“Fashion is a creative approach to design – that’s what takes it away from just being clothes- it’s a process of design and styling.” tells us David Longshaw, an aspiring UK fashion designer. His latest latest SS13 collection made a lasting impression on us as he manages to combine a certain playfulness, yet achieving a very wearable, clean and cool look. So we were really happy to learn more about David´s creating process and where he sees himself in a couple of years…
Fashion means?
A creative approach to design – that’s what takes it away from just being clothes- it’s a process of design and styling.
What do you want people to connect with the designs of David Longshaw?
Creativity, wear-ability – I want people to enjoy what I design and enjoy seeing the process of my collections – that’s why I’ve made an animation this season(S/S13) to explain my starting point and be able to enter my little world.
It seems that you use illustrations and story writing as a starting point of your collections. How do you come up with new stories – what inspires you to create something new?
It can be anything really- I often take myself off on a little random trip (the more random the better) whether it be the seaside, a small village church, or an industrial estate. This season I went on a trip to the seaside and started imagining characters- then later I was in a charity shop and saw these strange dolls that I thought had interesting eyes and hair- so I bought one and smashed it up to get it’s eyes (oh dear this is sounding a tad odd)- I then bought a wooden artists dummy- covered the face in clay and inserted the dolls eyes- I extracted the hair from the doll and inverted the wig – so the woven area that had been stuck to the doll formed a hat and the hair then swept up. I sewed fabric hands and gave them metal armature which I attached to the mannequin and then painted it. Then I started thinking about the character of this strange looking thing that I had created and what sort of companion she would have- that’s where Doug came from- a dejected bear- I pattern cut him so he was hunched over and looked sad- then painted him blue to add to his predicament. From that point I then began to think what style of clothing Eva(the mannequin) would wear and who she was- this lead on to the feel of the set (her home) – what wall paper would she have. The wall paper became prints for the collection, I scaled up the collar of Eva’s dress to human size and had it on two of the ss13 dresses- the same goes for the fit and the cut of the dresses- echoing the style of Eva’s dress.
Amongst other great things you have been named as one of the designers to be watched by Vogue in 2011. I am sure it is great to get this kind of feedback - but does it also put a sort of pressure on you for your following work?
I find it encouraging- it makes me want to work harder to get more.
Who would you like to design a dress/ accessories/ jewellery piece for?
Maude- she’s the fictional fashion fabric mouse maverick that everyone should want to dress – she’s even been called a ‘cult creation’ by VOGUE
You, as a designer, and private person in about 5 years- where will you be?
Still faffing around with fabric and drawing- as I hope to be at 90years of age. I want to continue what I’m doing but with ever increasing budgets so I can create even more
5 things you cannot live without?
Designing, drawing, Diet Coke, Pizza, Family (including Maude& Ward)
www.davidlongshaw.co.uk
