Indies in Lockdown - Elin Horgan

When faced with a situation that none of us have ever experienced before it knocks the way we live our lives for six. During the height of the pandemic we all adapted to change, with many of our jobs and livelihoods slowing down and in some cases coming to a complete halt. 

As an independent business owner you didn't have the opportunity to furlough yourself to spend more time with home-schooling or taking a mind break, you were REALLY worried about how your business would continue and when the next payment was coming in! 

Or, perhaps, you did have some extra time on your hands, but couldn't get hold of the stock that helps you to create your products during lockdown? What can you do instead?

Where there is an indie maker there is always a way....

Jewellery designer Elin Horgan 

Elin Horgan

Creating beautiful and elegant handmade jewellery in recycled silver, Bristol maker Elin Horgan became inspired to design her new Shapes & Spheres collection after realising she couldn't get new stock and components from her regular suppliers. 

This interview took place during lockdown in June 2020. 

Elin's wax carving tools used to make her unique ring creations

How are you? What has your situation been like during lockdown?

I'm ok thanks (well, I am today at least!)....hanging on in there in these strange times.  

I've been in lockdown with my two kids (who are 5 and 8) and my husband (who is currently working from home) so, like many self-employed creatives it's been quite an adjustment having everyone in the house with me all day every day.

Sphere pendents from £60 by Elin Horgan

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

Business has been mostly OK.  

My stockists have, of course, been closed, but some have taken their shops and galleries online. I'm hugely grateful to everyone who has been buying jewellery from my website during this time as their support has really kept me going!

I usually run jewellery making workshops at Kiln Workshop just off Gloucester Road, Bristol, so have had to put all of those on hold for the time being.  I'm really hoping to be back teaching in the Autumn as I miss it so much!

Silver orbit hoops by Elin Horgan 
Photography by Paola Leonardi 

Has this time helped your productivity?

It's a struggle to fit much in at the moment although I suspect that having less time actually makes me more productive as there are far fewer opportunities for faffing about.  

There's definitely a lot of evening and weekend work (and not very much homeschooling) going on at the moment.

Elin Horgan's best selling Triangle stud £45

Have you become more or less inspired in this time?

After a few weeks of adjusting to our new family set up, I had a really creative burst and produced lots of new work.  

As lots of jewellery making suppliers were closed to begin with I wanted to challenge myself to make some pieces by using materials I already had; repurposing and recycling my scrap silver where possible.  

The new Shapes & Spheres collection of one-off pieces is now available to buy on my website and I love the fact that each piece is totally unique and won't be made again. (see top image)

Apollo Statement earrings £250 by Elin Horgan
Photography by Han Goes Click Studios

What's next for your business?

I'm currently working on a capsule collection of rings made from recycled silver which I hope to release this Autumn.

Visit the Elin Horgan online shop

#supportindependent

How to create upcycled face masks from pre-loved t-shirts.

A face mask upcycled from a pre-loved t-shirt

I have been meaning to make some face masks for a while and when I finally got a moment - it's certainly been business as usual in No Debutante world - I gathered together some fabrics that I've been hoarding and got to work.

After finding a fairly easy pattern online, I knocked up a sample and managed to perfect the face mask (on my second attempt, although I still managed to rework the practice attempt into a usable face mask) and the construction just fell into place.

The fabric

I upcycled cotton fabrics and t-shirts to create my face masks, it's a great way to reuse rather than buying new. Your chosen fabrics will need to be breathable so cottons and cotton jerseys are perfect for the job.

You can use elastic to make simple loop fasteners or make self tying straps using both cottons and t-shirts fabrics. (Read below for construction ideas).

I had to make a few masks as every member of my family of five requested one after I made my trial mask! The checkerboard fabric was very popular with the boys and Sylvie's tiny little floral face mask was made from an old top of mine. The rigid cotton fabrics look great with the pleats in and concertina out great when you put them over you face.

Sylvie in her super sweet child's face mask

My second face mask (see top image) was upcycled from a cotton jersey t-shirt. I had already cut a large section off the bottom of this t-shirt to make a crop top, so the left over large hem (that I have been hoarding) was reused to create the mask. 

Although I would say the cotton jersey is a little harder to work with as it is a stretch fabric, the finished product feels super soft and contours to your face quite nicely when wearing it. 

Get inspired and create face masks that suit your style. What better way to do that then using your own clothes and fabrics? I have chosen fun printed fabrics for my masks, I needed a mask that matches my style and cheers me up, even if my smile is hidden away under the mask!

When upcycling t-shirts I would recommend using either a plain coloured t-shirt or an all over print, placement prints may look a little odd when pleated up. I will always encourage experimenting though, maybe you can make a placement print work? If you do I wanna see it!

The ever popular checkerboard face mask!

