Fashion Assassins

Watch out world: here come Grove’s style superstars. By Laia Farran Graves

BABETTE WASSERMAN
The brand: Precious eye candy, mixing clean silver lines with vibrant colours; adds a chic “wow” factor to any outfit.
Current collection: The Nougat ring and necklace range uses chunky semi-precious rose quartz stones and white cubic zirconias. Set in rose gold, it is warm and luxurious.
Inspirations: For the men’s cufflinks range, my inspiration is mainly from architecture, furniture or engineering. I also like using innovative materials like bamboo, wood, rubber, silk to make them innovative, manly and stylish. My women’s range is often inspired by the materials themselves, developing new techniques to predict what colours will work for the season ahead.
Why London Fashion Weekend? The best selection of buyers attends LFW and there’s great international presence too on a high-end luxury-boutique level. As we don’t have our own retail space yet, it is so nice to speak face-to-face with the end customer.
Future plans: [smiling], I can’t really say…
Fave shopping destination: So many to choose from! Graham and Green – who just so happen to stock my jewellery – and Last Place on Earth, on opposite Latimer Road tube station: a bric-a-brac treasure box selling random objects, decoration, furniture and clothing.
Favourite local hangout: The Electric on Portobello Road – I love the Sunday morning members film previews. Oh, and The Cow on Westbourne Park Road – feels like walking onto the set of Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
Something you don’t know about is… the Tesco Disco: a late-night Rasta bar on Portobello Road. I went there once and bumped into Helena Christensen and her friends!
Babette Wasserman, Barlby Road, W10 6BL
020 8964 9777
Babette wears: Windsor necklace as a bracelet, price TBC


ORIT
The brand: Contemporary, yet wearable jewellery.
Current collection: It’s about everyday fashion. I don’t believe in keeping jewellery tucked away; the styles are design-led yet accessible.
Inspiration: I work closely with the designers and select the strongest pieces from each collection. I shape their careers and lives by putting them on the map; they themselves are my inspiration.
Why LFW? It’s a non-intimidating show, which is important, and it’s great for brand awareness.
Future plans: To find new talent and designers – I am always looking! I would like to take the brands all over the world, I love them so much.
Favourite shopping destination: Feathers on Westbourne Grove. It has great style, everything is carefully selected and beautifully presented and it never wavers from its own strong vision.
Favourite local hangout? Ottolenghi on Ledbury Road. It serves the best-ever coffees, indulgent cakes and heavenly salads. The best and freshest ingredients, so it’s all really healthy too.
Something you don’t know about is… The 20th Century Theatre on Westbourne Grove. You cannot imagine what it is from the street. Such an inspiring space that holds fantastic sample sales and is great for parties.
Orit, 40 Peel Street, W8 7PD
07973 562 463
Orit wears: multi-tubes bracelet in sand, £125, and silver heart and ball necklace, £165.


DUCIE
The brand: Bright hues, luxurious silks and a touch of gold.
Current collection: All about dresses and tops in pure crêpe silk – the best there is. I love simple, elegant and feminine shapes.
Inspirations: My best friend and sister-in-law is my muse. She has incredible style, and I try things on her and see what colours and shapes work.
Why LFW? Meeting our customers directly is great; we love hearing what they think.
Future plans: I’m working on creating a full collection, with an aim to show spring/summer 2010 at [Barcelona’s urban trade show] Bread and Butter next July. We are growing gradually in response to the demand we have.
Favourite shopping destination: There’s a shop under the flyover in Portobello Green called Annette Oliveri, which I love. I also like Aimé on Ledbury Road.
Favourite local hangout: The Chamberlayne – it’s cosy, but big enough to not feel too crowded on the weekends. And I normally know half the pub! The Paradise is great too, because it carries on until 2am and you can have a good dance upstairs. Plus I’m only five minutes up the road.
Something secret you don’t know about is... that one of my best friends has a new kids shop, Kidsen, on Chamberlayne Road. Her shop backs onto my office, so it’s the perfect place to pop in for a gossip. I’ve been hanging out there while she’s been having it done up and it’s brilliant.
Ducie, Kensal Road, W10 5DB
Also check out the I Love Ducie Clothes group on Facebook
Ducie wears: Maxi dress, £160; pendant and bag by De Roemer.


LOLA ROSE (NICKY GERWITZ)
The brand: Affordable luxury.
Current collection: The Christmas collection is full of bright and colourful semi-precious stones – purple and jade, red jade, blue agate and our new and exciting violet jade – plus our classic flower necklace is back by popular demand. I hope it will make people smile and feel happy, particularly with such hard times upon us!
Inspirations: From life itself; I have an inquisitive nature.
Why LFW? It’s the show of the year for us, with only the very best designers allowed to exhibit. I really enjoy meeting the buyers and the press; it’s really exciting and the response really gives me energy and a lot of ideas.
Future plans: So many… I want to grow Lola into her own identity, like a person. We are looking at new product areas, such as affordable fashion accessories and things that make you smile so you can spoil yourself without the guilt. We’re also planning to expand on a Lola Couture range…
Favourite shopping destination: Diane Von Furstenberg on Ledbury Road. Whenever I need to get something for a function or special occasion, I head straight there because I know I’ll never leave empty-handed.
Favourite local hangout: Beach Blanket Babylon on Ledbury Road. I love the recent refurbishment, and it’s great for private dinners. I also go to The Electric on Portobello Road a lot.
Something you don’t know about is… that The Chepstow is ideal for a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Lola Rose, 254a Belsize Road, NW6 4BT
020 7372 0777
Nicky wears: cabochon necklace, £75, and ring, £80.


ELIZABETH LAU
The brand: Quirky, happy dresses, knits and outerwear that dress you up in an instant.
Current collection: School days, with preppy knitwear, neat pleats, blazer lapels, uniform badges and ties.
Inspirations: Travelling, watching films, reading books... I design what I would love to wear myself!
Why LFW? It’s a chance to reach a wider audience. And it’s nice to see who buys our clothes and get feedback from them.
Future plans: Spring/summer 09 will see us launching bags for the first time. Oh, and we’re opening an online boutique this month too.
Favourite shopping destination: The Cross in Holland Park for special designer pieces and Café Lisboa on Golborne Road for the yummiest good-value cakes and pastries.
Favourite local hangout: Royal China on Queensway for dim sum.
Something you don’t know about is… Yvonne Martin Beauty Clinic in Little Venice – amazing for indulgent pampering.
Elizabeth Lau, 14a Chippenham Mews, W2 9AW
020 7286 8805
Elizabeth wears: Liquorice dress, £180.