I am R bring a '90s twist to African print accessories

Creating sassy colourful handmade accessories in bold African printed fabrics, I am R are making waves in the independent fashion community!

I can't deny that I may be on more than acquaintance terms with I am R designer, Rachael Liddle but there's nothing better than bigging up an independent brand when it belongs to one of your besties, especially when they are creating a product that's inspired by big, bold colourful prints - all No Debutante faves!

I caught up with my girl, Rachael with a Q&A about her accessories brand whilst decorating myself up in I am R‘s colourful, printed delights! 

Circle studs (love this colour combo) £10 by I am R

An Interview with I am R

What is included in the I am R range? 

I use African fabrics to create handmade accessories. I'm inspired by colour, bold graphic print and 90’s street culture. It started with earrings, and then moved to scarves, headbands, turbans and scrunchies.

I have a big basket full a fabric scraps and wanted to make sure I am using everything, so it just evolved from wanting to have a more extensive product range and having as little waste as possible. I’m trying to be sustainable and also only use fully compostable mailing bags too. 

Where are you based?

I have a small set up based in Enfield in North London.

Big & bold studs by I am R £10

Where do you get your fabrics?

I get most of my fabrics from a local market stall/shop that specialises in African print fabrics. I also have a friend from Ghana who also brings me a fabric haul back whenever she goes home!

What inspired you to start I am R?

I come from a graphic design background and have always loved being creative but had let it all slide for years, to be a grown up, with a day job and kids. 

I bought a pair of earrings one day and thought…I can make these. That’s where it all started really.

I have always loved African fabrics for their colours and geometry and I love prints.  I already had some African Kente fabric at home, so I just made a pair of earrings.  

I really enjoyed the process from concept to product. It started as a much-needed hobby and started to slowly turn into something that people liked and wanted to buy.

Polko dot monochrome hoops £12

When did you launch I am R?

Ha! I have had a year of soft launching! I started selling at a small local festival and did well.  That’s when I began to have confidence in what I was doing.  That was in July 2019.  I only have an Instagram page at the moment and I’m currently setting up a website.

Where can we buy I am R?

You can buy on instagram.  If anyone see’s anything they like they can DM me! I also do market stalls now and then in London.

Bright geometric hoops £12

How much are the I am R accessories?  

My products range in price from £4 for a scrunchie to earrings starting at £6. The turbans are £12 and headbands start at £15, the fleece lined scarves are £30. 

What is next for I am R?

I am currently working on some new earring designs and new products to add to my range.

African print earrings by I am R £10

How has lockdown affected your business?

Lockdown has affected me both negative and positive.  I have found it almost essential, that once the kids are sorted with school work, snacks and lunch, that I go into my workshop and start creating!

I have managed to make loads more than I normally would and I don’t feel guilty for having that time.  I love it, Missy Elliot ‘she’s a bitch’ full blast, that’s my - let’s get this done - jam at the moment. Ha!

Negatively, it’s harder to get some elements that I need in order to make things.  Suppliers are closed, supplying NHS with PPE as a priority (quite rightly so) or just long delays for orders.  This is something that is out of my control, so it’s fine.

What makes I am R unique?

All items are unique one of a kind, hand signed with a logo.  I don’t use many repeated patterns and colours, so once my two yards is used up, I will order a different fabric. 

The print turnover is quite frequent, so if you like it...get it!

Bold and bright I am R scarves £30 each

Super cute stud earrings £8

Thanks to Rachael for the I am R chats! Just as we were about to publish this post another bag of I am R goodies* arrived at the No Debutante headquarters!

This time full of headwear delights from scrunchies, headbands and turbans all handmade in those beautiful African fabrics. Lock in for photo shoot number two featuring lil' Sylvie (my hair certainly is not long enough for scrunchies!). 

Scrunchy love £4 and £4.50 for the scrunchie tie

Clashing up the I am R knotted headbands £15 each

I am R headwear is great for kids too! 

I am R Turbans (perfect for bad hair days & lockdown chic) £12 each. 

More is more in I am R scrunchies and headband!

Thank you I am R xxx

*All items were gifted by I am R. 

The No Debutante Top 10 most read posts of 2018

We have reached the end of 2018 fashionistas! It's been a crazy mad year and it's time to show you the Top 10 and most read No Debutante blog posts of the year!

In previous years, I have shared my 'what I wore' outfits of the year and, although I do still share my colourful (and independent designer reppin') outfits with you all, the No Debutante fashion blog is now more about sharing the love than what's new in my wardrobe and I think these 'most read' posts reflect that.

