Ethics of Design

The ethics of design...

Throughout this process I have always been conscious of who will be wearing the finished garments (other than me) and I couldn’t decide on any one cross section of society. I am definitely mulling over ‘one size fits all’ as a thinking point. I am not just making and designing for women, men, young, old, tall, petite, fuller figured or any other branding that is given to a garment these days.

One Size Fits All – becomes all the more appealing when applied to my designs. IssyMay (my jewellery brand) doesn’t sell to just one type of person but a whole cross section of society. Well this is what High Street retailers already do is it not?  

Not.

Not unless you fall into the nice little niche of ‘normal’ height, width and age.  I am 34, I’m 5’7.5 and I’m a size 6. Most retailers don’t carry stock for my leg length and waist size so I need to order online or have it ordered in store – surely I’m not such an obscure shape that these measurements are an oddity? I’m sure my more bootylicious friends (you lucky things) can agree that it is something of a nightmare to find a dress that fits perfectly/ flatteringly if you are smaller on top than you are on the bottom and vice versa.

Yep, One size fits all – good, vibrant tailoring to suit all heights, widths and ages. Let’s cover the demographic so once again we can all be happy, comfortable and most importantly feel and look stunning in the clothes we wear. Regardless of what our own beautiful, unique shape may be.

One Size Fits All.  X

It's My Liberty!

It’s 7:30 on a Saturday morning and I'm walking through sunny London (sober) and it's beautiful. My favourite times in London 7am and 7pm both are about good things. 7am because you can actually look up and see all the beautiful things around you, take your time and walk slowly. Appreciate the architecture, the trees, the river, the history and soak it all up. 7pm because that is when the light dims and a whole new London creature comes to life and the fun doesn’t stop until the morning.  I'm working my way across town from my base in Wapping (courtesy of Emma n Keef and their awesome Thameside apartment with its views of Canary Wharf and Party Boats :-) Thanks again) on my way to this little known place off Regent Street called ‘Liberty’.


I was lucky enough to be invited to attend the Liberty ‘Best of British Design' call. Along with 499 other designers I queued up, Starbucks in hand, Look-book tucked securely under arm, samples safely packed away in bag (checked on every 5 mins), phone busily receiving and sending texts from loved ones boosting my confidence. Ironically, I was standing outside the window of the jewellery department – looking in on the space I wanted- which in turn was looking out on me, assessing, criticising, the beggar on the street.  

Eventually 9:30 arrived and the doors opened and we obediently headed up the grand staircase of the store – not before the TV camera pans past the queue I am stood  in capturing me nonchalantly leaning against the railings like I couldn’t give a flying one, probably dribbling coffee down my chin at the same time. (If Claire was with me then it would’ve been fizz – a bit classier and she would have made me pout more than normal too!).

I then headed to the holding area where you are thrown into a room with all the other designers, eyeballing each other, summing each other up. A few faint smiles and nods of ‘Hey we’re all in this together. Good luck’ but few and far between. A small space, massive egos, and only a handful of chairs. Luckily I am a hardcore heel wearer so standing didn’t faze me. At this precise moment I feel like I can take you all out. I am up for it; I am a brave, confident, independent woman. I am Rocky in the female form. Then...

Two hours down the line and Im still waiting. Bottle going. I can see other people’s designs out the corner of my eye. Why am I here? Who do I think I am sitting here thinking Liberty is going to give a flying one about my designs? Sitting between two Northern,camp bears who really made me giggle has boosted my confidence and also seeing a lovely girl who is fresh out of college, chaperoned by her mum and a bunch of her gorgeous handmade scarves – only to hear the buyer (who I could spy from where I was standing) say to her ‘I love them! I absolutely love them’ made me happy because she had no ego also I don’t know who was more excited, the Daughter or the Mother! There was nothing obnoxious, pretentious or stereotype ‘designer’ about her. I only hope she stays that way. She deserved the recognition and her designs were lovely.

