I came across Edinburgh based Fiona Somerville quite by accident and I couldn’t be happier that I did. A local designer that specialises in luxury chunky knitwear? HELLO. I spend half my life (under-exagerating) huddling in a variety of jumpers, coats and cardis and Somerville’s luxury knitwear with her skillfull use of draping and layering just ticks an awful lot of boxes for me (especially that little striped number..I mean COME ON.) Naturally I need to ask all the things.
First things first – tell me about your background:
I am originally
from Falkirk, moved to Edinburgh in 2008 and graduated from Edinburgh
College of Art with a BA Honours degree in Fashion in 2011. I live with my
boyfriend and our fat cat Betsy, I work between my flat and the little studio I
rent at the Arts complex here in Edinburgh.
Having gained lots
of interest in my graduate year and at London Graduate Fashion Week I was also
a winner of the Scottish Cashmere Club competition 2011. Having developed one
of my oversized embellished cardigan designs, I worked with Hawick Knitwear and
manufactured my design with the factory in the borders. Since graduation I have
furthered my experience and worked in various design roles and with the high
end cashmere label Belinda Robertson developing skills in E-commerce, marketing
and wholesale. I am now pushing my fashion label to the next stage, developing
my e – commerce platform through my website which I hope to have up and running
by summer 2013 and will be selling through various online boutiques in the near
future.
I like to design feminine, desirable
and flattering garments for every woman to lust for. Combining my Scottish
heritage with cutting edge contemporary fashion I strives to create a luxe
product that will catch your eye from across a room, a garment that you just
cannot resist! Combining heavy piles of embellishment, with flattering cutting,
draping and luxury knitwear is my design ethos.
Tell me a bit about your latest collection:
My latest
collection is all about simplicity and layering. Using luxe fabrics with clean
long lines and layering these key pieces with heavier textures and introducing
key patches of embellishment. The colour palette is influenced by Manhattan at night
and the different colours, shapes and glamour that oozes from the skyline as
the thousands of lights are switched on.
You specialise in luxury knitwear – was there anything in particular that drew
you to working with it:
I chose to
specialise in luxury knitwear mainly because I love it! Considering its pretty
damn cold in Scotland 80% of the year it also made sense. I love the
shapes and drapes you can make with a knit, and with it being a good sturdy
texture to work with this makes for a perfect embellishment surface. What a
combination!
What (or indeed who) would you say are the biggest influences on how you design
– why:
I would say
the weather, I think this is why I never design too summery and why I love to
style with layering!
My favourite designer has got to be Dries Van Noten. I think his designs are so beautiful and I would love to work
with him if even for a day. I am drawn to his collections every season because
of his clash of fabrics and mixture of separates in unusual ways.
As a designer I love to experiment with a mix of textures, smart and casual
and bit of androgyny. I think this is why I am drawn to the label.
Could you talk me through your design process (from conception to actually
creating the garment):
I work best when I
work fast, I sketch quickly and loosely with suggestions of colour or
embellishment and then move straight to toiling up an idea. I cut a lot of
corners to get the shape just right and then I go back to create patterns
neatly.
Do you pay attention to trends or do you feel you follow your own formula:
I tend to follow my
own formula and just design what feels right. .I love looking at current
catwalk collections so I am undoubtedly influenced in some way but I don’t go
out of my way to fit in with ‘trends’
Do you have any favourite pieces you’ve designed:
All of my big
chunky knitted coats have a soft spot in my heart – this is probably because I
know the hours that have gone into them. I love the long evening gowns I
created for Edinburgh Online fashion week too – even better these worn
together.
You focus on creating heritage designs with an edge – how
important do you feel it is to produce within Scotland:
I am certainly always conscious of this, we have huge
resources on our door step and I want to utilise these skills and use scottish
product where possible. I am always on the look out for groups and
organisations to help make it possible to produce within Scotland.
My favourite part. QUICK FIRE.
3 words to describe your design aesthetic: Opulence, Textured, Glamorous
Tartan or tweed: Tweed
Mohair, cashmere or angora: Cashmere
Chunky or fine (knit): Chunky
Pugs or Dachshunds: Dachshunds
Bruce Campbell or Bruce Lee: Bruce Campbell
Jammy dodgers or Jaffa cakes: Jaffa Cakes
Somerville is a total hidden gem of the Scottish fashion scene and I’ve fallen head over heels with her knitwear. Bold colours, embellishment and draping? GURL. Just everything that’s going on here. Definitely a name to keep an eye out for.