Somerset-based fashion designer Nathan Slate made a striking debut at London Fashion Week with his first-ever collection. As the founder of Bridgwater’s concept store SL-ATE, Nathan presented his collection under Fashion Scout’s prestigious ‘Ones to Watch’ showcase, earning high praise for its bold and thought-provoking vision.
Entitled “MOuRNING: A NEW DAWN, WHERE HUMANITY’S LAST HYMN IS FLIESBUZZING,” the collection confronts audiences with a stark future where urban development has erased nature beneath layers of concrete. By repurposing textiles from his recent installation, Nathan created garments that are both a requiem for what is lost and a warning for what lies ahead.
“This collection tells the story of a world where we ignored nature, continuously paving it over with concrete,” Nathan explained. “I aimed to weave a narrative where fashion not only celebrates innovation but also mourns what’s disappearing—and questions if survival can still hold beauty and poetry.”
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The runway show featured silhouettes that portrayed themes of collapse and resilience. Opening with two farmer-like figures, the presentation unfolded through storm-cloud motifs, fragmented human forms, swarming flies, and the eventual dominance of concrete textures within the fabrics.
The outcome was a powerful mix of devastation and hope—a tribute to rural life and a call for sustainability to transcend marketing buzzwords and become a genuine responsibility. While London Fashion Week marks Nathan’s international breakthrough, he remains deeply connected to Somerset, where SL-ATE continues to nurture creativity, storytelling, and community engagement.