Angel Chen is a unisex fashion label with a multilayered aesthetic, enthusiastically described as ‘Chinese Punk’ by the press. Having trained at the prestigious Central Saint Martins College in London, Angel was named as one of the “Top 5 graduate designers of the year” by i-D magazine, before going on to work for houses Marchesa and Vera Wang. Now based in Shanghai, Angel boasts stockists and exclusive collaborative projects with names like Urban Outfitters, H. Lorenzo, Lane Crawford and Luisa Via Roma, as well as earning a Forbes ’30 under 30’ title in 2016. In 2017, Chen was selected by Mercedes to show her AW17 on schedule as part of Milan Fashion Week.

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Michiko Koshino is the prolific designer behind the unisex streetwear brand of the same name, with a long cultural heritage as one of the influencers of the London 90’s club scene. A favourite of David Bowie, Stella McCartney and Candy Ken to name a few, the designer herself has developed a respected reputation amongst the creative community, widely known for her innovation, quality and iconic trend-starting pieces. Attaining both cult and commercial success with brands Yen Jeans, Motor King and Michiko London, Koshino remains at the forefront of forward-thinking fashion – currently featuring on the LFW schedule for Men’s Week.

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Established in London in 2015, STAFFONLY is a forward-thinking menswear and accessories brand founded by the two lead designers, Une and Shimo. Now based in Shanghai, STAFFONLY aims to offer a fresh take on traditional menswear by harnessing sharp concepts and incorporating innovative materials – creating both provocative and functional pieces every season. The brand can be found at renowned stockists such as, Lane Crawford, Machine-A, Dover Street Market Beijing and I.T.

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Swiss designer Julian Zigerli began his eponymous menswear label in 2010 with a belief in quality and wearability with a twist – famed for his collaborations with both artists and brands alike. Named winner of the Swiss Design Awards three times as well as being invited by Giorgio Armani himself to present in Milan, Julian now shows in Paris as part of the official schedule.

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IRADA is a Thai, contemporary womenswear brand celebrating modern women with pieces mixing elegance and a unique yet subtle use of fabric and embellishments. The IRADA woman embodies a certain image of confidence and femininity, expressed through revisited classics in a modern way. As a winner of Vogue « Who’s on Next », IRADA’s vision consists in creating a timeless wardrobe for women by mixing and matching pieces from its eclectic collections.

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From fashion to design and art, the school founded by Giulio Marangoni in 1935, is one of the most dynamic and popular institutions in the academic field of creativity today. Istituto Marangoni fosters the excellence of ‘Made in Italy’ education around the world, through a didactic approach which blends the experience of over 80 years of activity, with the needs of a digital and constantly updating industry. Istituto Marangoni have seven schools in the world’s top creative cities, with 2,000 new students enrolled every year, and an employment rate of 80%, making Istituto Marangoni the place where tomorrow’s talents are formed.

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Monologue is a concept store created by interior designer Pavel Klimczak with the intention to offer beautifully crafted, quality products from both established and emerging brands. Situated on popular Redchurch street, Monologue enjoys regular features in publications like Wallpaper, Elle Decoration and Living Etc as well as a loyal clientele of industry and celebrity names.

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Klaus Haapaniemi & Co. is a self titled artisanal lifestyle brand founded by Klaus himself and partner Mia Wallenius in 2010. The traditional folklore of their native Finland plays a big part in the brand’s style – executed with a modern twist and always exquisitely presented. Celebrated for a number of projects with various well known names (Moooi, Liberty, Established & Sons), Klaus also has a continued relationship with ceramics brand, Iittala.

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Matteo Cibic is a multidisciplinary designer with a focus on combining both craft and wit through his various commissioned and personal projects. Already a prolific name for over 10 years in his native Italy, his pieces have ventured into both the functional and conceptual – with notable pieces for both cultural institutions, private collectors and brands alike with names such as the V&A, Replay, Mint Gallery and Musee Pompidou to mention a few. In 2017, Matteo went onto win the prestigious ELLE DECO INTERNATIONAL DESIGN AWARDS (EDIDA) in the YOUNG DESIGN TALENT category.

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Originally from Osaka, the food capital of Japan, fashion pioneer Michiko Koshino has now married another fundamental part of her life to the Koshino brands in the form of a social dining experience. A whimsical play on the family name, ‘Michiko Sushino’ is a traditional Japanese restaurant and coffee bar serving authentic sushi in the most London of settings – a true merging of cultures. With quality at the heart of everything served, Michiko’s belief in the power of food bringing people together, has resulted in a relaxed and understated dining space focused on conversation and interaction.

The Design Prize Switzerland is an association and a private initiative that fosters the exchange, mediation and promotion of Swiss design across disciplines. It rewards the most innovative, meaningful and sustainable projects of Swiss design today. The 2017/2018 edition presented a high-profile jury, including international names like Demna Gvasalia and Lars Müller, who chose 13 winners in 12 different categories to showcase their inventive and exciting projects to the world.

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INT is a Swiss design studio that works at the intersection of art direction, interactive scenography, and creative programming. INT combines innovative technology with inventive curiosity.

The Studio advises clients on ways of using new technologies to improve their communication strategy, hand-picking the best suitable tools for its client’s identity and objectives. Thanks to the high-quality content and installations, the team guides audiences in unexpected ways. While the main partnerships are in the cultural field, INT also works with universities, non-profit organisations, architecture studios, luxury brand, startups, and conferences.

INT was founded by Laura Perrenoud, David Colombini, and Marc Dubois, who met at Ecole Cantonale d’Art de Lausanne. They are also the three artists and designers behind the art practice Fragmentin.

INT studio brings together a multidisciplinary team with a diverse skill-set that comprehends art direction, visual arts, software programming, and product design, and collaborates with experts for large-scale commissions.

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For the first London Design Biennale, Pro Helvetia, the Swiss Arts Council and the Embassy of Switzerland are delighted to present, as part of ‘CH+UK – Swiss Culture in the UK’, specially commissioned works by a group of seven design studios that have each collaborated with a specialist industrial manufacturer to reveal a collection of objects that explore the dynamics between utopia and the everyday. 
The Swiss contribution’s curator, Giovanna Lisignoli, responded to the Biennale’s brief with ‘In-between: The Utopia of the Neutral’, taking inspiration from neutrality as a space where experimentation, debate and movement can take place freely – a fitting reference to Thomas Moore’s celebrated Utopia.

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