Christopher Shannon + Reebok= 'Scally elegance.'

Christopher Shannon like Simone Shailes(for Top Shop) seems to be the start of that new high street-meets- young designer trend. Christopher is to do a line for Reebok only one year after leaving Central Saint Martins (CSM). The high street that used to play it safe collaborating with more well established names like Viktor & Rolf and Kate Moss is now daring to take on new and fresh talent.

Reebok that sponsored Christopher’s Spring/Summer London Fashion Week show in September 2008 has commissioned him to design a limited edition capsule collection of Reebok Classics and Exo fit trainers and remodelled sportswear pieces. Designer sportswear had a real breakthrough when his fellow CSM graduate Stella McCartney produced a female line for adidas in 2004.

In contrast to many of his fellow ex CSM students turned famous fashion designers, Christopher’s clothes are and aims to be shop rail ready. “ What I do is design products that I want to be of a high quality, and to sell, not some rubbish inspired by a dream I had when I was on holiday holding a hand-embroidered handkerchief of my grandfather’s from when he was in the circus.” He said.

Only a couple of months after leaving CSM with a master in fashion design- Christopher debuted under the Top Man sponsored London Fashion Week show in September 2008. The learning curve has been steep ever since. Being a northerner its clear where his inspiration comes from, his clothes having been described as ‘scally elegance’ and ‘tailored sportswear’.
For being in his twenties the man’s resume is very impressive and includes a collaboration with senior stylist to the stars Judy Blame (for Commes des Garcons) and having his work stocked in Paris’ main fashion boutique Colette.