Canadian-born British fashion designer Michelle Lowe Holder cleverly utilises offcuts from previous collections and end of line cuttings to craft dynamic and individual, sustainable statement pieces. Her collections are famed for her use of heritage handcrafts, vintage detail, zero waste and upcycling by using ends of line textile and ‘cabbage’ (scraps from previous collections) with UK production.
For SS15 her collection Construct, her jewellery was about building dimension through architectural and geometric forms. She says, “Muted transparencies woven through metal framing create window like spaces – for the skin to reflect and shimmer – in lightweight, wing-like shapes surrounding the neck and face.”
The collection juxtaposes industrial metallic colours of rose gold, gun metal and nickel with triangles of natural rubber and leather in shades of aqua, neon pink, citrus orange and cinnamon. Pieces also feature beaded handed woven tulle and fringes adorned with long vintage glass bugle beads.
The beautifully crafted collection Elizabeth draws on English heritage and Tudor detailing. She says, “It seeks to play with historic references to create a new modern opulence – Lush metallic leather cut-offs and vintage ribbons coupled with gold and silver metal accents mix with natural cork.”
Victorian Flowers and Cream Crocodiles is an abstract combination of tiny flowers, snakeskin, wings and bright things translated into cuffs, collars and necklaces. The textiles are vintage end of line floral ribbons and leather cut-offs combined with ‘Kefi’, a sustainably produced paper-like fabric from Italy. Details such as the wing cuffs and metal links give the vintage fabric a modern feel.
Photography by Polly Penrose
