Showing posts with label Independent accessory designers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Independent accessory designers. Show all posts

Monday, 27 January 2014

Designer Q&A: Jenny Deans

With Valentine's Day fast approaching we thought this would be the perfect time to introduce our new jewellery designers, to give you some gift ideas and inspiration.

First up is Jenny Deans. A local lady who makes beautiful, wearable silver jewellery in her studio in sunny Leith.

Godiva Boutique is now proudly stocking her 'Canty' range which starts at a very affordable £25. Available in store and online.

Jenny Deans


Hello, I am...  Jenny Deans

I design... Beautiful Jewellery


When I am creating my typical day involves... lots of hammering, twisting
bits of wire, and big mugs of tea


When I am not designing and creating I am.....
turning over a new leaf and
trying to get fit at the gym, or snuggled up on the sofa with the cat.


I get inspiration from..... nature, architecture and sculpture. My Canty
range is inspired by trips to the seaside near North Berwick - looking in
rockpools and watching the waves rolling in.



Being an independent designer is important to me because......
Being
independent allows me to create anything I can imagine, without a boss
telling me what to make or do - or what time I need to be in the studio.




Jenny in her studio

I knew I wanted to be a designer when I was..... at school and for my higher
design project I was taught how to make Jewellery by one of my Gran's
friends.



My greatest achievement so far is ........... being selected on several
occasions for the prestigious Goldsmiths' Fair Exhibition in London. I have
also won the Visual Arts Scotland Prize for Applied Arts.



I cannot live without...... Large mugs of tea


My favourite thing I have ever bought or found is.... I found my wonderful
Husband who buys me all my favourite Jewellery (after a little direction)





Awww, thanks Jenny!

Canty Bracelet £107

Canty Cufflinks £107

Canty Spiral and Pearl Earrings £94

Canty Spiral and Pearl Pendant £69

Canty Studs £25
Canty Pearl Studs £37.50

 





Friday, 28 June 2013

Designer Q & A: Rebecca Jane


 Godiva has worked with Rebecca-Jane for a number of years now, successfully selling her recycled leather bags and accessories. This season SS13 multi-way bags have been an instant success (pictures below)  achieving a sell out within one month of being in the showroom. 
Another multiway collection is on it's way to the shop next week and for online!
Rebecca-Jane's work has always been of the highest quality, beautifully crafted using some of the best recycled leather. Always imaginative, stylish and created to last, as any bag should do. 
We are extremely proud to have Rebecca-Jane in our showroom and this year Godiva and Rebecca-Jane are collaborating on an exciting project, watch this space. 

We asked Bex's to answer our Q & A......


Hello, I am........ Bex of the label Rebecca Jane


I design.........., handbags, accessories & home-ware created from re-claimed leather jackets and vintage fabrics



When I am creating my typical day involves ……..getting up and taking the dog out for a walk, it’s a great way to start the day its so beautiful and peaceful and I  love all the different seasons. It’s a great time to gather your thoughts and plan the day. I get into the studio about 10ish and quickly grab a hot drink from the cafĂ© (my new obsession is hot chocolate at the moment) I have a studio and shop in one so it means that I can create at the same time as having the shop open. Its not a high street store so isn’t that busy but its good to meet all my customers and get feedback with new designs etc. On Mondays I set out goals for the week and reviewing what I achieved the week before so that it gives you a good boost to start the week on a high. Most mornings are usually spent emailing and getting all my accounts and paperwork out for the way and uploading any social media posts to hoostusite. I divide my work between seasonal collections and commissions, so my day to day creating is different all the time. I source my leather from textile recycling companies, sifting through all the jackets just to find the one right gem of a jacket. I then deconstruct the jacket, laying it flat ready to start cutting my patterns into them. I tend to find that I am much more creative in the evening so sometimes I work pretty late if I am on a role.

When I am not designing and creating I am……..... walking the dog, tending to my veggie patch and ee friends in London, Bristol and Brighton, I try to do a bit of yoga when I can, my mind is so active sometimes that I cannot stop thinking, I find yoga really good for completely switching off and chilling out. When I can I try to catch an exhibition, I have just found a artists called Nahoko Kojima (www.solokojima.com), she creates paper cut out sculpyures and has an exhibition coming up at the Jerwood Space, 171 Union Street, London SE1 0LN . I’m definitely going to go and check it out.  I also really enjoy theatre and I have recently discovered a really cute small theatre in Brighton called the Tom  -The Old Market and have been to see a few things there. I tend to prefer the smaller venues as they have so much more character. We saw this brilliant production recently called the “ The animals and the children took to the street” by a company called 1927. They are a women’s only team and there is only 3 of them they combine visual arts with acting.


I get inspiration from……..... everyday things around me, from people to nature. I love architecture, furniture and sculpture. I really enjoy working three dimensionally and think this is why I fell in love with working with leather as it allows you to be quite sculptural in the way that you work without it looking theatrical as I found when I used to work on clothing design. I love working with different textures and enjoy manipulating leathers and fabrics to combine into interesting textiles forms. I am fascinated my Vivienne Westwood, I think that she is an exceptional designer and I have always loved her style which is quite Edwardian, an era that I am very passionate about. I love what she stands for she does tons for charity and she is so passionate about the world and our environment. One of my goals for this year is hand deliver her one of my bags!


