Indies in Lockdown - Hello Dodo

It has been so inspiring to see many indie businesses thriving and courageously pushing through these changeable times, as life decides to throw us all the biggest curveball ever! 

The chance to slow down, take time to reflect and focus on the future - and what really matters - has created a surge of realisation, inspiration and creativity that offers hope to this new world. 

Back in June 2020, I spoke to a selection of UK based creatives to find out what life in lockdown has been like for them as independent businesses. 

Hello Dodo founders Ali and Jam outside their garden studio in Worthing

Hello Dodo

Hello Dodo is a fun, bright and colourful ethical fashion brand run by the equally colourful husband and wife team Ali and Jam from their home in Worthing. 

Going by their fun filled Instagram page you could make a guess that things have been going pretty well for the Hello Dodo team despite the pandemic, but everyone has a story to tell, right? 

This interview originally took place in June 2020. Read on for an extra Hello Dodo update at the end of the interview!

Keep on Raven crop top by Hello Dodo £22

How are you & what has your situation been like during lockdown? 

We are fine thank you, a little tired though as we haven’t had a day off in ages! 

We’ve been pretty fortunate during lockdown as we both work on our business from home, screen printing and packing orders from our little studio at the end of our garden. 

We have a tiny post office just around the corner which is run by our lovely postmaster Sam so we could continue to ship things safely, which was a huge relief. 

Working in this way has allowed us to become pretty much hermits though! We haven’t even been in to a supermarket since mid March so now that lockdown is easing we have to overcome quite a lot of social anxiety or risk becoming total recluses!

Hello Dodo screen print their own designs by hand

How has lockdown affected your business and the way you work? 

Although we’ve been lucky to be able to carry on running our business we’ve had every single one of our 2020 events cancelled (including artist’s open houses and markets) and also we were due to run our own two week long pop up shop at the end of July. 

We also lost a lot of revenue from our lovely stockists being closed too. We turned off International shipping during lockdown (we’ve only just reinstated it on our website) as we felt like the risk of orders being either lost or hugely delayed was just too high. 

For quite a while we weren’t able to order in the blank tees and sweatshirts that we print on to either so had to make do with what we had. 

The positive impact of lockdown on our business though has been, despite everything, that we are very busy! With actual shops forced to close lots of people turned to online shopping and even better - to supporting tiny independent brands like ours.

All Hello Dodo prints feature positive messages and fun play on words

Has this time helped your productivity? If yes, how? 

Like most things, it has come in waves! 

There has been times, particularly at the beginning of lockdown, when being productive felt almost impossible and we felt overwhelmed with anxiety and the enormity of it all. 

Then there’s been other times when being productive and creative has been the best distraction for us. We have managed to do two successful launches during lockdown and we’re currently working on another really big one - so actually maybe we should cut ourselves some slack!

Hello Dodo's Jam wearing the Grand Bug Hotel unisex sweatshirt £33

Have you become more or less inspired in this time?

Right now it feels like our inspiration is returning - like the stress was holding it back and now the floodgates have been opened!

In deepest darkest lockdown the main concern was keeping our business afloat. This whole experience has definitely had a huge impact on us though and some of our new designs that we’re working on will nod to that.

NEW Kids Human Kind print sweatshirt by Hello Dodo £24

What's next for your business? 

We’re just about to release a whole bunch of yummy summer pieces both for adults, kids and babies! 

It feels scary and a bit risky but we’re really excited about it all and we’re working with another brand on a tiny limited edition collection plus two self employed photographers. As an indie business ourselves we feel it’s really important to pay for services from other indies. 

We’re also getting back on track with our new handprinted vintage label Long Live The DODO which has been delayed by lockdown. Lots of exciting things in the pipeline!

Ali has been running Hello Dodo with her husband Jam for 9 years.

September 2020 update

How has life after lockdown been for Hello Dodo?

When we last left you (in June 2020) we were in the midst of working on a summer collection for both kids and adults! 

That went really well and we were able to work with two brilliant photographers, one who could photograph her own children and one who specialises in self portraiture. Perfect for covid times! 

We’re now straight in to A/W with an adventure theme for kids and a dog theme for adults (with some crossovers!) and we’re planning photo shoots with both photographers again but this time with models. 

