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West Coast buyers, stylists and press have had the opportunity to meet some of London’s brightest design talent this week. The British Fashion Council presented a designer showcase titled the LONDON show ROOMS at the ACE Gallery Oct. 17 to 19 in conjunction with Concept Fashion Week.

“LA is a significant market for our designers and we are delighted to be taking this initiative over to the West Coast,” said Caroline Rush, CEO of the BFC in a prepared statement.

Henry Duarte's rockin' video installation.

From video installations to a garden parties, Concept LA Fashion Week presented designers through a series of installations. There were an assortment of looks on display.

INC International Concepts Long Sleeve Hooded Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Ribbon Tee, created specially for Macy's, for October's Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Macy’s has joined up with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation once again to raise awareness and funds for October’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Macy’s stores across the country are supporting the breast cancer awareness movement by offering special pink-themed apparel, cosmetics and home goods.

Skingraft, photos by N. Jayne Seward

Designers showing at Concept Fashion Week showed off their creative side. The event held at the Ace Gallery, included an installation format which gave designers a unique opportunity to express their vision. Videos, artwork and live models were all part of the mix.

Iman, looking a bit like Iman Barbie, from the Bravo website

Be sure to ask Mike Vensel lots of questions about Iman when you see him at the Concept L.A. Fashion Week Shows this weekend.

The designer, photographer, Kitten magazine publisher and Concept co-organizer and participant is among the designers who will compete on “The Fashion Show,” Bravo’s fashion reality show, which returns on Nov. 9 for a second season with an awesome new judge--Iman.

Skingraft's dark-edged installation at Concept L.A. Fashion Week, photos by John Eckmier

Farm Tactics makes workwear-like clothing that will be worn by discerning men who probably don’t do any real manual labor, unless you count the hands-on tasks of tending an organic urban garden and DIY home art projects.

Fremont at Concept L.A. Fashion Week. Photo by Volker Corell

The brands that showed on the runway last night during Concept’s L.A. Fashion Week event—Chelsea Rebelle, B:Scott and Fremont—had color tunnel vision, rarely wandering from the gray- and black-hued chapters of the Pantone swatch book. In a mostly monotone palette, the clothes were about design, surface texture, opacity and tailoring.

Chelsea Rebelle photo by Volker Corell

L.A. Fashion Week continues to evolve and change. This season there are a variety of parties, independent designer presentations and a few organized fashion weeks. Downtown will be a busy place as designers gear up for Fashion Week and Market.