Being an independent designer is important to me……..... because I have freedom. I have worked for different people over the years and although I love people and working in a team I don’t enjoy the restriction of having to be in a certain place at a certain time. I like to go at my own pace and set out my own plans for the day. I have always been a very motivated person and have had a passion for creating ever since I was born, I have worked very hard for other people and now that I do it for myself I feel very proud of what I have achieved so far and it makes me realize that you can do anything you want if you set you mind to it.

I knew I wanted to be a designer…….... when I was about 5, all of my family are creative and I have been bought up surrounded by very strong minded self employed women and I think it was inevitable that I would end up running my own company.


My greatest achievement so far is…….... having had a Japanese agent who I worked with for 6 seasons, they represented me in Japan and sold my work to a selection of high end Japanese department stores, like Baycrews and Japanese Amazon. They head hunted me from seeing me at a market on Brick lane in London and our relationship grew from that point. It was a fantastic experience and they were amazing people to work with, unfortunately we are not working together anymore as the Japanese economy took a downfall after their devastating earthquake.


I cannot live without ……......my sewing machine, my dog, my boyfriend and olives. If I were to have to choose in a life or death situation it would be very hard…..but don’t tell my boyfriend but it would probably have to be olives!!! I’m obsessed, when I was little I ate a whole jar of olives and my mum said to me “Bex where are all the stones” I looked at her and said “what stones” I had eaten the whole jar of olives plus all the stones.


My favourite thing I have ever bought or found……. We used to live in Bristol which is the city of thrift and recycling culture. I was walking down the street one day and stumbled upon these two very elaborate gold chairs left out on the street (that’s what people do in Bristol, when you no longer want something you leave it outside your house and usually in a matter of hours it will have gone, its brilliant), they were like thrones. They were covered in purple velvet with a gold print and had antique gold painted arms and legs. They were unbelievably cool, my intentions was to restore them but in recent years we have moved about 6 times and with great pain and upset I had to donate them to someone else as we did not have room for them in one of our new apartments. 

 
new Multi-way bag

New Mutli-way bag £112.00 each





Add 


Brown Leather Polkadot Clutch £36.00

Grey Tassel Bag £97.50




Wednesday, 19 December 2012

Rebecca Jane Leather Bags

Bron Leather Polkadot Clutch Bag £36.00

Grey Rouched Leather Bag £36.00

Round Grey Rouched bag £36.00

Black round Polkadot leather bag £36.00

Black rouched Tatiana Leather Bag £70

Brown leather rouched leather bag

Grey recycled Leather bags with zip pockets and 2 straps.

Brown recycled Leather bags with zip pockets and 2 straps.

Recycled Leather jacket bag with 2 straps & pockets! £120
Godiva has been selling bags by Rebecca Jane London for some time now. Her work is of the highest standard and her finished products are the best I have seen throughout my 10years of Godiva. Hand made from hand picked recycled leather, they are ethical, one off and great quality. Rebecca has thought of everything within the design of her bags, the 2 removable straps allow for different holds and looks, safe zip pockets on the inside and out and vintage fabric lining give them that little bit extra beauty.
These bags will just get better with age and wear and should last a lifetime.
All these bags shown are now in store!

Wednesday, 21 November 2012

Designer Profile: Death by Diamond & Pearl


Many a designer walks through Godiva doors wanting to sell their work in our showroom and local girl Amanda was one of these upcoming designers.
 I see a lot of people doing the same kind of thing, but sometimes you get that designer who does it just a little differently and skillfully making them that cut above the rest, Death by Diamond and Pearl is definitely one of those labels.  I was so please she walked through the door that day.
Death by Diamond & Pearl is a fantastic and very affordable accessory label based in Edinburgh and for sale in our shop showroom and online

Here is Amanda's response to our designer Q&A.........

 
Hello, I am …
Amanda from Death by Diamond and Pearl

I design ……… Mostly Accessories at the moment such as statement collar pieces  and various sizes and shapes of bows and bowties. 

When I am creating my typical day involves ………A big coffee, composing a rough list to work through and then making a whole lot of creative mess around my flat with fabrics and threads everywhere! 

When I am not designing and creating I am………….also working part time in a costume shop, reading or catching up with friends and family.

I get inspiration from ……… various places really, I keep an eye on current/upcoming trends. I love fabric stores, charity shops and fairs because the fabric can often inspire the idea for a design. Also talking with people and friends is an invaluable input and a wander around exhibitions and museums can be the well needed motivation to get creative! 

Being an independent designer is important to me because……it’s what I love doing and it’s a great feeling to create and work in your own style. I’ve always supported and admired designers who do it all by themselves.
I knew I wanted to be a designer when I was……designing costume ideas for my childhood hobby which was majorettes ha! 

My greatest achievement so far is …………launching myself into independently designing this year. Even though it’s still early days it’s great to finally be on the ladder and I’m excited about the future. 

I cannot live without……a notebook to jot down ideas that randomly pop into my head and keep a check on the “to do” list, also peppermint tea it’s a staple part to the end of my day, yum.

My favourite thing I have ever bought or found is ……… a red button necklace, I’ve had it for years and often scared to wear it in case I break it! 

White leather Stud collar by Death by Diamond & Pearl 


Thanks Amanda for answering our Q & A! 


Next week Mollie Brown