This feels very exciting as we weren’t sure that it would be a feasible option in 2020! 

All of our stockists have reopened too and they’re all really busy, which is a huge relief for everyone! 

Winter still feels like an unknown but right now it feels like things are on the up and we’re enjoying that and trying to not worry too much about things that we can’t control!

Visit the Hello Dodo online shop 

#supportindependent

Super Stylin'

I was inspired to start the No Debutante blog after receiving a lot of lovely compliments about my style. Blogging had been mentioned on several occasions encouraging me to document my style, this was way before instagram kicked off properly, so sharing your style was still relatively new to most people. 

My husband Phil had tried to get me to start a blog a fair few years earlier than I actually did (I finally started the No Debutante blog in 2011) but, I have to admit, I was a bit of a technophobe and didn't really understand what blogging was! I certainly did not see myself as a writer.

Roll on a few years and I have been blogging for over 7 years and through the blogging I have managed to bag myself the title of fashion editor at Bristol 24/7 magazine, which is pretty good going for a technophobe with no confidence in writing.

One thing I have to encourage is to keep at it. I stuck at writing a blog after many bloggers gave in, I kept at it because I loved doing it. The dream of having thousands of followers and making a tonne of money as an influencer went out the window, I just liked writing and sharing amazing things in fashion and if people were reading about it that was great too! 

One thing that got me more attention as a blogger was writing about other people in fashion, especially unique and independent fashion designers.  It's all well and good sharing photos of your latest outfit and where you can buy it but creating content that makes people listen and think about stuff, makes for a more varied and interesting blog.

The No Debutante blog started as a pregnancy fashion diary, I struggled with pregnancy styling, I didn't embrace my amazing growing body, as it brought a life into the world, I lost my identity and it sucked! That was my niche back in 2011 with a few posts on designers and high street fashion here and there.

Now, the No Debutante blog represents, supports and promotes independent designers and creatives with a few anti-fashion brands like Typical Freaks chucked in just because I love them! I also promote sustainable and slow fashion which to me is no longer an inspiring way forward in fashion, it is the only way forward.

To be clear, I still buy from the high street, I am no fashion angel, bringing awareness, for me, is a start and giving people ideas on how they can introduce slow fashion into their lives is very important to making a change. People laughed at the idea of recycling rubbish, now look at us!

Looking forward, I'm not sure how much longer the blogging world is going to continue, things will become more video based with IGTV, Snapchat and YouTube leading the way and podcasts are a big thing now too. 

One thing I am sure about is that things always change and change is good. The No Debutante blog will continue in one guise or another. I don't think I could ever stop sharing fabulous fashion stories, there is always something new happening in fashion; my style and inspirations are forever changing and developing and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next! 

Today's photographs take me back to my blogging roots with a few shots of me wearing my fave outfits from the autumn months, which mostly consists of independent fashion items, high street buys and slow fashion pieces, all in big bright, bold and colourful clashes of fun and fashion.

The independent fashion designers featured include Manners London Mango Tango Jewellery Kuccia Fruit Salad Duvet Days  Tail End That Thing  

Thank you for supporting and reading my blog and for all those good vibes you fabulous fashionistas! You are AMAZE! 

Bristol's finest Insta fashionistas July 2018

Here at No Debutante I am totally obsessed with Instagram! The amazing imagery shared, and the stories people tell, are just so vibrant and unique, well, the people I seem to follow are! A daily snippet into peoples lives, inspirations and captured moments, albeit a slightly staged view on many occasions, ahem! 

I am no innocent in this beautiful instagram charade and if I want to believe everyone is wondering about wearing beautiful garms with their beautiful friends and families then let it happen. Instagram isn't about disrespect and being down on people, it's about supporting and influencing each other and aiming to be the best you can be and being HAPPY!!! And what's wrong with that eh? Instagram gives me the feel good factor from people liking my posts to getting inspired by you beautiful lot!

This is the second installment of a feature I did back in April where I shared a few of my fave instagrammers who were also local independent fashion designers too. Well, since Bristol is so full of fabulous fashion I just had to share a few more of them with you today. 

