Rebecca Robinson thinks handbags from a very different point of view.

“Women should not have to invest hundreds or thousands of dollars for handbags that aren’t guaranteed to remain exclusive. psnob is a handbag that enables women to express their individual style and that’s a powerful tool.” Artist Rebecca Robinson, creator and designer of psnob tells us. “I wanted to use my fine arts background in an inimitable way, and tapping into the fashion industry was an avenue that would be very rewarding.”

www.psnob.com

Even thought there is just the “big boys” running the models to the catwalk in New York Fashion Week there is sometimes something different popping up than the usual “haute couture”. This time the speculation asks us how far this new retro style will take us? I mean, there was short nineties revival, even shorten eighties revival (gladly) and then there has been this sixties style for awhile. Now Matthew Williamson is taking us back to the fifties and sixties and even further, to the eastern block and Soviet Union. Or what do you say about these pre spring ‘09 collection dresses by Matthew Williamson?

www.matthewwilliamson.com

Elegant and freshly surprising new jewellery talent from Finland, Hanna Korhonen, is bringing all men a totally new approach to mens jewellery. Elegil is a gold or silver jewel to put in a new place, to men’s collar. Or why not some other place if you like?  Derek always loves when things are thought a little bit out-of-the-box. And it looks good too :). The production has just started and Hanna told us that it will be available for shipment in this year’s end. She hasn’t a reseller to foreign countries yet but english web-pages are coming up before spring time. Can’t wait!

www.elegil.fi
www.hannakorhonen.fi

photo: Markku Lehto

FRIDA from Israel has a new winter collection in stores. She tells us:

“Frida is a seriously talented designer who creates sophisticated, elegant garments for intelligent women. A graduate of Israel’s prestigious Shenkar College of Fashion and Textiles,  Frida was chosen from amongst international contenders to compete in the prestigious Italian Mittelmoda Fashion Awards. She interned with Donna Karan in New York before returning to Tel Aviv to establish her own brand & boutiques which she sells her own designs. While her style is somewhat influenced by her experience with the famous American designer Frida’s collections are unmistakably unique. ”

www.frida.co.il

Every now and then we like to show people also the designers we have came accross and liked. Sandor Lakatos is a hungarian menswear designer and a bespoke tailor (as his family owns a tailoring shop). Sandor have made his style familiar to the fashionistas since 1996.

His 2008 collection doesn’t drop your jaws off the cliff but is definetely refreshing and playful collection in menswear for awhile and worth a mention. The androgyne style is almost more masculine than feminine but has some strange play and twist. Something which brings your mind the clothes Buck Rogers used back in 1929. You can also imagine his collection to be on MTV-channel in  every other brit-pop video and boy does that model remind us very closely about Brett Andersson. Just a co-incidence?

sandorlakatos.com

We came accross this new young talent from Finland, LEEWOOD a.k.a Saara Lepokorpi some while ago and decided to feature her in FashionDerek. She has a unique but modern style in her design which looks like made for the high-level stockist only. But our surprise Saara told us that she hasn’t a stock yet. Derek believes, that she will definitely have one any time soon. Big or small design house, we don’t care, just want that beautiful “detective-girl” jacket shown in the picture above (from the line “chick business II”, 2007).

In meantime check out her awesome portfolio-site: LEEWOOD

photo: Liisa Valonen