Lou Dalton has been a LFW Salon show staple for the past five seasons and with each one she goes from strength to stregnth. SS13 should be no different, especially as her Salon show will serve as the opener of London Collections:Men, a unique and momentous achievement.

Because: What was your inspiration for the collection?
Lou Dalton: The starting point was being obsession and fixated with perfection and what this can lead to in terms of state of mind. I think all creatives can relate to this. I also re-watched old favourites from Taxi driver to Erazer Head & Breaking Away with Dennis Quaid. So a little inspiration came from each of these with the male lead and characters in Breaking Away sitting up there as main source of inspiration. It's the same old narrative of the underdog, something of which most folk know I'm pretty obsessed with.

What do you think is the best thing about London having its own menswear Fashion Week?
It's been a long time coming, it's a great incentive and most importantly to have this sitting along side the rest of the menswear calender is exactly as it should be. It gives out a clear message of where we are at. I am super excited to be apart of this, just amazing.

What is the best thing about what you do?
Gosh, I'm not sure, it's a constant challenge and I am super dedicated to what I do and will push myself to the extreme to ensure I get it right. It is super super tough and by no means a walk in the park. But I love it all, everything to do with trying to create the perfect male wardrobe that men want to buy and wear.

If you weren't designing, what would you be doing?
I wanted to be a make-up artist at one time. I have always had an obsession with make-up so there was that followed closely by upholstery. I love William Morris' prints and would quite happily cover everything but the kitchen sink in it.

The weirdest thing to happen to you since you started designing ?
Meeting Prince Charles! Never in my life did I think something like this would happen, I'm Lou Dalton from Shropshire, I make clothes, I haven't fought a war, saved lives, but what I do is personal and precious to me and fashion does have it's rightful place in society. I don't take it for granted and I don't expect it to be handed on a plate. You get out of life what you put in so to be meeting Prince Charles is strangely amazing.

What have you learnt that has helped you succeed ?
To stay focused, keep with what you know and believe in, act on your gut instinct and to be a little cautious now and again.

What will you do to relax once you've shown your collection?
Off to Lovebox on the Sunday to support my dear friends Horse Meat Disco then a few days at home pottering, watching catch up on BBC iPlayer; gutted that I missed the Chelsea Flower show, gutted.

Malcolm Mafara

Sunday Funday and with only five days remaining, we catch up with Martine Rose as she prepares to showcase her fourth self-titled collection. The Salon show will be taking place on Friday June 15th at the Hospital Club. Martine has benignly doled out exclusive images of moodboards and new techniques.

How do you feel about London menswear now having it's own Fashion Week, what do you think is the best thing about it ?
I am completely excited about London having it's own menswear, overwhelmed really to be a part of something so momentous.  There are so many pluses, the best of which is to be recognized for the quality of menswear coming out of London, and the possibility of showing finally to an international audience.

What was your inspiration for the SS13 Collection ?
A sculpture by Benini called the Rape of Proserpina. it's beautiful, it really inspired me to consider the nature of the material you are working with and how you can push it in essence to defy it's nature.  The sculpture is marble, but it is carved so exquisitely as to look and perform like flesh and it does it completely beggars belief.

What do you plan on doing after showing your collection this season?
I have a party this season for the first time ever at the St Martin Lane Hotel courtesy of Test Magazine, so I plan on getting my glad rags on and hitting the dance floor with my team, friends and family I can't wait!

Who or what has been your biggest motivation throughout?
My family and friends I guess as they are always cheering from the side lines, but It's not like an unshakeable focus and belief that I have always had, sometimes I'm not sure what keeps me going and I convince myself that I'm simply motivated by a fear of stopping.  What else would I do?

Tell us something we wouldn't expect about you ?
That I was teenage a swimming champion.  I was a swimming fiend, I used to train before school for 2 hours and then after, went on swimming holidays and everything. Then I discovered cider.

What's the best advice you've been given ?
It's the little hinges that swing big doors (my Dad)

Malcolm Mafara

Six days to go and next in line is jewellery designer Bunney who has been awarded the NEWGEN MEN Installation sponsorship for Spring/Summer 2013.

Give us 3 words to sum up your label.
Intriguing. Evocative. England.

What do you love about what you do?
I like to be able to learn new things, work with exciting people, and have no division between work and play.

What were you inspired by for this collection ?
My work is always inspired by the wearer, and how they may choose to style themselves. SS13 is loosely looking at the idea of identity through Ken Russell's 'Teddy Girl' photos and exploring the identity bracelet.


What is the best part of taking part in London Collections: Men?
It gives an opportunity to present work in a new and exciting way, it pushes you to come up with an exciting visual presentation.

What else have you got planned for the upcoming year ?
At the moment I have an exhibition at Dover Street Market - 'BUNNEY presents the selected works of Derek Ridgers' - with special products created for the exhibition. The next project I'm working on is creating a new style of jewellery case with the luggage makers Globetrotter.

If you could have anyone wear you jewellery, who would it be ?
Male: Chaz Jankel performing 'Glad To Know You' at the American Music Awards shoe in 1983.
Female: Audrey Hepburn as Anya in 'Roman Holiday' as she has her hair cut short in a barbershop.

Finally, what is your career highlight so far?
There is no single occasion - but whenever I see anyone wear something of mine in a new way, or a different way, or a way that is special to themselves then it is a highlight.

Malcolm Mafara