Who? It took Central Saint Martins' graduate Jens Laugesen, 36, a mere two seasons to establish himself as one of London's up-and-coming designers. Hailed as the city's 'deconstructed futurist', the Danish visionary has managed to bag awards and rave reviews since the launch of his debut label in 2002.
How did it happen? Having studied haute couture at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne in 1991, Laugesen left for Scandinavia and a brief stint as a fashion journalist covering the runways. He returned to Paris in 1994 to complete a masters degree in fashion management at the Institute Francais de la Mode and, in 2000, relocated to London where he pursued his masters degree in fashion design. He manages his own ready-to-wear label, and designs a capsule collection available at Britain's Top Shop. He will be teaching at Central Saint Martins as a part-time tutor next year.
What do the clothes look like? 'Hybrid reconstruction' sums up the highly complicated layering of Laugesen's works. In his latest collection, titled Ground Zero 03, he explores the idea of pulling bits and pieces apart and reassembling them with a bespoke approach and a solemn palette of greys and blacks and whites.
What does the designer have to say? 'My most recent collection was inspired by the hedonism of the 80s, and I was also inspired by Nick Knight's book on the skinheads during that period,' he says. 'It's the spirit of having no future and the darkness of the time.' Of comparisons to fellow minimalists Helmut Lang and Martin Magiela, he adds: 'I don't mind it when my work is compared to existing labels, as long as we share the same design concepts - I'd be a little worried though if my designs were being compared to those of Dolce&Gabbana.'
Where can you buy them? Jens Laugesen is available at Selfridges in London, Maria Luisa in Paris and I.T in Hong Kong.