My turn came all too soon. ‘Harrison Roberts? You are up in 1 minute. Have your designs ready. You’re in next.’ A smiley PR face took me through to the room – introduced me to a buyer – sorry I forget her name because the other person at the table was Susie Bubble!! Oh my word as if I wasn’t nervous enough! Opening my boxes, ‘be yourself, be you’ mantra ringing in my ears. They are picking it up! OMG they are picking up my work and examining it! They scan my look-book critically – I only have 3 minutes in which to sell my soul, my life, my career. We must be 2:30 secs in now and all feeling has left my body. I am a bag of bones in their hands... We like it, we love the on trend delicate print and the idea of the signature leaves. However, we feel as though it is a bit too delicate for what we are offering this season.’ I started to shrink. I’ve blown my big chance. I had got my ideas wrong. But then... ‘My instinct says the bolder cufflinks you have here are more us. I would advise you follow this up in the New Year’. Music to my ears. I woke up from my semi depression and could feel my heart beating again. ‘Those ones?’ I ask tentatively, scared to ask in case they changed their minds. ‘Yes. Bold. Different.’ ‘Okay, lovely ermm... yup’ I started faffing. My three minutes were up and I was asked to move on.  ‘Thank you, thank you for this opportunity’ I gushed  'You're welcome. Well done’ they replied.

Oh. Those cufflinks were designed for someone else. He hasn’t even got them yet. I’m sure he won’t mind but they were originals and for a special occasion. Perhaps I can adapt the new ones slightly so they look the same but aren’t. Hmm.

However, I’m happy it wasn’t a total waste of time and I now have something to work towards. Possibilities are endless...

On the flipside of things I saw Dr Frankenstein and he is sending me off for an MRI scan of my head and neck to check out what is going on with my arm and headaches. I think I know what it is. I have a pin head and my brain has become so big that it causing pressure. Problem solved. Right!?!

Until next time...

X

Dr Frankenstein and the Design Monster

So two weeks in and a lot of progress has been made. Well... I think so. I've met some fab contacts, created some more designs and managed to complete my jewellery piece for Liberty's on Saturday. I'll post some pics up soon for you to criticise . I also have an appointment with Dr Frankenstein the neurologist so he can take a look at my brain the following Monday. How am I going to get through those few days without my closest bud to hold my hand? (damn summer hols) The upside is it can now get sorted out and I can carry on at my normal speed :-). I'm also getting prepared for some interviews in London with various fashion houses so I can see how they operate and learn a bit more about my new craft. Working from the bottom up. Again... except this time it will reap dividends in more ways than one. Watch this space. x

Blah blah blah...

It's been a busy networking day today, so far I am pretty happy with the way things have been going. I've had a lot of positive feedback and each time I hear that I feel a renewed sense of confidence. I'm still waiting for the catch...
My weekend is going to be spent making IssyMay Jewellery items for the 'Liberty Open Call' day I'm attending in August. That's if my fingers don't pack up on me by the end of today.
Now while my eyes are still open I've got to crack on with more work ;-)
Night x

Get A Grip...

Well, today started out pretty rubbish... I've had a problem with my right arm and hand for a couple of weeks now (numbness, pins & needles and loss of feeling. Not great when you make jewellery for a living) and it is getting progressively worse and today my GP referred me to a Neurologist as a matter of importance to check if I actually do have a brain after all! I predict that will be a short appointment...
On the upside I met some very useful and lovely people in the rag trade who can help me up the slippery slope of fashion design. Plus, a lot of support from some lovely friends one of whom introduced me to a very lovely and useful lady who used to work at ASOS. :-D Things seem to be going well. So far so good!
Let's see what tomorrow brings.
X

It's all in the name.

www.oxygenthief.com is the holding page in anticipation of the good things to come :-)

What could possibly go wrong?!
 x

In The Beginning...

Hello and welcome to my first foray into blogging and fashion design!
 I am not sure how either one will end up but I can guarantee there will be lots of highs, lows, clutching at straws, doors opening /closing and I shall, as usual, be travelling this journey at 100 mph.... Enjoy the trip.

I already run www.issymay.com and am looking to start a clothing line to run alongside this. I have my designs, CAD skills and bucket fulls of ambition and bare faced cheek :-)... All I need now is to find myself a team to help me bring the designs to life. That'll be easy...won't it???