Take two talented designers, a love of minimalism and clean lines, then add a seal of approval from Selfridges and what do you get? Meet MASC.

MASC’s S/S ’13 collection…

“The starting point for this season was to take images and break them up, like this picture of a plane’s wing,” explains Billy Yick, one half of the design duo. Yick works with her partner Duncan Shaw to create dramatic and empowering fashion which they refer to as ‘armoured elegance’ - which is just as intriguing as it sounds. That image of a plane gave them fresh inspiration for the new fashion brand’s signature style, which involves folding fabric like origami and playing with the silhouette. The side wing pencil skirt from their Spring/Summer 2013 Broken Wing collection is a great example of just how clever and transformative a carefully-placed fold can be.

MASC proudly produces everything in England by hand, though each piece shares its home-grown heritage with a strong Parisian design influence, owing to the couple’s formal training in the fashion capital at the prestigious Institut Français De La Mode. If you’ve ever lusted after a sculptural piece of Balenciaga then you’ll definitely be drawn in by the beautiful shapes created here, with cinched-in waists, kimono jackets and easy to layer pieces making everything effortlessly cool. What’s more, you can cleverly conceal the parts of your body that you’re less confident about and really emphasise the bits you love, whether that’s your back and shoulders (try the belted harness dress) or your legs (the torpedo dress is a must).

It’s no great surprise that Selfridges chose MASC to be one of their Bright Young Things of 2012, and 2013 will surely bring more success for Yick and Shaw as ones to watch. Already open to trying out new combinations of materials - S/S13′s collection includes raffia and Chinese silk - and to accentuating different parts of the silhouette, it will be intriguing to see what the duo comes up with next.

For more information and to find stockists, see the MASC website. You can also find MASC on Facebook and follow on Twitter @mascstudios.

Ever lusted after a sculptural piece of Balenciaga? Then you’ll definitely be drawn in by the beautiful shapes created by Masc…