Disclaimer alert!

These face masks are NOT PPE certified face masks, although the pattern does allow you to add a filter to your mask, if you wanted to (on this occasion, I did not).

These masks are simple, wear once and wash items, they are to be used for a short time only and replaced with another mask when needed. Which is why you may need a few masks to see you through your time when you are out in public - social distance abiding!

There is also contrasting evidence on whether we should be wearing them or not at all, with the UK not really embracing the face mask as much as other countries, it's been difficult to judge. A friend living in China warned that we would all be wearing them in the UK soon but alas, over a month in, this still does not seem to be the case.
I guess it really is up to the individual unless the current guidelines change. 

In my opinion, the masks are a useful thing to stop you spreading infection when you are out and about and they also act as a deterrent from touching your face! Plus you can use them when cycling too as a pollution blocker!

Different size face masks for adults, teens and children

Create your own face mask

The pattern I used for my face masks came from the Sarah Maker blog. Which you can find here this blog post has some very useful hints and tips, where Sarah also confirms that the masks are not a substitute for PPE.

This pattern is fairly easy to construct as long as you have basic sewing machine experience and knowledge on creating pleats in fabric.

The most fiddly bit for me was adding the elastics as this can pull the fabric in, so my only tip would be to pin in your elastics to the sides and pin the bit that goes around your ears away from the edge, so you don't sew the elastic into the side seam - lesson learnt! Ha! 

The best thing about these face masks is that they are completely washable so you will be able to wear them over and over again. Having a small selection - a capsule wardrobe of upcycled masks if you like -  is advised so you always have a clean mask available.

Give this pattern a go, I actually got a bit addicted to making the masks!

Perhaps you will have a bit of spare time to get involved with making them for the NHS / your local hospitals too, find out how about sewing groups in your area by checking local Facebook groups. 

If you are not that confident in using a sewing machine, why not ask local makers or family members to help you create your own face masks? Get in touch and I can help you upcycle your old t-shirts into several face masks or hook you up with other makers. 

As you know, news on social distancing and covid-19 can change on a daily bases, always keep up to date to follow current guidelines. 

Remember, there is also the option to wear a face mask whilst riding your bike too (for protection against traffic pollution) just because lockdown (as we know it) is coming to an end it doesn't mean you need to stop protecting yourself and others. 

Right, I'm off to find more hoarded fabric and old t-shirts to upcycle!

Stay safe x

To The Moon In Style

As an alternative to the current, so called, Bristol Fashion week (all Malls, high street brands and celebrities) a collection of Bristol Female Fashionistas including myself, the lovely former buyer & stylist Gemma from the newly opened To The Moon Boutique/ Bar & sustainable fashion queen Helen Brown from Kecks Clothing are settling up a collaborative of Bristol based designers including, sustainable fashion label Antiform, to come together with other Bristol based fashion designers & creatives to promote all things Bristol Fashion, including sustainable fashion & streetwear to get Bristol on the Fashion map. Its not all about London after all...

Where Bristol Fashion is currently failing is not in creatively or talent, its a bubble of creativity and originality, the problem is, if we are going to compete with London as a leading city of Fashion, Bristol designers & creatives need to be supported by Bristol. London Fashion week is not all about high street fashion, it is about the independent designers themselves, London supports new and local talent, giving them a showcase to share their work and creativity with others. If Bristol Fashion designers were given the support from Bristol, the way London supports London Fashion, whether this would be through grants or independent sponsors, then it currently stands a chance at becoming a force to be reckoned with in the Fashion world.

The Independent Fashion Focus at To The Moon in Bristol is the first step in the process to getting Bristol noticed, the plan is to start up a Bristol Fashion Scene, arranging meet ups & events that's will bring everybody together & help with promotion & fashion events, which will lead up to a Bristol Fashion week that is real Bristol Fashion by Bristol Fashion designers and creatives. I think it is true to say that nothing at the current Bristol Fashion Week has anything to do with Bristol, except that it is based in a Mall in Bristol. All the garments in the Fashion show are from corporate high street brands, garments that are designed & made outside of Bristol & are massed produced to every high street around the world. Where is the creativity in that? Where is the Bristol in this fashion week???

Lizzie Harrison from Antiform is a perfect example of what is happening in the (currently secret) world of Bristol Fashion. Lizzie sources waste fabrics & off cuts from UK fabric manufacturers including lacemakers and knitwear companies, many of whom have supplied to great British Fashion institutions like Vivienne Westwood & Liberty, these are British craftsmen at their best. Some of these off cuts have been rejected by quality control for having small imperfections in them which would go to waste, luckily for Lizzie & Antiform, these manufacturers save many of their unused rolls of fabric which Lizzie then creates something new from a wasted product. The whole of the Antiform collections are made from sourced waste fabrics and trims, they are given a new lease of life, as well as being great for the environment, the nature of using small off cuts means that each garment will be unique & different, the cut of the garments will remain the same but each piece will be unique!

