Dolce & Gabbana backs emerging designer Feben with Milan show

Dolce & Gabbana continues to support emerging stylists. After helping British punk-queer designer Matty Bovan, Japanese designer Tomo Koizumi and Brazilian designer Karoline Vitto to show in Milan, the Italian luxury label has selected another emerging name, Feben, born in Ethiopia and based in London. She has been invited by Dolce & Gabbana to stage a runway show in Milan during next February’s womenswear fashion week.

 
Feben Vemmenby has had a tumultuous life. The daughter of an Ethiopian woman, she was born in Pyongyang, North Korea, where she spent two years in various refugee camps before going to live in Sweden at the age of 18. She then moved to the UK to study at the London College of Fashion. She won a scholarship to do a master’s degree in women’s fashion at Central Saint Martins and, after graduating, she joined Newgen, the British Fashion Council’s start-up incubator.
 
Feben’s graduation collection caught the fashion world’s eye. Beyoncé asked her to design some of her stage costumes, and other clients started to place orders, allowing Feben to fund her own label, which she runs with a small team. Feben has gained a reputation for her technical ability with textiles and her bold, colourful creations, and is regarded as one of London Fashion Week’s most promising new names.

“Feben’s creativity is energetic, vital and sensual. We very much love her authentic approach and her focus on handmade items. Her collaborations with artisans from all over the world have convinced us to support her work,” said Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana in a press release. The Italian label will take complete charge of Feben’s next collection, from sourcing fabrics to producing the looks and organising the show.