Bristol's finest Insta fashionistas

Here's a quick catch up with the amazing, independent Bristol fashion designers who are catching No Debutante's eye on Instagram......

Laa Woof

Kick ass feminist fashion from the outrageous and fabulous Laa Woof! 

Always repping strong women with big prints, sparkly colours & amazing photo shoots! Laa Woof is a girlboss, she is exciting & inspiring & also became my big fashion article for Bristol 24/7 this month; where you will can out more about the latest collection  'Vulva La Revolution' that mixes festival & clubwear fashion with bondage and female empowerment. This collection is on fire! Meeeeeeooooooow! 

Who runs the world? Laa Woof!
Model@antonia_purdie wearing garms from the Vulva la Revolution collection
Photography @sonnybarthley

Duvet Days

This bright & bold collection of 90s prints & streetwear garms grabbed my attention on Instagram & although upcycling retro duvet covers into garms isn't a new thing, in this amazing, upcycling world; these fab designers have taken it to a new level by only using duvets to create their amazing co-ords and cute streetwear pieces. Duvet Days are all about sustainability & ethical fashion, they collaborate with local designers and tailors Jokoto too (watch this space for more on Jokoto), who help to recreate the Duvet Days vision into super-cool, bespoke handmade shirts. Keep it local, bright & beautiful! 

Bold retro striped co-ords at Duvet Days

Tezla Designs

It's no secret that No Debutante loves Tezla & who wouldn't? This blingin' & bloomin AMAZE collection of contemporary streetwear jewellery & accessories brand is soooo on point, with the memphis style prints all handpainted onto small runs of vibrant, fresh styles. There are so many amazing designs to choose from including the original circular versions to oversized triangles and hexagon shaped earrings and rings, get yourself over to Tezla and brighten up your ears this summer! Read how No Debutante discovered Tezla. 

Custom earrings hand painted by Tezla 

She Shirts

A new collaboration between feminist fashionista Bristol Uni students who were tired of seeing fellow female student wearing mainstream 'so called' feminist style slogan t-shirts & decided to create their own, with all profits going towards female charities rather than into the pockets of fast fashion corporates. The range consists of basic but effective t-shirts printed with handwritten & drawn images with designs including the Hands Off print & Woman Up slogan tee's. 

She Shirts also gave No Debutante the greatest honour by quoting me on Instagram for an article I wrote about them for Bristol 24/7 on International Women's Day. These gals are all about empowering women, which is just so positive!!! Great photoshoot too!  

Hands Off & All bodies are beautiful feminist fashion tees by She Shirts

That Thing

These long time friends of No Debutante, never fail to impress me with their brimming collections of streetwear for men, women & unisex garms. That Thing are currently having a successful run with their newly launched Asos marketplace Vintage collection which features contemporary style shirts, jackets, denims & sportswear all from the late 80s and early 90s, repping retro style & the That Thing brand. The current contemporary collection features cuddly streetwear garms in soft fleeces, sweats, logo tees & joggers in creams, greys and monochromes, perfect for the longest winter ever! (Read more on the collection & That Thing in my Bristol 24/7 article) 

That Thing are also ambassadors for independent designers and offer many Bristol designers including (Tezla & Duvet Days) a platform at their Stokes Croft shop, to showcase their talents. That Thing are just the best! 

That Thing AW 17/18 collection including the cuddly fleece hoodie & the amazing ABC sweatshirt

If you are having a fashion event, a new collection or fun event you would like No Debutante to promote please get in touch!

No Debutante promotes fashion independents, new designers & sustainable fashion. 

Check out my work with Bristol 24/7 magazine here under my name 

Emma Gorton-Ellicott

If you are interested in collaborating with No Debutante or getting featured on the No Debutante blog please contact me nodebutanteblog@gmail.com

Keep up with No Debutantes OOTD posts, collabs and current fashion obsessions posted daily on all of the following. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest all under the #nodebutante name. 

