At last.......!

my design - Antibes - from the latest Rowan magazine (51)

Several years ago I ran my own little fashion shop and it was one of the most satisfying experiences of my design career. Most days I worked in a room above the shop, designing and making hand- and machine-knitwear, but 2 or 3 days a week I worked in the shop itself. Every clothes designer should do this for a while, as seeing customers trying on garments and getting their feedback is invaluable. But it wasn’t just this aspect that I enjoyed, I also enjoyed the social aspect of actually meeting customers and getting an insight into their lives.

I also realised that many people like to know about the design and making process, and I was happy to oblige.

Sadly, the lease on the shop ran out, and after 5 years of no holidays and hardly any time off (running a shop is a full time commitment) I decided to stop for the time being – that was 11 years ago!

Now I’m wondering whether having a website will be a similar experience. In some ways it seems far preferable – no high overheads, no need even to get dressed – just commuting from bed to laptop! But perhaps not quite the same sense of sociability; meeting and engaging with customers. However, in this blog I can speak and you can answer – through the Contact page, or here - so let’s see how it goes……..

Anyway, I will be using this blog to discuss my design work and all the many things that inform it, which you may find of interest – or not!