Somerset designer makes catwalk debut at London Fashion Week

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Bea SwallowWest of England

Gabrielle Thomas A model wearing one of Nathan Slate's designs on the catwalk. It is a dress made from rags dyed in different shades of grey and blue and tied into knots. Around their head is a large clump of white fluff and wool, designed to look like a mushroom cloud. Gabrielle Thomas

Nathan Slate’s collection is a commentary on environmental issues, inspired by the English countryside

A fashion designer has made his catwalk debut at London Fashion Week using materials inspired by the rural English countryside.

Nathan Slate, who runs SL-ATE cafe and studio in Bridgwater, Somerset, unveiled his latest textile collection at the biannual global event on 21 September.

His work, titled ‘Mourning: A new dawn where humanity’s last hymn is flies buzzing’, is a dystopian commentary on nature being erased beneath concrete.

The designs were showcased on 21 September during the Fashion Scout’s ‘ones to watch’ event, which spotlights innovative emerging designers.

Gabrielle Thomas A model walking down a catwalk in front of a large crowd. She is wearing a dress made from brown knitted rags which covered her face, and large clumps of wool on her hips.Gabrielle Thomas

This design features natural wool set into clumps of concrete

Mr Slate said featuring in the renowned global event has been a lifelong dream.

“A lot of fashion designers that I aspire towards started on that stage,” he said.

“To show at London Fashion Week is actually a really difficult thing to do. There’s a lot of red tape around it, so it was an ultimate goal that I wasn’t ever sure I would achieve.”

Mr Slate said living a more rural life means he has to “push down a few walls” to be recognised in the mainstream fashion industry.

“A lot of people say ‘what are you doing here? You should be in London or Bristol’,” he said, “but I’m just inspired a lot in the countryside of England.”

Gabrielle Thomas A close up of the lower portion of a design. A model is walking down the catwalk wearing a pale blue tattered sheet with darker blue stains and splashes.Gabrielle Thomas

Mr Slate’s signature technique involves leaving fabric outside for weeks to be weathered by rain, dirt, sunlight, and time

Mr Slate’s designs often draw upon his rural environment by incorporating crystals, driftwood, and litter collected from countryside walks.

His latest collection features cloudy motifs, ceramic accessories and rainfall-dyed textiles that have been gradually weathered in the exposed elements.

His sustainable approach aims to “challenge traditional boundaries between commerce, art, and activism” by highlighting environmental issues.

Gabrielle Thomas Two models walking along a catwalk in opposite directions. They are both wearing long cloaks made from fabrics stained by the weather. Both have rags wrapped around their head and faces. Gabrielle Thomas

The catwalks collectively told a story of nature, decay, permanence and fragility

“My work is quite conceptual as I believe we need to be telling stories as designers, not just showing clothes that you can instantly buy,” he said.

“It’s our responsibility to set trends or to speak about something. This work is telling the story of a world where we ignored nature and kept paving over it with concrete.

“I wanted to create a space where fashion doesn’t just celebrate the new, but asks what we’re losing.”

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