Angela Morton is an avant-garde dress maker and creative designer from the Lake District, Cumbria. Creating unique and one-off designs, this designer prides herself on her individuality and non-conformity to trends, ensuring that she listens and fulfils exactly what her clients want.
In 2004, Angela established her ‘Romatique Couture’ collection from her studio in the Lake District. However Angela gained her first major recognition following her ‘Stolen Dreams’ collection last year, which saw a creation of fantasy evening wear which fused football and fashion together. The Stolen Dreams collection will be exhibited at the Fashion Mavericks event this September alongside her latest ‘Pyromania’ collection. I spoke with her this week to discuss her latest collection, fashion and the important role of the Lake District in influencing her work.
Can you tell me a bit about what you will be showcasing on London Fashion Week?
I will be showing a few dresses from all of my collections, as there is not enough time for me to finish all of the new collection. Thus using dresses from my old collection will allow me to show that I am a creative person and I will be using dresses from my ‘Stolen Dreams’ collection which is a football and fashion fusion. This collection was a particularly unusual idea and was designed not only to raise awareness of recycling, considering so many football strips are thrown out each year, but also to provide a feminine alternative to the masculine football shirts.
However, this September I will be placing my main emphasis on my Pyromania collection which is a combination of couture and commercial and is also an affordable couture.
What is the inspiration behind the up and coming collection?
My main inspiration is living in the Lake District and being surrounded by mountains and volcanoes. For example, Scafell in the Lake District is one of the biggest explosions in record history. I think it is amazing the things that nature can do to your brain and I think that it really brings out the creative bug in me. I can go for walks and come back with around five to ten designs and in my new Pyromania collection dresses are actually named after volcanoes.
Why did you decide to showcase with Fashion Mavericks?
Well, that was all down to Jacqueline! Being from the Lake District I am very isolated from the ‘Fashion Hub’. Therefore, I make sure to use the internet as much as possible and ensure that I am on every social site imaginable. Therefore, this meant that through internet pictures and videos of shows Jacqueline was able to find me.
Are there any designers that you would compare yourself to or that you admire?
Viv Westwood!! She has been the most influential person for me and for the fashion industry. She offered an alternative to the fashion world and let her creativity go barmy!
What does fashion mean to you?
Fashion is in my blood. I am sleeping, eating, and breathing everything to do with fashion. Fashion is what makes you who you are as a person. It is a way to understand someone through what they choose to wear, allowing us to represent our creativity as an individual. I think it is very important to be yourself and not to follow trends, instead we should just take advice. I constantly see young girls walking around in whatever is in Topshop at that time. However, fashion should be about playing around, yet instead it is becoming too much based on commercialism and mass production.
For me, I listen to whatever my clients want. It is incredibly important that you should wear what you want to wear. If you want to walk around with a condom on your head...go for it!
What would you say is your greatest achievement?
Doing what I want to do! I am so lucky to have the opportunity to do my job. Every creation that I make is an achievement. This is more important to me than any article in a magazine or anything like that.
Also, meeting my husband, for me, is one of my greatest achievements. I do not know what I would do without Michaels support, I am incredibly lucky!
What three things would you say are most inspiring you in your life right now?
Lake District, Lake District, Lake District!
However, I am also greatly inspired by architecture and poets. Yet, the Lake District is my greatest source of inspiration and is so important to me and whenever I go out walking I am constantly inspired and pouring with designs!
Passionate, creative and greatly inspired, it will be fascinating to witness Angela Morton’s collection at the Fashion Mavericks event on London Fashion Week this September.
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