J.W. Anderson to design a collection for Versus

Hot collaboration alert! London Fashion Week man-of-the-moment J.W. Anderson has been tapped as the first designer to create a capsule collection for Versace's funky little sister label, Versus, as part of the brand's new strategy.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: J.W. ANDERSON

The rising British design talent from Northern Ireland, who snapped up the Emerging Talent Award for Women's Ready-To-Wear at the British Fashion Awards on Tuesday evening, is designing a range for Versus which will be launched at a presentation scheduled for March or April 2013 in New York.

The designer, who counts Alexa Chung, Daisy Lowe, Leigh Lezark and Pixie Geldof among his well-dressed fans, wowed critics and won legions of new followers with his sell-out collection for Topshop, which hit stores in September – highlights included the pleated kilt skirt, letterman jacket, and bat and ghost motif jumpers

J.W. ANDERSON FOR TOPSHOP

Anderson launched his eponymous label with a men's collection in 2008, and followed up with womenswear a few years later.

Of the new collaboration, Donatella Versace, who announced earlier this month that, moving forward, the Versus collection would evolve as a collaborative effort with young designers, stylists and other creatives, said: 'I keep a close eye on young talent, and have been impressed by Jonathan’s work over the last couple of years. Versus is all about fun, change, and digital. I can’t wait to present this collaboration!'

Versace previously tapped London-based designer Christopher Kane to helm the Versus label, which he designed collections for over the past six seasons before stepping down from the role earlier this month.

J.W. Anderson's capsule collection for the Italian brand will include women's and men's ready-to-wear and accessories and will be available online at versus.it and at top retailers internationally. Are you as excited about this news as we are? Let us know in the comments box below...

PICS: BRITISH FASHION AWARDS 2012

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