Union labor will be used at New York Fashion Week for the next three years under a deal between the company that produces the biannual event and the union that oversees much of the stagehand and other theatrical labor at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts….The union had been engaged in a dispute with the producer over whether IMG should be required to hire union labor for all Fashion Week events held at Lincoln Center. While the contract between the union and the performing-arts complex gives the union jurisdiction over many events on the Lincoln Center campus, it does not require the use of union labor for events that take place on the plaza or surrounding areas, such as Damrosch Park, where Fashion Week tents started going up last weekend. (WSJ)

Swedish mega label, and (capsule) community member Filippa K showed its SS2011 collection at Stockholm Fashion Week yesterday. The brand’s signature simplicity and clean lines were evident in the collection. ” We feel a strong attraction to the pure and graphic look of the early nineties but with a relaxed modern day twist. A minimalism, where unnecessary detailing is stripped away to create a sleek look, that is full of strength and self confidence,” explain the designers of SS2011. More pics after the jump.

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The Swedish label Cheap Monday showed their SS2011 collection at Fashion Week by Berns in Stockholm yesterday. The collection, designed by Örjan Andersson & Ann-Sofie Back has a decidedly different look from past seasons. The designers explain: “This time we wanted to try out a different aesthetic: sparkling, extrovert and shameless. For inspiration we looked at Latin denim fashions, Italian diamonté and LA celebrity taste.To get a contemporary feel in the collection we have also worked with a cleaner, more fabric focused and minimalistic look. A combination of the exaggerated and the minimalistic creates the balance for S/S 2011.” More pics after the jump.

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Brian Jensen and Karl-Oskar Olsen met after studying at The Royal Design School of Denmark.  It was there that they discovered a common interest in streetwear culture. In 2002 they opened a store in Copenhagen which would represent their interests in sneakers, collectable toys and limited edition graphic t-shirts under their own in-house brand.  The store quickly gained a cult following in Copenhagen, where it introduced new brands to the city.  As the store grew however, brands such as Comme des Garcons and Maharishi changed Wood Wood’s outlook.  The store engaged brands that combined both streetwear and high end fashion and the duo launched a  line of outerwear for both men and women in 2006, under the Wood Wood label.  While remaining true to its graphic t-shirt foundation, the brand embraced its Scandinavian roots to create unique product.   Pieces became more avant-garde than all while retaining a sense of tailored silhouettes common in Northern European fashion, best exemplified in the much sought after dip-dyed shirts which are reproduced through collections.

Check out images from their SS2011 show after the jump.

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Since the onset of the Noughties, Peter Jensen– the British designer with Danish roots, has carved out a reputation as a designer whose impeccably produced creations thread together mischievous humor and a celebratory approach to individuality, with an impressive attention to detail and lightness of touch. This approach is clearly apparent within his designs for both men and women – the results of which always deftly remain on the wearable side of unconventional. The designer debuted his SS2011 collection at (capsule) Paris in June, and his runway show in Copenhagen yesterday (which was attended by the princess of Denmark) was true to the Jensen aesthetic- full of color, pattern and sporty shapes.

Pics from the show after the jump.

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The 11:o0 pm start time didn’t deter the hundreds of people who packed a tent at Copenhagen Fashion Week to see the Soulland SS2011 fashion show.  Soulland’s been busy this season– theyve done a presentation in Paris in conjunction with (capsule), brought the collection to NY, are coming to Vegas next week and were able to squeeze in a huge fashion show. While we’ve previewed the collection several times here this season, here’s a look at some key runway looks, which merge Soulland’s distinct silhouettes and aesthetic with classic preppy influences. (ess)

More pics, thanks for Copenhagen Fashion Week after the jump.

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Jakob Birgens began his design career in the Latin district of Aarhus, designing clothes for friends and loyal customers who found their way through a back yard, up a fire escape, into his workshop.  Jakob has always been a creative fiery soul and his designs are based on his own ideas inspired by his surroundings and a variety of artists and icons such as Leonard Cohen, Rei Kawakubo, Peter Lindbergh, Hemingway, Bob Dylan and many more.  In the fall of 2007 Jakob started Frost Birgens with the first collection being S/S2008.

Today, Frost Birgens Copenhagen is a creative and inspiring company co-owned by Jakob Birgens, Simon Hepworth and Christian Kjaer.  The ambition and the vision of the company are to become the perfect mix of creativity, professionalism and structured working procedures.  All together this is the fundament that will take the brand, Frost Birgens, to the next level.  (Frost Birgens)

All images courtesy of Copenhagen Fashion Week.  Preview more looks from Frost Birgens S/S2011 below.

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NY Mercedes Benz Fashion Week kicks off on Thursday September 9 at 9am at Lincoln Center with Nicholas K and goes for a week, ending with Scandinavian darling Ivana Helsinki on Thursday night September 16. The preliminary schedule has been posted. Download your copy here.

Dior Homme

Baggy pants are in — and I don’t mean the ones that hang down to your knees. This time, designers have looked across the pond for inspiration and set their eyes on the Moroccan pants that seemed to have come from the wardrobe of the Prince of Persia himself. These are chic and trendy, not to mention some of the most comfortable pants to have ever hit the market. Baggy on top and tapered at the bottom, these are a great addition to the limited selection men have when it comes to pants. Almost every designer had a pair of these walking down their runway in various colors, fabrics and prints, worn with t-shirts, blazers and everything in between.  Like any prince, if you are a leader by nature, check out this trend that took the runways in Paris by storm. Photos via style.com and gq.com. (Santho Goonewardene)

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Take a moment to travel once again to a post-apocalyptic atmosphere. Just a few weeks ago, we gave you a preview of the Henrick Vibskov ss11 line right here. Now, we have a few more pictures to stimulate your mind, and some thoughts behind the inspiration for the collection from the creative team themselves:

“The people dressed for this occasion are strong but humble, the fit of the clothes is tight and gentlemanly, welcoming yet protective. These surviving gentlemen carry emergency flutes, a jar, rope and binoculars amongst them. One will find a passing stream of pictures referring to survival. The certain elements shown in a good old Henrik Vibskov stew of objects and symbols that mixes together into a final language. References to military, tribesmen or outdoor equipment aesthetics are a part of the vocabulary.”

Be sure to check out this collection from Henrik Vibskov in person at (capsule) New York July 19th and 20th at CENTER 548.  More after the jump.  (Santho Goodewardene)

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