Here's a peek at the last lot in case you missed it Bristol's Finest Insta Fashionistas

Zedhead Headwear

The fabulous and hilarious Zoe Thompson from Zedhead Headwear creates the most amazing head-wear from outrageous carnival crazy feathered headdresses to more quirky pieces with My Little Ponies and dolls attached, from headdress crowns, pom-pom earrings to super-fly visors, Zedhead has all your festivals, Hen parties and summer holiday's covered. Boom!

Emotional Waterfall Art

Colourful and creative Jemma Bursnell of Emotional Waterfall is a living piece of art from her brightly coloured and printed personal style to her amazing illustrative hand drawn prints that carry an abstract, free hand Memphis style that Jemma has made her own. From T-shirts to earrings, plant pots, furniture and even bigger art displays including a residency at Upfest in Bristol, I think Jemma is slowly painting the whole of Bristol bit by bit.

Dulcie's Feathers

Dulcie Horn is a fellow blogger and fashion designer who recently launched a range of beautiful garms made entirely from vintage sari's, she went all the way to India to get them made and then got all her lovely friends to model them for her. The Dulcie's Feathers range includes jumpsuits, shorts co-ords, kimonos, playsuits and two piece hareem sets and are just perfect for the beach and as loungewear. 

Kokomo

Super sexy, perspex queen....It's Kokomo! 

These amazing dare to bear garms are made entirely from perspex discs lovingly pieced together by designer Jess whose amazing perspex garms mix festival showgirls with 60's spaceage glam.

You have got to love the Kokomo necklaces too with words like Disco and Yes, what could be more positive and fun?

Kuccia

Not technically a Bristol brand, but I feel we have adopted them and No Debutante has been in love with Kuccia for what seems like forever! The cuts, the prints the sparkles, the Lookbooks! What's not to like here? I finally got to meet the designers this year at Loves Saves The Day festival and they were just the most loveliest people ever! Get your sequin dreams and festival fashion fabulousness here.....as Kuccia say 'want some?'

All images courtesy of the instagram accounts of Zedhead Headwear Emotional Waterfall Art, Dulcie's Feathers, Kokomo Kuccia

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 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

Mind your Manners

I was introduced to Manners London by Joh Rindom at the That Thing Festival launch in her Stokes Croft shop. I had scanned all the lovely garms, knowing I was going to buy something at the event (I always do) and one of the items, a monochrome geometric printed catsuit had caught my eye. I had paused and thumbed the item as I passed through the clothes rail and I turned around to see Joh greeting me wearing the very same outfit! It looked amazing! 

I usually dismiss a catsuit as I am not a skinny girl, just an average size 12/14 with a few squishy bits, but that's to be expected of a woman in her 40's whose had three kids! But seeing this catsuit (or jumpsuit as it is named at Manners) looking so amazing on Joh, just made me want the catsuit even more!

All dressed up in my Manners London jumpsuit for my gig at the Bristol Harbour Festival

The reason I am highlighting my shape is that what I hadn't realised on first inspection was that Manners London  - as their website suggests  - is 'not your average bodycon'. Using a trademarked fabric, Manners create gorgeous bodycon garms with added support for women with boobs, bums and tums! 

The VV Bodysuit worn by curvy and fabulous models

Joh Rindom and No Debutante twnning in our Manners London jumpsuits at the That Thing Festival fashion launch party
Photographs courtesy of Dulcie Horn

I can wear my Manners jumpsuit without a bra and I still feel safe, comfortable and nipped in, this garm is so flattering and |I love everything from the soft, comfortable fabric, the contemporary 'Esk print' and the low cut back, which makes me feel so happy to be able to go bra-less and actually bear my back! Something I would not have done before.

Manners London bodycon suits all shapes and sizes!

I am an avid bra wearer, I believe you should wear a well fitting and supportive bra and pay money to have the best cut bras, no Primark cheapies for me! At Uni I specialised in lingerie fashion design and my final collections featured a beautiful and fun supportive bra for a larger young woman; due to a gap in the market for beautiful bra's for bigger girls at the time. As you can imagine the decision to go bra-less wasn't taken lightly! 

Super cute yellow jumpsuit and Ikan print bodysuit

Since discovering Manners London I have fallen in love with the brand for many reasons, the first being that I just love the garms, the second is the supportive super thick stretch jersey fabrics and the third is that this brand focuses on making women of all shapes and sizes feel great in their garms. The story behind the brand is rather empowering too. 

