Brand Update: Teatum Jones

 

 

 

We got the chance to look at Teatum and Jones new and exciting ss12 collection as well as meeting with one part of the fantastic duo Catherine Teatum at LFW last month. After the dust settled from yet again another hectic fashion week we got the opportunity to interview the designers behind this creatively innovative brand. So here it is !

What does fashion mean to you and your brand?

Everything. We sacrifice time with our loved ones to spend the majority of our waking hours creating our brand and laying out the brand’s future.

What made you want to become a fashion designers?

We met whilst working together on menswear and became enamored with one another’s sense of escapism. We are both besotted with the power of a story and drawn to both romance and tragedy, which leads us to seek out beauty and refinement in what is ordinarily considered sinister or dark. We are also fascinated by human behaviour and exchanges, as such the Teatum Jones signature is within our anthropological approach to design and fashion.

What are some of your accomplishments as designers?

We were part of the 2009 finalists group for Fashion Fringe, which made us very determined to go on and succeed. Our second AW11collection was the first time we took our brand to retail and we were picked up by stores in four major international territories; London, New York, Dubai and Jeddah. We were approached by the long standing fashion icon Annie Lennox to create a bespoke dress for her from our debut SS11 collection to be worn at a high profile Charity event organized by the HRH Prince of Wales. For our third season we were given an On Schedule slot at LFW for which we held our DebutSS12 Presentation at the prestigious RSA on the Strand.

What do you believe makes a quality article of clothing?

1. Authenticity in an intelligent design concept
2.A respect of craftsmanship towards manufacturing and production.

What's your favorite part of being designers?
The impulsive and instinctive way that next seasons ideas start simmering away as soon as
we have shot the look book to the currentcollection….its a weird juxtaposition because we’re stood selling current season whilst discussing the music for the next show or event!

What does the future hold for Teatum and Jones?

Our LFW events will become ever more interesting and deeply intertwined with the collection’s theme. We want to further expand our retail presence in the US and the Middle East, the latter of which is a very interesting and directional market at the moment and for next season we’re keeping our fingers crossed that we are going to be able to collaborate with an incredibly talented shoe designer, talks have already begun!!

This ss12 collection looks at sentimental perfections of 1950 American suburbia and the darker side of life behind those pastel coloured walls. Delving deeper the collection is mainly designed around a story of a vibrant young couple swept away by a dream of perfection and the reality of what happens when that artificial dream expires leaving you with nothing but your own surreal and frantic desire to escape. We are treated to a carefully considered and applicated mix of masculinity and femininity. Traditional mens-wear tailoring details such as lapels, pockets and vents were manipulated and altered in size, creating surreal proportions. Feminine fluid silk dresses played a huge part in this collection all effortless, elegant and unique in pattern whilst using a strong, escapist, cloudy, surreal collage narrative print throughout. We loved the combination of mens-wear detailing throughout this womens-wear collection along with the beautiful prints which made the collection truly irresistible. Their preeminent capped shoulder dresses engineered to fill with air to illustrate the vast expanse of a surreal and escapist landscape, was the main winner for us which clearly took clever engineering and development which is hugely apparent throughout this SS12 collection. 

www.teatumjones.com

Sneak Peek at: Ivana Basilotta SS12

Yes this is the new Ivana Basilotta collection for Spring summer 2012. Ivana is continuing to provide us with eco-sustainable clothing from organic, eco, biodegradable, recycled fabrics and peace silks. Creating luxury clothing that is not only wearable but comfortable is something Ivana Basilotta excels in. This collection consists of soft draping, clever sculpting, delicate beading and embroidered finishings. Making this a essential, easy but enticing collection to own.

www.ivanabasilotta.co.uk

Photograpaher Paul Weaver

Sneak peek at: Wondaland SS12

After meeting Alice Rugge-Price Wondalands brilliant designer

and

previewing the Spring summer 2012 collection

I was left feeling excited for the new year ahead.