Thanks for checking in Fashionistas

ND xx 

Fantastic Fashion Front 2017

The fantastic Fashion Front fashion show returned to Bristol on Thursday 20th April. This year the show brought to us by the amazing Fran Rennison and the Tail End team mixing marvellous creations by many of our wonderful Bristol fashion designers including Neat Frontage, Laa Woof and Puckoo Couture, with a selection of upcycled and handmade items by a group of young people suffering from mental health problems in association with OTR (Off The Record). This was a vibrant and fun-filled fashion show that Bristol should be very proud of, move over London....Or is that move here from London?? 

This year's Fashion Front show didn't disappoint with even more amazing creations from all of the fabulous fashion designers (named below) with outrageous and spontaneous fashion models who added to the Bristol swagger, this show was off the hook!

Many of the garments from the show (and more) shall be available at the Fashion Front Bzaarr this weekend, so get down there, grab yourself some one-off, creative garms and support local! 

Neat Frontage

Kokomo

Tail End

Laa Woof

Evie Cowan

Photo credit @daniReidPhotograpy www.danireid.co.uk

Photo credit @daniReidPhotograpy www.danireid.co.uk

Fashion Front Row

Photo credit @daniReidPhotograpy www.danireid.co.uk

Photo credit @daniReidPhotograpy www.danireid.co.uk

The Designers include Evie Cowan, Neat Frontage, Laa Woof, Kokomo, Puckoo Couture, ZOTZ, Tail End, OTR designers, Fun Bags, Palace Flophouse, Burnt Soul, Shindig Village and Winifred Rose.

All images by No Debutante and @daniReidPhotography 

If you are having a fashion event or a have a new collection you would like No Debutante to promote please get in touch!
Check out my work with Bristol 24/7 magazine here under my name Emma Gorton-Ellicott

If you are interested in collaborating with No Debutante or getting featured on the No Debutante blog please contact me

Keep up with No Debutantes OOTD posts, collabs and current fashion obsessions posted daily on all of the following. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr,  Pinterest all under the #nodebutante name.

Thanks for checking in Fashionistas.    

ND xx

Woof Woof

Since the No Debutante blog has been promoting all things Bristol Fashion, I have been introduced to so many new Bristol fashion designers, that I am overwhelmed by how much is going on in our beautiful city, The great thing about fashion is it changes & there is always a new collection to inspire, to love and promote, Bristol fashion has now become a full time passion of mine, I could talk about it all day there is so much talent....so let's get started...

I'd like to introduce you to Laa Woof. 
This sparkly fabric hoarding Bristol based fashion designer creates festival fashion & party wear under the name Laa Woof from her studio at The Island, which is such a creative space in Bristol with so many interesting things coming out of there including No Debutante favourites Neat Frontage and Tezla Designs. The designer Laura Wood creates limited edition and bespoke customised creations that will make you stand out form the crowd in a clash attack of matching patterns, sparkly custom made catsuits, leggings, crop tops, skirts,bombers, hot pants and kimonos making all your sparkly dreams come true. No Debutante has fallen in love with the supercute Mermaid Kimono, holographic mermaid bombers (there's a theme building here...) amazing shimmering catsuits and sequin embellished mesh tops, I just want to be a shimmering mermaid but you knew that already! With kawaii graphics, fun anime influences, Manga styling and a love all of all things sparkly Laa Woof has definitely caught No Debutante's attention.

I asked Laura at Laa Woof a few questions, here's what she said......


What inspired you to start Laa Woof?

I have always been a hoarder of shiny things and since working in a fabric shop it grew out of control . I started making outfits for fancy dress parties, whilst teaching myself how to sew by taking clothes apart and recreated them using sparkly fabrics. Over the past 4 years my brand started to emerge  and became Laa Woof.

Where did the Laa Woof name come from?

I first started making animal hoods to sell and had to create a name for a market stall. So I brain stormed with some friends and we came up with Laa Woof which is a wordplay on my name.

Whats your favourite thing about Bristol?

The music scene has always been the biggest pull for me, when I was living in Brighton I would travel up each month for a night. Its great for gigs and dirty raves! I don’t go out as much as I used too, but it’s great to know when you are going out there’s always something on!