Not your average bodycon! 

Self taught, designer and mother Sally Mansfield was forced to use local tailors, whilst living in Bali to make up garms for her curvier figure, as shockingly the Balinese shops sizes (and Asian shops in general) wouldn't fit her! Are there no curvy women in Asia?? Apparently not!

Sally Mansfield founder and designer at Manners London

Sally became inspired to create her own brand after befriending her fave tailors and asking them to help her produce a micro fashion collection with dreams of becoming her own boss to give her more time to spend with her son. The collection was created to empower woman and to be more inclusive of plus sizes. To stay connected to Bali all of the originally designed prints are hand screen printed in Indonesia. 

It's time to burn those bra's! 

On her return to London, Sally sold these amazing garms at Portabello and Spitalfields Markets, gaining inspiring and loyal customers along the way. Sally says the best part of her Manner London journey has been meeting so many beautiful, powerful, interesting, kind and strong women along the way! What an inspiration! 

I am a keen promoter of independent designers and Manners London is definitely my current obsession! 

Manners London Jumpsuits featuring No Debutante's fave red racer stripe want! 

There are so many amazing garms to be found from deep back bodycon dresses, flared trousers, pencils skirts with thick and supportive comfy waistbands, more jumpsuits, (I have my eye on the red go faster stripe style jumpsuit next) crop tops, wrap tops, leggings, bodysuits and the big trend of the year the Bardot top dress! All in flattering hot reds or blacks or in various prints from tropical leaves, to my fave Esk prints (in monochrome or super cute yellow and white) to beautiful fish (Ikan) prints.

Bodycon dresses with the shape of the summer  - The Bardot shoulder

Want to feel supported, empowered and glamorous without the restrictions of a bra? Free yourself and get over to Manners London now or regret it forever! 

Buy your Manners garms here www.mannersldn.com

No Debutante Loves Manners London! 

All photos (except the one's featuring No Debutante) courtesy of Manners London.

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 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

Double whammy fashion extravaganza

I've been saying it all week but Bristol's has really gone to town with fashion events this spring. I seem to be attending events every week these days, which is great but two in one evening? I saw it as challenge and took it on!

Dressed up in striped pirate trousers, Adidas gazelles, retro Adidas kids jacket, Tezla earrings and my Lazy Oaf Mermaid top with shell boob appliques, I was ready to tackle this night, one fashion event at a time...

Yeah, fashion ready!

The first event took place at Rhubarb Jumble which is situated on the super-cool North Street in Bristol. This vintage boutique is full of retro gems and vintage garms from the 40s to the 90s that are all sourced by the owner Amy Hamilton, who has managed to turn a clothes hoarding obsession into a successful fashion business.

Amy Hamilton wearing the most fantastic red vintage jumpsuit from Rhubard Jumble! Want! 

This particular event was to exclusively show off their new selection of Spring garments that featured kitsch dresses, abstract floral shirts and 90s denims, plus lots of quirky pieces and vintage oddities from homewares to furniture that Amy had upcycled herself.

Rhubarb Jumble staff picks and an amazing vintage print shirt that was sadly too small for me! 

To keep things fresh, the stock is rotated and updated regularly with new vintage pieces and gems meaning each time you visit the stock will have completely changed so each time you visit Rhubarb Jumble you get to start the search for hidden goodies all over again! The fun never ends!
 If you are a vintage fan get yourself down to Rhubarb Jumble and find your dream vintage item for this spring!

You will get to hear more about my visit to the Rhubarb Jumble Spring Launch up on Bristol 24/7 online shortly.

Local Independent designer garms at That Thing Festival Edition 2018

Second event of the night on Thursday 3 May was the That Thing Festival Edition 2018 as part of their Independent Designer Showcase event. That Thing always has a buzz, the crowd was completely different to the Rhubarb Jumble fashion event and that's what I love about Bristol, there is always so much going on! In under 30 minutes I had moved from a sweet, vintage space to a bangin party of festival lovers, fashionistas and independent designers, there were DJs and rails of festival and streetwear garms!

Although I do love vintage, especially oddities and homewares, my style is definitely more at home in That Thing, I have to admit I am also more involved with this scene, this is my area of Bristol, I love Joh Rindom and the That Thing girls and know so many of the amazing Bristol designers who create garms for the shop, that I felt right at home at this event.