I was lucky to have a thorough browse through Wondalands newest collection and get a true insight into whats coming in 2012, so we have a exclusive interview with Alice so you can find out too.

Tell us about the brand

Wondaland is a vintage-inspired label designed by Central Saint Martins alumni Alice Rugge-Price. Super chic designs are complimented by antique embellishments and playful prints; always combining old and new to create something fresh and fashion-forward. Margo Stilley, the brand’s muse and ambassador, is the embodiment of this being an avid fan of mixing vintage pieces with her own eclectic style. The designs are beautiful in their nostalgia whilst being modern in design. My main focus is mainly on creating dresses and event-wear for special occasions, along with easy to wear day-to-night styles using only the most flattering fits that suit proper women rather than just size 8 models.

Give us a insight into the ss/12 collection

Wondaland’s S/S12 collection takes its inspiration from the romance and mystique of Saigon – lots of summer silks and casual chambrays that are balanced out by more ‘urban’ pieces such as collarless jackets & tuxedo pants combo.

Imagine a 1970’s Bianca Jagger taking time out Studio 54 to holiday in the East…rocking a tailored shorts-suit with tiers of scalloped chiffon in the daytime and then slipping into a retro panther print maxi dress with a bejewelled jacket at sunset. Still capturing Wondaland’s commitment to bohemian romance but with a sprinkling of retro glamour.

Whats your favourite design?

My favourite piece(s) would be the Jagger series: the jagger jacket is super sleek and lightweight, and this is in contrast to the texture of the scalloped chiffon layers that cascade down the front. I love its modern edge. It’s such a useful item as it can be worn over everything from a t-shirt and jeans combo to floor-length evening dress. I would wear it with the matching shorts and a soft tee, roughly tucked in to show the high-waisted shorts.

We love your vintage feel and modern prints, how do you go about combining the two?

I think with prints, the design can be quite simple to balance it out (see sophia blouse) so I usually choose to place quirky retro prints on a beautifully simple vintage shape, such as the Dusk dress which references Ossie Clarke’s designs. The print this season is a collaboration with artist Catherine Cazalet. We always collaborate with a different artist each season.

What can we expect from Wondaland in the future ?

Lots more beautiful prints and collaborations with amazing artists, and lots of wearable vintage-inspired dresses, blouses and jackets!

We cant wait to see the S/S collection in stores next year and hope to see more exciting print collaborations and vintage influences channeled into modern garments for the modern girl.

www.wondaland.co.uk

Sneak peek at: Urbancode

Whats the code?

Urbancode are known for their luxury leather goodies, from clothing to accessories and not forgetting those fabulous bags, they take their inspiration from british vintage but add their own signature style onto every piece making them contemporary and bang on trend. This British design company knows how to work the leather and take pride in using only quality fabrics.

Urbancode are bringing us a Luxe leather story teamed with faux furs and beautiful feathers that works around those feminine tailored pieces, so keep a eye out this A/W!

www.urbancode.co.uk

Designer update: Knock on the door

Christine Hall

Camilla Kennedy

We met Charlotte Bramford the brains behind Knock on the Door last month. Charlotte walked us through the lastest collection telling us about the fabrics, designs and designers behind the brand. With a strong passion for ethical fashion, Charlotte searches for the best new designers to inject style and creativity into the eco clothing market.

After looking through the Knock on the door rails we choose two designers to share with you. We loved Christine Hall's bold hand dyed batik designs produced by African community enterprises on up cycled fabric, 100% cottons and beautiful silks. Birmingham graduate Christine started making dresses at the age of 17 for her friends going on to develop skills at various ateliers. Camilla Kennedy also caught our eye with girly designs and chic details another Birmingham graduate Camilla has designed her collection around browns and creams featuring organic cotton day dresses to quirky but cute cocktail pieces

Each designer creates a capsule collection exclusively for Knock on the Door. Which is produced using ethical fabrics and UK manufacturers and is sold under the designer's name.

Check out Camilla and Christine's designs along with all knock on the door designers at ...

www.knockonthedooronline.com