Do you think Bristol gets much fashion media attention?

I think Bristol receives more media attention for its music and graffiti. I would hope that with the ever growing talent there is here in Bristol, the fashion scene will get more limelight! I think as a community we should organise fashion show events to draw  attention here!

You offer custom orders, how does that work with Laa Woof?

Clients usually send me a message wanting something special. I gather as much information from them about the outfit and start collecting samples. I usually send photos of the fabrics I’ve found and some drawings of the garment. Once the client is happy I take payment and start creating !

There are a few festival style Fashion brands in Bristol, what makes Laa Woof unique?

Its great to have a big scene of amazing diverse designers here in Bristol !! Many of us share a love of all things sparkly and shiny!!

My influences and inspiration come from everywhere and are always feeding into my new designs.

I come from a fine art background so I think that practise is always relevant in my work. I enjoy the process of how I source the fabrics and piecing them together to  the overall construction of the garment.  A lot of my most recent pieces have involved creating patches and more time consuming methods, which are usually one offs or very limited editions ! Making them super special and unique to treasure and feel fabulous in !! .

Whats with the Panda obsession?

Pandas have always brought me much joy they are just so silly and cartoon like !! When I’m blue nothing makes me smile more than watching a baby Panda go down a slide on youtube!!! One of the 1st garments I made was a Panda onesie which I still love and and am actually wearing now as I write this!!!


Did you collaborate with a local designer to create your panda print?

Whist living in Brighton I commissioned a local artist David Waterhouse to come up my Panda Logo! His artwork was spot on and represented the fun I wanted to unleash in my brand.

One of my models  from a previous fashion show worked on my latest fabric print. Ebun was great I shared my ideas and she came up with a few mock ups until we settled on the chosen one!! I’m so in love with it!!

Favourite designers / artists?

I’m in love with Independent designers such as Lady Gonzalez and Arteporvo really amazing styles and inspiring ladies!

There are so many amazing designers emerging from Australia at the moment my favourites are  Di$count Universe who create incredible sequin designs and NixiKillick whose work is so fresh and vibrant using modern, futuristic elements in her pieces.

Current favourite record?

I'm absolutely hooked on Bonobo ‘Black Sands’ Album! It’s pretty much my soundtrack to sewing and life! Makes for a zen head, even whilst I’m having a sewing meltdown...sometimes...


Whats your favourite festival?

Balter Festival is a small and growing festival in wales! I’ve had a stall there shared with friends for the past few years and it’s been a great success each year. It has the best crowd and the right amount of muntiness!!! Amazing ska, punk and balkan bands and an incredible amount of electronic music !!!! Totally recommend going!!!

Current obsession?

MERMAIDS!! I find it to be an ongoing source of inspiration and creativity for me!! I melt every time I find iridescent sequins and shiny spandex.

There is an event in Brighton called March of the Mermaids, where thousands of people dress up as all things sea related, to raise awareness for sea conservation. It a create excuse to cover yourself in as much glitter as possible, channel your inner mermaid and sashay along the seafront for the day!!

Whats next for Laa Woof?

I have a few projects going on at the moment! One that's secret that I’m very excited about !!!

I really enjoyed having my first fabric design printed, can’t wait to design more. I would love to work with local designers to create new exclusive prints each year!

Am currently planning my festival circuit, I should be appearing at Balter Festival , Secret Garden Party, Boomtown, Shambala and Illusive!!

Keep ya eyes peeled for my summer collections and my stock appearing in That Thing over the festival season!

Check out the Laa Woof etsy shop

Follow Laa Woof Facebook


All clothing by Laa Woof

 MUA  Sophie Moore
 

Photographer & Direction Maka Iriek 

If you are having a fashion event or a have a new collection you would like
No Debutante to promote please get in touch!

If you are interested in collaborating with No Debutante or getting featured on the No Debutante blog please contact me on nodebutanteblog.gmail.com


Keep up with No Debutantes OOTD posts, collabs and current fashion obsessions posted daily on all of the following. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr,  Pinterest. all under the #nodebutante name.

Thanks for checking in Fashionistas xx