For Summer 2009, the label Romance Was Born have looked to the seashore- and particuarly shells for their inspiration.  Luke Sales and Anna Plunkett, the Australian brains behind this label both met while studying at East Sydney Tech then after both entering a European fashion contest together as competitors they decided to launch Romance Was Born.

Check out an interview with Dazed plus more of the collection after the jump

I’m no sunglasses expert, I’ve never actually properly worn a pair- however I feel that for the past few years I’ve not really seen much other than over sized Victoria Beckham/Olsen twin frames and plain aviators. So it’s good to see Mercura NYC taking sunglasses in a different direction. Although it sounds odd there’s something sinister and creepy about these frames, like they would fit in well in a Tim Burton film (I think Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka had something of a similar feel) I’m going to have nightmares about these things. After all that; well done Mercura, I love them!

More after the jump.

It’s really cool to see a designer bridge the gap between streetwear and high fashion, It’s even cooler to see it presented on the catwalk at a fashion week - It’s just not something you see very often.

Currently theirs a huge saturation in the streetwear market with everyone producing T-shirt lines and very rarely making the step into a full collection. It’s frustrating when there is enough energy and inspiration behind the streetwear culture to totally stand up to a more traditional fashion label- as newcomer Krizia Robustella has just proven. Take note people- this is the way things are heading.

Check out more of the collection and a Madrid Fashion Week catwalk video after the jump.

White Trumpet is a young line by the designers Reno Inchenko & Julie Rouziou, both based in East London. SS09 is very mathematically inspired - with it’s individual geometric shapes. Such cool designs but I wouldn’t want to be the pattern cutter for them! Each individual panel is a separate folded pattern piece.

More of the collection after the jump. Collection available at Pixie Market

Blood is the New Black launched 2004 in California. The concept of it is to give unknown artists a break into the industry by them each having their own page on the website. Collectively, they’re all under the same BITNB label but they’re given the freedom to be known and not shrouded by the brand.

They’ve got a lot of talented artists onboard - I particualrly love what Keaton Henson and Dan Monick are doing even though I’d pretty much wear most of what everyone over there has.

Check out their website for the full lineup

Mary Meyer founded her self titled line in Fall 2005, Then in 2006 she moved from Oakland, CA to Brooklyn, NY where she has ran her label ever since.

She’s got a similar aesthetic to neighboring NYC line Sophomore - but where they are more reliant on the classic staple shapes, Mary Meyer has more of an emphasis on print in her collections.

Check out more of her work after the jump.

Rebecca Torres is a Glasgow based designer. She graduated in 2007 from Caledonian University, she then went onto launch her label ‘TORRES‘ in April 2008 which since has been profiled in magazines such as Borne and Vice.

Her collections are totally made up of clingy stretch fabrics and bold geometric patterns. It’s really cool to see a whole collection based around these type of fabrics while still using them in a creative way. If Dov Charney at AA decided to do an evening wear range you know it would be this.

It would be interesting to see what she could do with Menswear.

More of her collections after the jump >>

Father and son line, Casely Hayford is a thoroughly English label. If I ever decide to go shooting Pheasants with high society I think I’m going to have to be kitted out in their 60% classic english, 40% streetwear inspired line.

They’re serious about keeping to the classic Savile Row craftsmanship techniques; I’d say it certainly reflects in each piece.

Fashion156 have been able to get exclusive shots of their AW09 line, along with an interesting lengthy interview.

> More after the jump >

Sophie Hulme launched her own line only a year after graduating from Kingston University in 2007, a few seasons later and her collections are still going strong and growing.

She’s had quite a bit of commercial success too for such a young designer, being stocked in Selfridges Oxford Street and B-Store on Savile Row

I particularly love the sequined garments in AW09 and would probably wear them myself despite it being womenswear. Give me that gold sequined bomber above any day.

Check out the collection after the jump. Purchase at B-Store or Pixie Market for the US.

I’ve only slightly been keeping track of Japan Fashion Week since it started last Monday in Tokyo, but for me the highlight has to be Gentaro Noda’s label, ‘Heath‘.

Gentaro is a Central Saint Martins Menswear graduate, who since graduating has moved back to Japan where he then went on to launch his first line named ILIAD and then from 2007, Heath.

It’s easy to see why he’s built up a loyal following over in Japan when you see this collection. Check out those velvet lapels and the plaid suit pants. If he was stocked over here then he could certainly count me as a customer.

More of the collection after the jump, Full stockist page at the website.