Palmer//harding have won a second season of London Fashion Week sponsorship from Cotton USA it was announced today. Designers Levi Palmer and Matthew Harding's way with transforming simple cotton shirts made them the perfect choice for the sponsorship.

“We love working with cotton – it’s such a versatile material. As we are a shirt focused brand, we concentrate a lot on cotton, predominantly U.S. cotton,” explained Levi Palmer.

The label joins an impressive set of alumni from the sponsorship programme, including Louise Gray, Richard Nicholl, Meadham Kirchhoff, Preen and PPQ.

Palmer//harding will host a cocktail reception to showcase their Autumn/Winter 2013 collection on Saturday 16th February but before then, this news serves as a good excuse to look over our favourite looks from the brands beautiful SS13 collection.

-Albany Bell

Above: Sister by Sibling

We're indulging in a little flag waving patriotism with the news that Fred Perry is celebrating the brands 60th birthday this year. The famous laurel wreath logo was emblazoned across the classic polo shirt in 1952 and ever since, versatile and practical designs have attracted fans from all walks of life worn by some of the most influential figures in music, fashion and sport. Of course a brand founded by a man who won Wimbledon no less than three times was always going to be close to British hearts.

To celebrate a whopping 60 years in the business the brand has asked 60 of their most loyal and recognisable fans to customise the polo shirt with birthday messages or their own individual designs. Ranging from simple illustrated notes to wacky creations, Damon Albarn, Sir Bradley Wiggins, Christopher Raeburn, Raf Simons and a host of other famous participants have got involved. These adapted anniversary shirts will be on display online at fredperry.com, in-store and at anniversary events after which they will be auctioned off for charity.

In collaboration with Dover Street Market and famed set designer Andy Hillman the first 20 customised shirts will be presented exclusively at the London store on the 26th January, this installation will then later travel on to Dover Street Market Ginza and I.T. Beijing Market. We've picked out the polo shirts that caught our eye...

From left to right: Michael Lau and Hiroko Taka Hashi

Eko Nugroho and Karen Walker

Duffy and Raf Simons

WOOD WOOD and Furfur

Asylum and Beams

-Albany Bell

Vauxhall Fashion Scout has announced Yifang Wan as the Merit Award winner for AW13/14. Internationally regarded as a launch pad for young emerging talent, the prestigious prize marks the very best in the next generation of fashion.

Highly regarded for her minimalist aesthetic and clean conceptual lines, Wan made an impression with her striking sculptural autumn/winter collection. Taking inspiration from the sleek styling of martial art films, her clothes were refined and architectural with heavy cotton smock dresses and long structured wool jackets creating stark and elegant silhouettes.

Not short of accolades Wan has been tipped as a rising star since winning the Central Saint Martins L’Oreal Professional Award in 2010, graduating two years later she left with a full bursary from Lane Crawford and a list of international stockists. As the winner of £25,000 for the next three seasons and the recipient of a fully sponsored catwalk show and exhibition during London and Paris Fashion Week we will be seeing much more of the talented Miss Wan. Joining the list of previous winners William Tempest, David Koma, Eudon Choi,and last seasons victor Heohwan Simulation she joins an impressive cast of designers who have all gone on to have successful careers.

Yifang Wan will join Vauxhall Fashion Scout at London Fashion Week from 15-19th February held at the Freemason’s Hall in Covent Garden.

-Albany Bell