FASTER BY MARK FAST | SPRING / SUMMER 2012

London-based designer Mark Fast presented his Faster diffusion line stateside, for the first time, in New York on Saturday night.

The Canadian born knitwear designer dialed down his tough signature style of body-con knits with a rainbow of pastel shades. Mint, melon and fuchsia hues softened the raciness of his mesh, see-through, body-con designs.

“It’s like Wolford on acid,” he said of his new collection that features mini-dresses, loose-knits and fringed skirts alongside his trademark body-con knits. It’s designs like these that have seen Fast collaborate with top retailers including Topshop, Woolmark and Christian Louboutin.

As well as showing in New York for the first time, Fast had made some changes from previous shows. It was a rare show in which curvier girls didn’t feature as part of his model cast, models who have become somewhat of a trademark of the designers shows.

The designer, who mastered his craft at St Martin’s College of Art has said that his inspirations behind this season’s Faster line are “dance, craft and the Batakair,” listing Jean-Paul Gaultier as a design hero.

Fast’s first show in New York came courtesy of Aldo, who are home to a new capsule shoe collection by Fast. Having the support of Aldo this season, has meant that Fast has been able to play around with sock boots and pumps, adding an extra dimension to his shows.

- Lindsay Putland

Photos courtesy of and with many thanks to Fashion Bomb Daily