Emerging Fervour

I just had to do a follow up from last week, where I introduced Anita Quansah London and her amazing accessories. Anita designs jewellery, headpieces, fashion and textiles – you name it! She’s certainly a busy lady but we love how you can hear her passion for the craft in the answers below. Enjoy!

Tell us a bit about how it all started. Why fashion, when did you realise you wanted to become a designer?

I love fashion and all things beautiful. I guess this passion for design and creativity stems from my early childhood, watching my grandmother a seamstress teaching and making the most beautiful clothes from very interesting and embroidered textiles. Her Passion for creativity, her energy and her determination is what drove me to start experimenting at a very young age. I guess also being brought up around women and watching their different styles evolve also had an impact on me. Also after years of selling my Luxury handmade couture fabrics to renowned fashion designers, I wanted to create a fashion line that people could not only learn about the intricate techniques used and see the true value of it, but also fall in love and own a piece of  true wearable art. Then in 2004 Anita Quansah London the fashion line was launched. Since then, the line has proven very successful, sold out in the Laden Showroom London which was the first ever boutique that stocked the line, then from then, I went on to sell on Asos online which too was very successful And now I am designing a range of neckpieces to accompany the fashion line.

Who inspires you and why?

I draw inspiration from Culture/travel, Nature, Art, Fashion present and past, music of past and present generation. Most of the time culture and nature has had a huge impact in my design. The textile collection for fashion and interior are nature inspired. I look to great artist such as Monet, Gustav Klimt and Robert John Thornton as well as the ever changing beauty that surrounds nature the tone, patterns, placement and proportion. You graduated from Chelsea College of Art and Design London a while ago. Would you recommend aspiring designers to do the same and formally study the art before venturing out into the big, competitive world? How did it help you, or not? My training at Chelsea College of Art and Design London helped me build a foundation in what I am doing today. It provided me with good support system, it exposed me to facilities and exhibitions that enabled me to broadened my design skills and discover who I really was as a designer. I had the creative ability, but I really needed that guidance and my course definitely pointed me to the right directions. Also my collaborations with the designers have taught me to appreciate my work a lot more. I have learnt a lot from working and liaising with them. I learnt a lot from them. Their expectations and their style of working allowed me to push my creative level to the extreme, to be freer, yet structured in my design style creating a sumptuous piece that is textural with a contemporary edge. So I would really advise any up and coming designers to study the art first and get as much experience before venturing into this big world of fashion and design.

What made you decide to go it alone and create your own label?

When I first started designing, I wanted to create pieces that speak for themselves and have people questioning how it was made, using recycled materials. I have sold my designs to many designers as well as creating a range for ASOS, and the initial response that I got from those experiences was extremely positive that I wanted to branch out and use that positive feedback to create a line that will appeal to any body looking for something totally original, luxurious, and sophisticated yet ethical. For me going on it alone and setting up my brand was not an easy one, it’s still a challenge working solely for my self, creating all aspects of my design. But all I can say is that I love what I do and it is so fulfilling to have so many reactions to my work which is so inspiring and encouraging.

We know it’s difficult to make it on your own in this competitive fashion world. Have you got any word of advice for emerging designers out there?

These three key words

Dream, Believe, Achieve

The path of creativity is not easy and it is extremely challenging all the time, but you have to be head strong to be able to tackle whatever is thrown your way

If you could change anything in the fashion world, what would it be?

Recycle Recycle Recycle, I can not preach enough of it. We discard every second of the day. Think before you dispose.

You use reclaimed textiles, recycled and vintage materials. Where do you find your inspiration and how do you choose your materials?

I love to tell a story with each piece I design. So I love the challenge of combining old with the new. The vintage materials I use in my work have so much history, which I hope to preserve and intertwine with that of the new to create pieces that one can cherish and make their own. Hopefully start their own modern day history, which they can pass down to loved ones some day. I source all my materials/remnants from fabric and charity shops, vintage stores, some donated and inherited

What’s the dream for Anita Quansah London? Where would you like to be in a few years time?

Firstly, I want to continue making people more aware of recycling especially in fashion. Secondly, I hope to have made the brand more successful, and a house hold name, have designs both fashion, interior and jewellery stocked in Boutiques, and big department stores worldwide. But most importantly, to maintain the value of my craftsmanship and keep my creative spirit alive

You can see Anita Quansah London’ fabulous creations on her webiste: www.anitaquansah.com