By Jack Moss
last updated

Mark Fast, chosen by Angela Missoni

Tell us about your stellar rise to prominence on the British scene, it’s been a big few years for you.

I feel very lucky to be able to show in a fashion city with such history. It always seemed a fairy-tale to me, but now I am living my dream. It just goes to show that this city is a real centre of hope for boundless creativity.

What was it that first inspired you to experiment with knitwear?

My tutor, Jessica Bugg, encouraged me to experiment with knitwear because my research was very texture driven. When I sat in front of my first machine, I did not know where to begin but that was the exciting part. There was so much to come from the unknown.

Who would you cite as your key fashion world influences?

I am heavily influenced by the 1920's, The Russian-born painter Erté, and a whole host of artists from that era such as Dimitri Chiparus.

Your work has been described as an organic extension of the female form – is this a primary concern in the design process?

As I am knitting, it is about imagining the female form underneath the stitches and how I can emulate her body.

How would you best describe the British fashion industry?

Rebelliously romantic

Who would you cite as your biggest inter-industry advocates thus far?

My parents have been the biggest support of all. Beyond that, Domus Magazine interviewed me, which was cool because I'm very interested in structure and architecture. The music industry has really gotten into what I am doing which is fun, I like loaning to singers like Rihanna and Kylie Minogue and then seeing the pictures of them out in my work. At home in Canada I am working on something very special with the art community, it will be an inter-disciplinary installation and I'm really excited about it.

Do you intend to continue showing in London

I love it here and London is the backbone of my creative vision.

A boy is standing.

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Pieces by Harris Elliott and his high fashion advocate, Paul Smith, for the Wallpaper* Show Time shoot

An image of bag.

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H Jacket from H by Harris

An image of red color bag.

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Q1 Skin from H by Harris

An image of hand bag.

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Q4 Tote from H by Harris

An image of hand bag.

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Q3 Rucksack from H by Harris

A woman is standing.

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Mark Fast coupes up with Angela Missoni for the Wallpaper* shoot

A cat walk by a woman.

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Mark Fast, Spring Summer 2010

A cat walk by a woman in red color skirt.

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Mark Fast, Spring Summer 2010

A woman in black color dress.

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Mark Fast, Spring Summer 2010

Woman in blue color dress.

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Mark Fast, Spring Summer 2010

A man in black and green colored cloths.

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James Long combined with pieces from Lucas Ossendrijver of Lanvin, for the W*130 shoot

A man is wearing sun glass.

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James Long, Spring Summer 2010

A man is wearing sun glass.

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James Long, Spring Summer 2010

A man is having bag.

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James Long, Spring Summer 2010

A man in black and green color dress.

(Image credit: TBC)

A man in black color dress.

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James Long, Spring Summer 2010

A man is wearing sun glass.

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James Long, Spring Summer 2010

A woman is standing like flying.

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A blouse by Veryta comes combined with pieces from Stefano Pilati at Yves Saint Laurent

A woman in simple dress.

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Veryta, Spring Summer 2010

A woman in colorful dress.

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Veryta, Spring Summer 2010

A woman in white and blue color dress.

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Veryta, Spring Summer 2010

A woman in black color dress.

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Veryta, Spring Summer 2010

A lady is silver color dress.

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Veryta, Spring Summer 2010

A woman in black color dress and having fruits.

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A distinctive, cherry-inspired headpiece from milliner Piers Atkinson coupled with a Pringle of Scotland dress for the Wallpaper* shoot

A woman is coving her face with net.

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Piers Atkinson, 'Sex on the Brain' Spring Summer 2010

A lady is carrying fruits.

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Piers Atkinson, 'Sex on the Brain' Spring Summer 2010

A lady is having fruits on head.

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Piers Atkinson, 'Sex on the Brain' Spring Summer 2010

A lady is having fruit.

(Image credit: TBC)

Piers Atkinson, 'Sex on the Brain' Spring Summer 2010

A woman is standing.

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Mary Katrantzou, as chosen by Frida Giannini of Gucci for Wallpaper*

A woman is in black color dress.

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Mary Katrantzou, Spring Summer 2010

A woman is in colorful dress.

(Image credit: TBC)

Mary Katrantzou, Spring Summer 2010

A woman in colorful dress.

(Image credit: TBC)

Mary Katrantzou, Spring Summer 2010

A woman in black and blue color dress.

(Image credit: TBC)

Mary Katrantzou, Spring Summer 2010

A woman is in simple dress.

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Mary Katrantzou, Spring Summer 2010

A woman is sleeping on the floor.

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A Christopher Shannon t-shirt and trousers-combo with pieces by Italo Zuchelli at Calvin Klein

A man in black and white color dress.

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Christopher Shannon, Spring Summer 2010

A man in white and blue color dress.

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A man in t-shirt and having bag.

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Christopher Shannon, Spring Summer 2010

A man in simple t-shirt.

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Christopher Shannon, Spring Summer 2010

Christopher Shannon

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Christopher Shannon, Spring Summer 2010

A multi-chromatic shirt and short selection by Jsen Wintle combined with a coat from his advocate, Christopher Bailey of Burberry.

(Image credit: TBC)

A multi-chromatic shirt and short selection by Jsen Wintle combined with a coat from his advocate, Christopher Bailey of Burberry

A man in dark color dress.

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Jsen Wintle, Spring Summer 2010

Jsen Wintle

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Jsen Wintle, Spring Summer 2010

A man is having bag.

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Jsen Wintle, Spring Summer 2010

A man is in formal suit.

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Jsen Wintle, Spring Summer 2010

A man is wearing white color shoes.

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Jsen Wintle, Spring Summer 2010

A man in blue color dress.

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A bewigged Mare un Rol's model for the Wallpaper* January issue shoot

A look book selection from the latest season at Latvian fashion house.

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A look book selection from the latest season at Latvian fashion house, Mare un Rol's

A look book selection from the latest season at Latvian fashion house.

(Image credit: TBC)

A look book selection from the latest season at Latvian fashion house, Mare un Rol's

A lady is looking from door.

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A look book selection from the latest season at Latvian fashion house, Mare un Rol's

There are wooden chairs.

(Image credit: TBC)

A look book selection from the latest season at Latvian fashion house, Mare un Rol's

A man is standing.

(Image credit: TBC)

A look book selection from the latest season at Latvian fashion house, Mare un Rol's

A look book selection from the latest season at Latvian fashion house.

(Image credit: TBC)

A look book selection from the latest season at Latvian fashion house, Mare un Rol's

Catface mask by Maiko Takeda.

(Image credit: TBC)

Catface mask by Maiko Takeda

Rose headpiece by Maiko Takeda.

(Image credit: TBC)

Rose headpiece by Maiko Takeda

Jack Moss
Fashion Features Editor

Jack Moss is the Fashion Features Editor at Wallpaper*, joining the team in 2022. Having previously been the digital features editor at AnOther and digital editor at 10 and 10 Men magazines, he has also contributed to titles including i-D, Dazed, 10 Magazine, Mr Porter’s The Journal and more, while also featuring in Dazed: 32 Years Confused: The Covers, published by Rizzoli. He is particularly interested in the moments when fashion intersects with other creative disciplines – notably art and design – as well as championing a new generation of international talent and reporting from international fashion weeks. Across his career, he has interviewed the fashion industry’s leading figures, including Rick Owens, Pieter Mulier, Jonathan Anderson, Grace Wales Bonner, Christian Lacroix, Kate Moss and Manolo Blahnik.

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