Sally-Ann Provan • Millinery at it's finest

Sally-Ann Provan is a Scottish designer who specialises in modern millinery and accessories, producing designs which can be described as being elegant and wearable with an essence of subtle vintage. She has received high praise for her work and despite being based in Edinburgh and London she has a client base which stretches across Europe. Two collections are created by the designer every year and alongside this creates headwear for opera and theatre companies, music, television, advertising, special occasions and the races.

 This September Sally will be showcasing her Spring/Summer 2011 Collection at the Fashion Mavericks event on Fashion Week. I caught up with Sally before the showcase to discuss her up and coming collection and to find out more about her career and success.

Can you tell me about what you will be showcasing on London Fashion Week this September?

I am a milliner specialising in modern millinery and accessories so I will be showcasing my Spring/Summer 2011 Collection of hats and accessories this September. However, I will also be showcasing my capsule collection of handbags and clutches. This is due to my clients frequently asking me about bags to compliment their hats, thus I wanted to become almost a ‘one-stop’ shop where my clients can match their hats and bags together.

Where do you get your design inspiration?

For this collection there has been a lot of technical experimentation which has been combined with a lot of research. I am also very open to things I see and hear. My work has a slight 1970’s feel to it and is quite inspired by the 1970’s Bond girl. It has this fantastic timeless and elegant glamour to it. However, in contrast I have this slight obsession with Victorian Bird cages, and the freedom that these birds long for which I find greatly inspirational in my work. However, overall, there are definite 1970’s vibes of elegance.

In your earlier years, how did you decide you wanted to become a designer?

It ended up just being the obvious thing to do. I have been drawing and making things for as long as I can remember. I come from a very ‘if it’s broke, fix it’ type household in a very Blue Peter fashion. For instance my father was a cabinet maker and joiner, thus he was always fixing things.

At school I did academic subjects but I didn’t ever really excel at them. Then I went to art school which I realised was right for me. Art school was a process which meant I could do a little bit of everything and I ended up specialising in jewellery. However, jewellery was too restrictive and I found myself becoming intrigued by hats. So I began travelling down to London to do placements and then I would come home and practise. I was very much self-taught and this took a lot of motivation. Thus, it was a combination of being self-taught and the courses I carried out in London which led me in this direction.

Why did you decide to showcase with Fashion Mavericks?

Fashion Mavericks is a very unique event. It was conceived for up and coming designers and gives opportunities that would not necessarily be available otherwise. When I did Fashion Week in February I met fashion designer Sara Shimasue and we have now decided to collaborate for the up and coming fashion week. So, through showcasing with Fashion Mavericks I have made fantastic contacts which I would not otherwise have made.

What do you think makes you unique from other designers?

I think my designs are very distinctive and sculptural alongside being very wearable. They offer a very large expression of timeless elegance. I feel they demonstrate an awareness of trends however; I do not necessarily follow them, thus allowing my pieces to last longer than a season.

Finally, what do you like to do in your spare time? Is there anything other than designing that you like to immerse yourself in?

I like to read..a lot! I also like to potter around in my garden. At the moment I am spending a considerable amount of time working on my car. Also, my partner and I are lucky enough to live by the coast so we enjoy walking on the beach and paddle in the sea which gives time out to reflect and draw upon inspiration for my designs

With a high reputation for her hats and accessories, an exciting new capsule collection of bags, and collaboration with designer Sara Shimasue for the show;  the Spring/Summer 2011 Collection from Sally-Ann Provan will be greatly anticipated on London Fashion Week this September.

Returning Designer Anya Wilkinson

Russian born British designer Anya Wilkinson will be one to watch out for this September when she showcases her latest Spring/Summer 2011 Collection on London Fashion Week. Based in a studio off Kingsland Road in London, she has achieved great success since graduating from London College of Fashion in 2009, with her graduation collection receiving such high praise it went on to be exhibited at www.schway.net.

Following on from this, Anya’s Autumn/Winter collection was showcased at the Fashion Mavericks event in February, featuring a range of day and cocktail dresses which were met by tailored jackets and stylish coats in which she layered rich, deep colours using strong textures.  However, Anya’s latest collection is set to portray a very different image, as she explained to me prior to its showcase on London Fashion Week.  As I spoke with the designer I began to find out more not only about her up and coming collection and the inspiration behind it, but also what goes on in her head when she is creating each beautiful masterpiece.

Can you tell me a little bit about what you will be showcasing on London Fashion Week this September ?

I will be showing my Spring/Summer 2011 Collection which is greatly inspired by my Russian roots. I believe it is a very good collection and much more creative than my last. I feel that I used too many colours in my last collection so with this collection there is much less diversity in the range of colours used. This time the colours are very gentle and beautiful, using a lot of pastel pinks and beige and the collection is made using mainly cotton.

What goes through your head when you are creating a design?

There is so much inspiration going through my head all at once, which makes it very difficult to focus on one idea at a time. Whilst creating one piece, I am already planning out my next design. Therefore, I am constantly designing and sketching all the time as I have so many different ideas all at once!

What would you say is your greatest achievement?

I think I still have so many achievements yet to come. It is always amazing to see my work in magazines and last year I was interviewed for the October issue of Tatler magazine. However, as I said I feel I have so many things left to achieve.

What advice would you give to anyone aiming for a career in fashion?

I think the main important things are total focus and connections. It is not only important that you create a collection but that you make sure you communicate with people and ensure to make contacts along the way to draw upon.  You have to be confident and believe in yourself and if something goes wrong you have to make sure you pick yourself up and persevere.

What music, if any, do you listen to whilst you are designing?

At the moment I listen to a lot of classical music. Currently I am listening to the ‘101 Instrument Orchestra’. I find that classical music helps me to relax and focus whereas fast music seems to get me all wound up. However, I do like to listen to Russian radio every now and then too!

If you could dress any one person in the world who would it be and why?

Probably Madonna, I have such a great love for her and I think she is amazing! But also I think Cheryl Cole. She has exactly the right face for my dresses and I feel that my designs go well with her feminine style.

Why did you decide to showcase with Fashion Mavericks?

My first reason would have to be that I love the location. I showcased at the event earlier this year and I had so many good reviews. It allowed me to make lots of really great connections and meet some amazing people! I really hope to meet some more interesting people this time round!

With a beautiful collection from London Fashion Week in February to follow on from; it will be intriguing to see what is next from this designer and her Spring/Summer collection will be an un-missable event on Fashion Week this September. 

Angela Morton • Plucked from the Lake District

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.