu: Our young talent, our instinctive intuition for new trends, and going against the grain.
SS: Whose work at the moment, outside of the Fashion East/MAN stable do you really admire?
Lulu: Christopher Kane.
SS: What pushed you to get involved in promoting new talent? Did you feel there was a lack of support for up and coming designers?
Lulu: I saw first hand how hard it was for young designers to put on shows and wanted to help with the organising, promoting, getting funding etc so they could get on with what they do best – designing.
SS: You've recently been involved with Vice and Volvo's Creative 30 competitiion, could you explain a little about the project and the role you'll be playing in it?
Lulu: Well the lovely guys at Vice who I've known for years asked me to get involved and I was really pleased to, because its a fantastic project – the standard of work is incredible and the prize is really substantial... This project is really going to make a big difference to the winner, but it's going to be a tough call to chose one winner I think – they're all amazing.
SS: MAN has become a real must-see on the LFW schedule, you've recently collaborated with Colette, any other projects in the pipeline?
Lulu: We're looking into taking the designers to Paris during the menswear weeks there in July and January to do a sales showroom... I think selling the clothes is the important next step we have to take so the designers can capitalise on the success of their catwalk show.
SS: Spotting new talent is at the heart of all your projects, were there any graduates that particularly caught your eye during GFW?
Lulu: Yeah, there was this amazing kid called Aaron from Westminster... It was the most awesome collection of army gear, incredible construction, finishing, styling...the whole package!
SS: What have you been listening to around the office?
Lulu: Mazzy Star and old acid house... A strange combination!
SS: Who/what inspires you?
Lulu: Apart from the designers I work with, Professor Louise Wilson from Central St Martins is pretty amazing, she has the most discerning eye and colossal amount of chutzpah I've ever seen in one person. There's just no arguing with her, and I love that.
SS: What's the Future for the London Fashion scene?
Lulu: Hmmm.. Let me look into my crystal ball...
Words: Lena Dystant