Basso & Brooke score

The UK fashion brand Basso and Brooke are on their way to the big time. The brand, which won its first competition during London Fashion Week this past September, has now landed a contract with AEFFE in Milan. AEFFE is the luxury goods company that produces and distributes lines for big fashion names like Alberta Ferretti, Moschino, Narciso Rodriguez, Jean-Paul Gaultier and Pollini. Now both Basso and Brooke, and runners-up in the competition Sinhastanic, have both signed with AEFFE for at least two seasons.

Chairman of AEFFE, Massimo Ferretti, told reporters that it is in the best interest of the industry to promote new talent and introduce fresh and exciting impulses into the market. Basso and Brooke, which consists of 30-year-old designer Christopher Brooke and graphic designer Bruno Basso only met one year ago. And now they are well on their way to conquering the world of fashion. Ferretti admitted he found their enthusiasm contagious and wants to build this brand from scratch. Although the initial contract is only for one year Brooke is not worried. "It isn't worth Massimo's while to get into this just for a couple of seasons," Brooke told reporters.

Brooke describes the label as rather overpowering, resembling the Versace brand of fashion. Showing commercial prowess Brooke has already enlisted fellow AEFFE label Pollini to design the shoes for the autumn/winter 2005 collection, which will be shown in London in February. The shoes that Brooke and Basso had designed for the London Fashion Week competition simply weren't suitable for selling, although Brooke revealed that there has been a great deal of interest in them.

According to Fashion Fringe rules, Basso and Brooke are obligated to continue showing at London Fashion Week for five years. This does not appear to be a problem for the duo. Brooke admits to being very happy in London, and if the project manages to elevate London to the standard of the best place to witness emerging design talent, then he does not see the point in leaving all that behind.