London; our debut collection

The inspiration for our first collection was found in some of our favourite places and amongst some of the most iconic landmarks around our home city of London. From the Victoria line on the London Underground to one of the oldest food markets in London, once we had become  proficient sewers and budding pattern designers, ideas for potential garments seemed to suddenly pop up all around us as we went about our daily lives. Our blog is where we will be sharing the various origins of our collections starting with London; our debut collection.

Summer

A trip to a spa on a sunny summers day for a birthday treat was where we first found the inspiration for Summer in London. A beautiful midi length dress in a blue and white polka dot fabric was an image that remained with us and was the first dress we were really keen to turn into a pattern we could wear.  Like many home sewers we love vintage clothes and this dress had a distinctly vintage feel, however our own style also has a bohemian quality and we knew we would be able to tweak the garment to provide our own version of this stunning dress which reflected our unique style. 

Autumn

Another beautiful sunny day in London, but this time inspiration was found whilst on a lunchtime stroll through Borough food market where we spotted a stunning maxi dress being worn by a young woman walking in the opposite direction. The idea for Autumn in London was born. We began with the concept of a relaxed shirt dress and gradually incorporated a number of design features until we had achieved the desired look, a lovely flowing maxi dress with some delicate waist shaping which flattered the silhouette and was versatile enough to be suitable for both day and evening.

Winter 

Any Londoner will agree that the one benefit about starting a journey at the beginning of a tube line is the possibility of actually being able to find a seat! On this particular occasion our journey commenced at Walthamstow Central station on the Victoria line. A few stops in and another commuter (who had also been fortunate enough to get a seat) stood up and suddenly a pair of gorgeous wide leg trousers emerged from beneath a long winter coat. We immediately set about creating our own version. We wanted our trousers to incorporate a lovely wide leg but not so wide they resembled palazzo pants; rather a simple but beautifully constructed pair of trousers in-keeping with our own blended style.

Spring

We love looking through holiday photos and a photograph of a friend visiting London provided the inspiration for our simplest pattern; a beautiful loose fitting t-shirt which delicately drapes off of one shoulder. We loved the idea of designing a top which was a really simple make but would also have longevity; a top that was both modern and timeless (and gives a slight nod to our favourite decade the 1980’s!).  At the beginning of this year and prior to our launch this top proved to be the perfect holiday garment. It was loose enough to wear comfortably in the heat, perfect to throw on as a cover up and great for the flight - which was to a destination that provided plenty of inspiration for a future range!