Shop Local!

Spotlight on Local Fashion

Buying local is one of the best ways to reduce the air miles of your wardrobe and reduce the carbon footprint of your own personal fashion endeavors. This means looking out for local designer/makers, brands who source their fabrics locally and ethically, and produce the garments right there in your home town or nearby.

I’ve put together a show case of local Northwest designers in this shoot. I worked with local Manchester photographer Willie Runte and Manchester based hair and make-up artist Rebecca Hodgkinson to produce this piece, inspired by broken dolls at the bottom of the toy box, and surrealist Pierrot clowns.

I’ll be looking at some local designers from the North West, notably Liverpool’s Susan Comer. Sue’s unique wearable art pieces, made from deconstructed vintage garments, which have been sculpted and draped around the body to create dramatic and sensuous accessories that tell a story of their past lives and future destiny. Each piece is lovingly embellished with vintage gems and curios, creating structured three dimensional recycled creations to adorn any outfit.

Also featured is the work of Jeni Murphy, of Liverpool label No Machine Could Hope. Jeni produces uniquely designed, bespoke pieces. The classic designs are both quirky and flattering to the female form, able to weather the most outrageous trends and remain wardrobe staples for years to come. Investing in a piece by Jeni is an investment in beautifully crafted style that bucks the trend for fast fashion.

Also based in Liverpool is Shameless Originals by Deborah Payne. Offering bespoke fashion design and dressmaking services that can create the perfect outfit for any occasion, Deborah works closely with all of her clients, from initial design consultation, through to sourcing fabrics and trims, to personal fittings, to ensure her creations are perfect in both fit and style. Daisy Chains jewellery, also based in Liverpool, create cute beaded jewellery for all occasions.

And last but not least is a piece from my own Trashed Couture collection. The purple stripy tunic featured was made from a deconstructed vintage all in one jumpsuit and matching blazer. It has been styled with a gorgeous sequin top I picked up in a charity shop in West Kirby, on the Wirral.

My Trashed Couture collection is an eco fashion collection, specialising in recycled denim pieces, uniquely designed with couture inspired styling. Reworked vintage and custom made, individual pieces, uniquely designed for each client are also a specialty. Second hand garments are sourced from vintage markets and local charity shops, and the designs are all created in Manchester by me!

Broken Dolls