Simone Williams – Modern, Feminine Design

Simone Williams is a professional fashion designer and dressmaker who creates ready to wear, bespoke one-off pieces and made to measure dresses for clients. Her style of work ranges from bridesmaids dresses, Prom dresses, couture dresses, evening wear gowns, special occasionwear and partywear. Simone uses a range of materials including silk, satin, lace, ankara (an african material), chiffon and cotton. With inspirational design taken from her sketching, Simone can create the perfect garment for any occasion.

Simone Williams - up and coming fashion designer

The Simone Williams fashion label has been up and running since the summer of 2004 and is based in Hoxton, London. Simone’s granny and auntie used to make and design clothing, so to her it is in her blood.

“I used to watch them make garments growing up and it inspired me.  I used to design draw clothes all the time, and made my own doll’s clothes from an early age. I have always been extremely passionate about my craft I decided I wanted to be a designer from a young age.  My love for it led me into the business”.

The Life Collection

This poignant collection encapsulates the various stages of life, with each piece capturing the essence of what it is to be truly alive.  The Life collection flows effortlessly from sophisticated evening wear to ethereal bridal wear inspired pieces.  Simone was inspired by her own journey as a fashion designer and the phases that the label has gone through to become what it is today.

The Life Collection - free flowing, feminine spirit

Sensual, modern, feminine, beautiful, only a few of the words used to describe the Simone Williams collection. Ranging from cutting edge denim street wear to sophisticated evening wear the Simone Williams collection has something to suit every discerning and fashionable woman. Her unique creative vision and eye for beauty has led to a collection filled with stunning one off ready to wear pieces that create attention wherever worn.

The Life Collection, by Simone Williams

Previous Collection – Beauty

Simone Williams Beauty collection created in 2006, had a feminine and sultry look and is inspired by vibrant yet delicate flowers. The iconic image of Marilyn Monroe in her white, halter neck dress inspired Simone to create this exciting range. The range is a blend of classic cuts and 50s silhouette dresses with leather waist belts and other modern details. Expressing individuality and creativity has become central in fashion not just about being part of the norm.

Maria Dress & Fairy Wrap. Add some colour - still available at Me Myself and I

“The Simone Williams brand is dedicated to celebrating the female form and the sensuality that encompasses it.  It is about class and quality with the edge of creative design.  I love to see any woman wearing my dresses”.

Celebrity Following

The Simone Williams label is highly sought after by stylists and their celebrity clients including Helen McCroy (Harry Potter & Casanova), model Rachel Ritfield and the singer, Lisa Maffia The label was showcased in Kulture 2 Couture 2006 in association with the Mayor of London’s office and the Victoria & Albert Museum.

What’s next for Simone Williams?

The future plans for the label are to take part in more fashion shows, expand into the bridalwear industry, have a major celebrity wear her creations. The plan is to fully establish Simone Williams as a high quality fashion brand within London and the UK, gaining concessions in more boutiques and setting their sights on international interest. Current stockist include House of Maffia, online fashion boutique Me, Myself & I and The LBD, all at reasonable prices. Check out the website for more stockists and information.

If you have ever fancied investing in fashion then check out LadyM favourite Catwalk Genius, you can invest in designer Simone Williams to help her along her way and you can make history by investing in the first ever public-funded fashion collection. Find a brand you love and buy a share for the chance to earn profits and perks. When your chosen designer makes a new collection with their public investment, supporters share in the revenues from sales. Such previous successes include menswear designer Katie Eary.

Katie Eary – Menswear Designer

Who is she?

Katie, a London based designer, graduated with a Masters from the famous Royal College of Art, London.  She has an amazingly striking, raw talent along with some fabulous attitude that helps her to create bold and noble menswear collections.

Katie was ready to head to Paris after graduating, with the hope of working with fabulous designers such as John Galliano and Jean Paul Gaultier but her final collection of her Masters was viewed by British Vogue’s fashion team and was snapped up for a photo shoot by none other than world famous Mario Testino and modelled by Kate Moss. Vogue turned menswear into fashionable womenswear, a new concept.  Katie described the Vogue take on her collection through a womenswear eye as “a one off, but the reaction has been so nice.  There is future potential for a womenswear range.”  Katie has been overwhelmed by the interest in her collection.

“I think if I’d been doing women’s wear, that wouldn’t have happened. And I think that about a lot of the opportunities that have come my way… I’m coming in through the back door, I think it’s something I’ve spent quite a lot of my life doing. But of course fashion is a system that relies on beautiful product at the end, no matter what the starting point”.

What makes her inspired?

Katie’s starting point for her collections seem to take a strong notion from the books she reads. Her latest A/W 10 inspiration was the novel The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, which deals with the interplay of good and evil.   The concept of light and dark, silhouettes and how the Devil comes into our lives brings about a strong, yet dark presence to her work. “Consequently my collection is a take on military garb and an exploration into size and proportion”, Katie explains.

S/S & A/W 2010, by Katie Eary

The Collection

Katie Eary’s bold statement prints a fusion of traditional tailoring with streetwear design details and macabre accessories are best described as “aggressively beautiful”.  Katie sources materials from what she can afford and sources from anywhere depending on colours and concepts that spring to mind.  The collection features a lot of jersey and prints.  Katie wants to make “the unobtainable become available at a reasonable price”, so she brings the concept of couture menswear at an achievable price for her followers.

A/W Menswear Collection 2010, by Katie Eary

Everything is bespoke and handmade by the designer herself in the finest wools, leather, brass and Swarovski crystals.

Catwalk Genius & Katie Eary combine forces

Catwalk Genius is a superb way to get involved in fashion.  Helen Brown, founder of Catwalk Genius has taken the concept of the general public, whether fashionistas, those interested in design or just after the next big thing and them having the opportunity to invest in a designer. ”Through Catwalk Genius, you can make history by investing in the first ever public-funded fashion collection”.

Catwalk Genius give the public a chance to invest in a designer/brand they love and to enjoy the perks of the fashion industry.  For only £11 a share you can be part of fashion history. Katie Eary is already backed by Catwalk Genius members with a staggering 92% of shares already sold. Katie describes the concept as a “sensible thing to be involved in, the market is buying into you, its a win/win situation for all and you know people believe in you”.

Perks of buying shares in Katie Eary from Catwalk Genius include a preview to the collection before it goes online for sale, the opportunity to win a VIP studio preview to the collection itself and also the chance to win invitations to the collections launch party.

“The Catwalk Genius collection is for the fans only. People who have bought into me. Most things are unobtainable in the fashion world, I want to give something back”.   Katie Eary

Her female fans include style leaders including Lady Gaga, Kate Moss, Courtney Love, Roisin Murphy, Sienna Miller – hence her decision to create a fan-funded diffusion line of womenswear for Catwalk Genius.

What’s next for Katie Eary?

Katie is hoping for an even bigger and better collaboration with Catwalk Genius ahead of next years Spring/Summer show. She will also show a Sales Collection in Paris at the end of June. Katie hopes to continue on a steady pace, to keep small and have steady growth. Few designers that have a big impact for a short time succeed, Katie wants to live the fashion dream for many seasons to come.

Invest in shares for Katie Eary at Catwalk Genius and follow Katie’s collections at her website .