I have also noticed that I am pretty consistent with the amount of blog posts I can physically create each year with 50 posts being the average, I managed a firm 47 posts (including this one) in 2018. Not bad for a person with 3 kids, two jobs, a band and a club night! 

From Instagram fashion crushes to body positivity to Bristol fashionistas to women in music, the No Debutante blog has covered many subjects and fashion related news over the past year. 

Here they are then, your Top 10 most read posts of 2018....drumroll please....

The most read post of 2018 is  Bristol's finest Insta fashionistas 

No Debutante shares her Top 5 Instagram faves which included Laa Woof, Duvet Days, Tezla Designs, She Shirts and That Thing! All amazing and inspiring local, independent fashion brands and designers. Yeeeessssss! 

Photography by Viktoria Kuti

Coming up closely in second place, is no surprise as this campaign was welcomed with open arms by everyone that came across it the Magnificent Mermaids post featured the female empowering swimwear brand Mermaid in England who use real models of every shape and size in their body positive photo shoots. No Debutante got involved too and met some awesome, brave and inspiring women along the way.

Rhubarb Jumble and That Thing in Bristol 

The Double whammy fashion extravaganza comes in third and shares the night No Debutante manahed to attend two brilliant Bristol based fashion events in one night, featuring vintage fashionistas Rhubarb Jumble and street wear queens That Thing.

In My Naked Journey No Debutante promotes body positivity and self love alongside Mermaid in England. Sharing my reasons on why I was signing up for the Mermaid in England photo shoot, my body issues whilst actually posing in a bikini for the first time in my blog.

NME Award female nominees 2018

2018 saw a change in the way the industry recognised women in music with the Female empowerment at nme awards blog post. Woman are still not where we should be in the industry but this is a positive start and an honest review. Let's see how this changes in 2019! This post made it inti the Top 5 and rightly so! 

An honour to have made it into the Top 10 blog posts of the year You go girl was actually my first post of 2018 and see's me sharing all the things I've been involved with from writing to DJing to being a Mum. Thank you to every one who took the time to read this post! 

Emotional Waterfall Art

Following the success of what turned out to be the most read No Debutante blog post of the year comes Bristol's finest insta fashionistas July 2018 post, that saw local fashionistas that I was crushing on insta in the summer of 2018, the list includes Zedhead Headwear, Emotional Waterfall Art, Dulcie's Feathers, Kokomo and Kuccia.

My fave Bristol festival had to get into this top ten list Love saves the day again features LSTD 2018 from No Debutante's eyes, expect amazing festival fashion, female djs, fun and an unexpected meeting with Loyle Carner! Roll on 2019! 

Back in March I fell in love with a kidswear photoshoot in Hooligan's Magazine and had to share it. It was loved enough by you fashionistas to make it into the Top 10! Little fashionistas at Hooligans magazine 

Manners London catsuits

I discovered many new independent fashion brands in 2018 and one of them is the London based bodycon brand Mind Your Manners introduced to me by a big Bristolian supporter of independent creatives - Joh Rindom from That Thing. I own a Manners London catsuit and I love it, everyone loves it! I'm so glad this post has made it to the No Debutante Top 10 most read blog posts of 2018! 


It''s been a fantastic year on the No Debutante blog and I'd like to add a few more of the most recent blog posts to this list as maybe they haven't been read quite as much as the Top 10 posts yet but have still managed to get your attention!

In Confessions of a big holiday packer  I mostly share my opinions on holiday packing and how I refuse to pack light. The Sonic Youth post features some photographs I took for my son Lucian's Instagram account that turned into a full on photoshoot that I really love. 

That Thing AW 18 collection

Another very popular recent post was the That Thing AW18 launch party from November 2018 and Super Stylin' took me back to my blogging roots and featured a few of my recent outfits in the Autumn of 2018. 

The Island Pop up Christmas shop Bristol, 2018

Lastly the most recent post that is still getting daily reads is the Have yourself a very local Christmas post featuring The Island pop up Christmas shop here in Bristol, which hopefully encouraged you all to support local and independent creatives this year when buying gifts!  

Thank you for all your support, love and for reading the No Debutante blog. Watch this space for more fabulous fashion moments and more in 2019 and get in touch if you want to be featured! Have a goodun' xxxxx

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

Loves Saves The Day again!

