Her Curious Nature
I discovered Her Curious Nature whilst shopping in Topshop.
Her Curious Nature (HCN) stands out as the brand showcases an array of designs that bridge the gap between traditional millinery and current fashion trends, this creates the brand’s popularity with those from all backgrounds and ages.
Much like her designs, Her Curious Nature founder, Sabrina, has never been one to adopt a conventional stance. Despite always proving to be creatively driven she never went on to receive any formal training in design. In Sabrina’s work you can see her fascination with the traditions of eastern performing arts, this transpires through her work frequently, as the use of rich colours and luxurious embellishments echo the exotic detail of traditional Arabic costume. And yet in such contrast the elements of British country heritage fabrics and past times incorporate her childhood influences and current inspirations as a UK designer.
The head–dresses are each individually handcrafted, using hand dyed velvet flowers. Each piece unique in its arrangement and all embellished using coloured glass crystal jewels. Vibrant tropical colours such as Orange and Fuchsia or Acid Green with Red were enhanced by oversized Lilies in bright white for a punchier tropical feel.
I love the clear costume aspect these pieces have, suitable for editorials and the person looking for something alternative to the norm in terms of accessories. Magical....
I made Mrs Lily as a direct result of my second tutorial with Louise Richardson. I have had some of my drawings printed on the sublimation printer and wanted to pad them and bring them 'to life' with embellishments, hand and machine embroidery. I bought a variety of needles for my Janome Harmony 2041 including thin needles for polyesters and synthetics (sublimation materials), quilting needles and metallic thread embroidery needles.
To create Mrs Lily I used polyester sourced from an old shirt in a charity shop and backed it onto a piece of cotton found fabric. I love the idea of utilising unwanted materials. I then highlighted my drawing with a straight black stitch. I did struggle to actually quilt the bird because I need to reach a compromise between using freehand and a structured stitch with a normal foot/ quilting foot.
I left loose threads on my embellishments because of the trend research on WGSN 'Archaic Threads'. I think it added charm to Mrs Lily. I also experimented with embroidery silks (2 strand and 4 strand) to create varying sizes of French knotting building up textures in different colours. This creates a more textured base to then embellish, representing a hint of the animals genuine appearance (wings). My sequins are sourced from www.josyrose.com because the sequins seem so much stronger and symmetrical than others I have used. I would like to try and source some sort of vintage beading to use in partnership with the sequins in the future.
I love that drawing onto a magazine page means that there is this little face peeking through although I would have to be careful with doing this with illustrations because obviously that little face is someone else's work.
I still really want to take this peeping idea forwards using vintage imagery from photographs I sourced over the summer.
Context
I'm finding myself getting really excited about the work I am producing. I can imagine this bird a bit flatter as part of a collar as a shoulder on a dress. Swans on the side of shoes, embroidered animals wrapped round necks and lamps and cushions ahhhhhhhh the possibilities of accessories!!! I also think my drawings have the potential to be developed into transfers for ceramics, simple wallpaper repeats and quirky giftwear/ stationary/ fine art dolls and childrenswear. Why pen myself in to fashion or interiors or art when I can and want to do all three?
