Ashish fuk@lfw s/s 07

If there was such a thing as the LFW king of bling, Ashish Gupta would rightfully wear the crown. Every season his shiny, happy pieces brighten up the London catwalks and this collection was no exception. As soon as the show opened to the roar of a plane taking off, we knew we were in for a high-octane ride.

This season, seized by a desire to 'breathe new life into Jackie Collins', Ashish sent out a collection which will single-handedly keep the global sequin industry buoyant until 2009. From the tiger print cowl-back mini-dresses and zebra cigarette pants to a leopard print playsuit straight outta the pages of Hollywood Husbands, painstakingly arranged sequins covered every square millimetre of fabric.

A traditional smoking jacket, re-incarnated as a strapless cocktail dress, shimmers beetle black, while sparkling tracksuit bottoms become sexily slutty and Ashish's trademark bombers are disco all the way. Alongside these signature Ashish pieces, we also get a hint of a moodier, urban Ashish in streetier pieces and dark colours.

He's fessed-up to being a bit obsessed with stonewashed denim manifesting itsef in slouchy dresses, desert caps, baggy jackets and skinny jeans with stirrups and straps that have all having undergone his own version of the treatment. There's also a more playful use of print than we've seen in previous seasons.

At a Fashion Week with a reputation for being experimental, he has had a few celebrities knocking at his studio door - and while Ashish's brand of high-maintenance glam not be to everyone's taste, he brings some welcome sparkle to London fashion and for that, long may he reign.

Words: Maia Adams
Photos: David Jones