As the festival season is in full flow, I would like to share the No Debutante moments from my fave festival,  Love Saves The Day in Bristol! 

There are many fantastic moments from this weekend back in May, from meeting so many festival fashionistas as I roamed around, looking for the best dressed and latest festival fashion trends for Bristol 24/7 Magazine. My LSTD partner in crime & bestie Rachael joined me, workin her head wrap, Gangster Wraps earrings, Tatty Devine tiger necklace, Monki shirt dress and sparkly leopard print leggings with me in my amaze new monochrome Manners jumpsuit, purchased at the That Thing festival fashion launch party, worn with monochrome Tezla earrings and a Butchi and GosMos bumbag! Yeeessss! 

Getting ready to go to Love Saves The Day at my house with my oldest friend Rachael

We loved hanging out with one of my oldest buddies Chris who was working backstage at LSTD.

SEQUINS SEQUINS SEQUINS at Kuccia as part of The Fashpack crew

We hung out with The Fashpack team who supply a fashion fest of glitter and sparkles from their treasure tent, as the place to go get your obligatory (and sustainable) glitter face paint did and all your fashion fixes from sequined kimonos and bodysuits from Kuccia, heart or daisy shaped sunnies and vintage gems from That Thing, feathered headdresses from Zedhead Headwear, jumpsuits and co-ords made from saris from Dulcie's Feathers and festival fashion galore!

Joh Rindom from The Fashpack doing my festival face paint 

Wearing daisy sunnies from That Thing at The Fashpack tent

The Fashpack fashionistas inc Dulcie's Feathers, Zedhead Headwear & DJ Steven Stone working the room (tent)

The only photo of my Saturday LSTD outfit taken by Rachael! 

The weather was scorchio after mad rain and thunder storms at the beginning of both days, which saw people cutting down their welly boots and stripped down to barely there outfits, it couldn't have been any better and the sunshine just added to the whole fun-filled vibe!

Kuccia Mama outside the Fashpack tent

Wearing florals and black  - Frau DJ Katie Dane in a Lazy Oaf dress & Joh Rindom from That Thing & The Fashpack

A few members of SisterWorks were representing female DJs over the weekend including Frau DJs, who I shall be collaborating with as a Bang DJ at this years Pride (more on this very soon) and Dutty Girl DJs DissMiss and SafeSoul who were killing it at the Cocktails and Dreams stage on the Sunday.

DJ DissMiss from Dutty Girl playing her set on the Cocktails & Dreams stage

SafeSoul from Dutty Girl

I arrived at the festival solo on the Sunday wearing a crop top and my Duvet Days striped trousers and silver Reebok trainers. I dropped in on the Dutty Girl set and found myself taking photos of their crowd of dancers and handing out SisterWorks stickers to everyone - SisterWorks is a Bristol based female empowerment collective that I am part of, for those who didn't know -  It was great to see lots of young men wearing our stickers, not for the eye candy you understand (LOLs) I'm not sure they completely got it but to have them promote SisterWorks whilst dancing to female DJs was empowering! Yeah, yeah, it is equality that we are looking for and it shouldn't matter whether the DJs were women or not but one step at a time, right?

Young men representing - wearing SisterWorks stickers

Loved these girls style twinning in fur hats, matching skirts and lace tights on such a boiling hot day! 

Rainbow Bright - No Debutante's best dressed award! 

The icing on the cake was bumping into Loyle Carner before he went on to perform! I was completely starstruck, I really like his music and love the style and tone of his vocals and yeah, he is  (too young for you.....Loyle Carner reference from Damnselfly) so sweet. I am sure that myself and fellow fashionista/mum, Zoe (from Zedhead Headwear) terrified poor Loyle Carner and Sampha (yes, two musicians in one swoop) as they finished their lunch, but Zoe insisted on meeting her music hero Sampha and I was not gonna stop her for a chance to meet Loyle!

Celebrity stalkin' No Debutante meets Loyle Carner

I managed to get myself right at the front of the Loyle Carner performance with my lovely new Lumix camera and got some great shots, considering I wasn't aloud over the barrier to take photos with the official photographers. Who needs access all areas eh?

There were so many moments and I had the best time at this brilliant Bristol festival, just 20 minutes walk from my house! If you would like to know more about the festival fashionistas, check out my article for Bristol 24/7 Love Saves The Day Festival Fashion special  


See you next year Love Saves The Day! Thanks for having me! 

All photography by No Debutante 

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