No Debutante buddy Helen Brown from Kecks Clothing also did one of her eye-opening talks on upcycling and reuse. Helen works closely with Bristol Textiles Recycling (BTR) promoting reuse by showing how we can all get involved with upcycling & generally saving the planet! Helen holds talks & workshops on upcycling & presents them at sustainable fashion events & also in schools, encouraging everyone to be aware & how to get involved. On this occasion Helen brought along a case full of wasted t-shirts that she had picked up from BTR who coincidentally receive over 4000 wasted tshirts a week! Which is shocking! Helen has many ideas on how you can reuse a tshirt on this occasion she showed us how you can turn a tshirt into a ball of yarn, which was fantastic! Helen also has a fashion line of upcycled & vintage items that she has creatively upcycled & rescued from landfill. These items are currently available at Emmaus in Bristol where Helen also has her studio.

Creatively & sustainably there is a lot going on in Bristol. Help us get Bristol on that fashion map by following all Bristol fashion designers & creatives on social media under #bristol #bristolfashion #fashiondesigners and Like and Share what they are doing. You don't have to be from Bristol to support Bristol fashion! Support Bristol Fashion!

If you would like to join us, get involved or help promote Bristol Fashion or know anybody rolling in money who may wish to help us out then please do get in touch.

Thanks so much to Gemma and Chris at To The Moon for holding the event & creating awareness to all things sustainable, shipshaped & Bristol fashion!! 

 Lizzie from Antiform introducing the new collection

 

Tiny strips of unused UK sourced trim make up the pattern on this Antiform Peasant Dress

 No D in Glitter knit Antiform top & vintage trousers from To The Moon Boutique

 Party Guests styling up To The Moon items for a Fashion challenge #tothemooninstyle

Ottowin Shoes handmade in Bristol...No D wants them in a bright pink!

 Helen from Kecks Clothing draws a crowd of Bristol & Bath fashion students for an upcycling presentation

My ladeez.....Gemma & Helen

All photography by No Debutante

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 No Debutante name #nodebutante

 Thanks for checking in Fashionistas xx

ND xx

Reduce, Reuse and Upcycle

Bristols upcycling queen Helen Brown from Kecks Clothing has collaborated with  Emmaus Bristol with an aim to bring reuse to the forefront of the charity sector, preventing landfilll waste, saving money and helping you revamp your stuff and your wardrobe! On Friday 15th July ( as part of a Bristol fashion doublewhammy alongside the That Thing Festival Showcase launch to follow this post shortly) No Debutante attended the launch party for the 'Upcycling Lounge' at Emmaus Bristol to find out more about the collaboration with Kecks Clothing.

Helen from Kecks Clothing, is one of Bristols top reuse specialists whom regularly holds workshops and talks inspiring and promoting upcycling and reuse, working closely with local charities and Bristol Textiles Recyclers to help promote  the benefits of reuse and to show you what you can do to help and get upcycling yourself! Kecks Clothing itself is a fashion and textiles brand upcycling preloved clothing with hand drawn designs and stencil prints. Kecks Clothing is available to buy at the Upcycling Lounge, Emmaus, Bristol. 

 I have fond memories of upcycling, stencil printing and customising preloved clothing as over ten years ago I had my own fashion and upcycling brand named Phlem ( I agree the name isn't great but it certainly got attention!) which sadly had to come to an end due to a lack of childcare & finances for the two beautiful children I had brought into the world with my business partner (and husband) Phil! It was a different time then and collab spaces were a very new thing that didn't yet exist in Bristol, I think as a small business we would have benefited from this greatly! I am very proud of Phlem and what we achieved.

Emmaus itself is a homelessness charity with a difference, not only raising money and awareness for the charity but also finding homes, jobs and support for many homeless people. Helping them get their lives back on track.

Check out the Upcycling Lounge at Emmaus Bristol on Upper York street, Stokes Croft, Bristol for clothing, workshops and Furniture in a relaxed and modern vintage atmosphere and find yourself a bargain. Find your local Emmaus store here and get involved!

If you are having a fashion event or a have a new collection you would like No Debutante to promote please get in touch! You do not have to be from Bristol or even the UK. Fashion newbies are very welcome!

All photography by No Debutante

If you are interested in collaborating with No Debutante or getting featured on the No Debutante blog please contact me / send me a message on any of the following social networking platforms all under the No Debutante name #nodebutante

Keep up with No Debutantes OOTD posts, collabs and current fashion obsessions posted daily on all of the following. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr,  Pinterest.
Thanks for checking in Fashionistas xx
ND xx