Independent festival fashion from designers including Manners, Neat Frontage and Kuccia

Joh, the owner and a fashion designer at That Thing, supports so many independent fashion and accessory designers including Zedhead Headwear, Neat Frontage, Tezla Designs, Dulcie's Feathers and Duvet Days who are all Bristol creatives, That Thing also stock another No Debutante fave Kuccia.

I had been on a buying cull, refusing to buy from the high street just because, so I have been saving myself for these types of events to get me some super-cool threads, handmade by local designers.
I instantly fell in love with some stripy trousers by Duvet Days (yep, they are made out of retro duvet covers - sustainable and sassy) when their creator Emma White said she could knock me a matching top, I was sold. I will reveal the whole co-ord in a future post!

The adorable That Thing shop manager Katie wearing a Neat Frontage sweatshirt

The second item purchased on the night, was an amazing jumpsuit by London bodywear designers Manners, I loved the monochrome print straight away and then I noticed Joh, was wearing the amazing item. It looked amaze on her and since we are similar sizes, I just had to try it on!
Manners do say that there is magic in the fabric and I believe them, this catsuit was the most comfortable and durable jersey ever, it was soft and nipped you in, in all the right places! Sold to the woman with the pink hair!

Twinning with That Thing's Joh rindom in Manners jumpsuits - Photograph courtesy of Dulcie Horn

The gorgeous, blogger and Dulcie's Feathers designer Dulcie Horn managed to catch Joh and I twinning in our fabulous Manners jumpsuits!! Dulcie is always such fun at any event she attends, she wrote a little blog about the night too. Check out Dulcie's blog The Festival Life

The fabulous Dulcie Horn (left) and an amazing festival headdress.

It was a night of meeting old friends, making new friends, talking fashion, showering myself with amazing garms made by brilliant independent designers. I love Bristol!

Read more about That thing in my Bristol 24/7 article Do the right thing

All photography by No Debutante except Twinning photographs courtesy of Dulcie Horn

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 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

Not For Ponies

As a fashion editor I get to promote and support wonderful Bristol fashion independents but as No Debutante I can promote fashion indies from around the globe. Recently I was contacted by a super cute streetwear brand  from the North East of England named Not For Ponies who embellish tops and accessories with sweet and quirky appliques.

The self-confessed cute, kooky and lover of weird stuff, Rebecca Andrews is the Not For Ponies designer and is inspired by bright colours, bold prints and quirky graphics. Rebecca has been creating fun and fabulous creations since 2009, starting with a market stall and moving on to a successful streetwear brand.  Rebecca creates small batches of items with each garment being made with a little bit of fun and a lot of TLC.

These cute garms aren't  just for kids, these kawaii gems come in adult sizes too plus there is still time to pick up your Christmas jumper or buy a super sweet Christmas gift. From kawaii styles, animal prints to more playful Lazy Oaf kooky graphics, bag yourself (and your kids) some garms from Not For Ponies and support independent fashion in the UK.

The range consists of cutest appliqued motifs embellished onto bold and bright t-shirts and quirky sweats for women, men and kids, with a Christmas range available too. There are also kooky purses and fun tote bags too (great for last-minute Christmas gift ideas).

Be quick though, as Not For Ponies is an online pop-up which will be open until January 31^st 2018. An online pop-up is a great platform to show off what you have created and share the fashion love with us all. It’s an easier way to test out the water, find your customer and to get yourself noticed, without putting loads of effort and money into something in one go, which can be super risky in fashion. Not that this is a problem for Not For Ponies as they’ve already featured on This Morning and kids TV show Milkshake! Nice!

As a supporter of independent fashion and as a fashion designer myself, I have experienced and seen so many fall at the first hurdle by putting too much money and time into something only to not see it through. Not For Ponies certainly seem to have their heads screwed on, it pays to be savvy fashionistas! 

Unisex Kids Reindeer Christmas Jumper £16

Girls Pink Unicorn T Shirt £9

Women's Jade Surreal Face T Shirt by Not For Ponies - £20

Women's White Pocket Face T Shirt by Not For Ponies £20

Photography by No Debutante

All t-shirts and sweatshirts by Not For Ponies

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 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.   

ND xx