Vetrate - Silk Satin off the shoulder dress

Vetrate is a design I created back in Octobe 2011 whilst studying for my Degree in Textile design.

I recently had a commission to make a vintage vixen/mad men wiggle style dress from this fabric so a client knew they would be unique at a wedding they were attending.

The dress is truly tailored to fit and flatter the wearer & took a lot of tweaking to ensure the perfect coverage over the Decollete

Arya - Summer Garden Print Dress

Dress made from self deigned Summer Garden Print as shown previously. This classic style is cut to flatter and sewn for a perfect fir

Humming Bird Meadow Dress

As you can see, Humming Bird Meadow dress is finally complete. The attention to detail is apparent, with crisp pattern matched seams, a flash of scarlet for lining to add the extra bit of specialness and finished with my own design label

Vintage Photographs post war 1940's - 1960's

Nan in her 1950's New Look Dior style dress

flying was such a glamourous affair! No hen/stag parties via easy jet! 

Being smart, even on the day away from the factories meant 3 piece suits on the beach!

as well as full jewellery!

post war fashion, nan and her friend taking a stroll
 

Pure -White Leather Embelished Collar

Pure - White leather & lace collar with applique flowers from my self designed fabric finished with crystal buttons and opal beads £45 to purchase

Front detail

Left Collar Detail

right collar detail

Whilst at Gawthorpe I was able to work on a new leather collar design, carrying on from the Venician Renaisanse inspired collars I produced for my degree work. I stripped the leather colour back, opting for a pure white leather then embelished with white lace (hence the Pure name) and finally with the laser cut petals from my self designed fabric. Rather than laser cutting the collar, this was all worked by hand, therefore making the collar much more cost effective.

Gawthorpe Hall Day

What a marvelous day I had at Gawthorpe Hall! I was honoured to be asked to display some of my degree collection at Gawthorpe for one of their pop up costume events where the lovely curators work like honey bee's to bring out a selection on vintage dresses and paraphernalia to display for 1 day only.  The point was to show contemporary textiles nestled next to the traditional, giving an insight into the changes within the textile industry.

The visitors were absolutely lovely and it was a rare chance to speak to people who were genuinely interested in your work.

The Hall is simply stunning and the tea rooms leak and potato soup simply gorgeous so next time any one is in the Padiham area, Gawthorpe is definately worth a visit! 

leather studded collars

Following the success of my laser cut leather collars and chokers as part of my degree collection, I was commissioned to add a studded leather collar to a dress which would match her Jeffrey Campbell Lita spiked ankle boots

degree collection - couture gown and laser cut leather collars

Well it's been a busy few weeks getting ready for my final degree piece with involved thousands of hours of sampling, refining my dress patterns which are self designed and putting together a gown which incorporates contemporary corestry, laser cut leathers and silks which are again self designed using adobe photoshop and illustrator and finally using traditional courure sewing techniques to bring the whole piece together. here are some images from my degree show

Venetian inspired silk evening gown with laser cut leather detail in degree show setting

Silk bodice corset detail with silk chiffon and laser cut leather embelishment, finally brass religious icons that represent the byzantine fascade of St Marks Basilica, Venice

Full corset detail showing marbling self designed fabric which represents the marbled fascade of St Marks Basilica, Venice, the laser cut leather represents the window detail of Dodges Palace, Venice

The silk formed cups of the bodice with the sweeping silk chiffon straps represent the domed roof of St marks Basilica, Venice

In a less embelished state to give a more simplistic and fluid gown

Laser cut leather and silk chiffon collar with silk chiffon laser cut embellishment,  commissions now being taken

laser cut leather collar

silver heart pendant with diamante cross on suede ribbon, commissions now available

St Mark - Caught Between Heaven & the Deep Green Sea

I am so pleased to present elements of my final B A Hons collection. The result is a culmination of many hours developments and sampling. Please enjoy..

Bodice Detail

laser cut leather and chiffon collar

Laser cut leather and silk chiffon collar detail

laser cut leather and chiffon detailing to satin bodice

back detail with laser cut leather strap

Full version of FIA Bodice and Skirt

Skirt detail

photshoot styling

Venetian Glamour

My work has continued to evolve during this project. I am finalising positions of the leatherwork and embellishments at present yet today I feel that I am at a stage where these can be applied to the dress permanently.