As a fashion writer one of my favourite things is meeting designers at various events; seeing what they have on offer, the way they have presented their allotted spaces and more than anything actually talking to them in a relaxed mutual environment. Whilst at London Fashion week in February I especially favoured the new, emerging designers and that ones that stood out for me were Glaswegian duo Obscure Couture. I got to know them while they premiered their Flesh and Bone range at Fashion Mavericks, they create gorgeous stage/street wear for the girl who loves to stand out. I have followed everything the girls, Jenn and Lyndsay, have done in the six months since, so when I started this feature I knew I wanted them as my first designers in the spotlight. Here Jenn answers all my questions
Obscure Couture ladies Lyndsay and Jenn
What was your inspiration behind the current collection Us Vs Them?
We have taken inspiration from the social groups surrounding us, from the street gangs and their exaggerated, aggressive silhouettes to the kaleidoscopic and edgy creative circles. The feelings provoked when confronted with either of these two social groups are so extreme, the mixture of emotions range from fear to excitement to wonder. The thought that we could harness this raw intensity interested us greatly, and the experience of translating this powerful energy into our pieces was a challenging and highly appealing concept to us. We are having fun with this collection juxtaposing everyday street-inspired silhouettes and symbolism against luxurious fabrics and intricate techniques whilst still keeping that crucial high fashion edge. 'Us Vs Them' features bold clashing colours in vibrant, rich jewel tones supported by a neutral base with a sport luxe undertone. Fabrics include; silks, chiffons, metallic leathers, silk jersey, prints and hand knits feature throughout.
What was it like showing at Fashion Mavericks during LFW?
Fashion Mavericks is a good platform for designers that, like us, are just starting out. For us it was a very exhilarating and liberating experience. Showing your first collection is like baring your soul for the first time. Having previously shown in February, we are showing with Fashion Mavericks during LFW in September.
Showing at Fashion Mavericks during LFW
How did you get together and set up OC?
We met in 2002 at Heriot Watt Uni. We always knew we would work together and have been Soul Mates ever since. We graduated and both went our separate ways to gain experience; Lyndsay went with the amazingly creative Noki and worked with Julian MacDonald while I went to Fee Doran of Mrs Jones fame then headed off round the world stopping in the Middle East and Australia to work as a designer. We then decided it was time for me to come home and for us to get serious about Obscure Couture. Lyndsay had started and was already doing commissions from her bedroom floor then a big communal studio in Glasgow's city centre. We applied for all the funding we could and ended up on an amazing course Starter for 6 run by the Cultural Enterprise Office. The Princes Trust also helped us with a small business loan. We also went on course, after course, after course. This is where is goes from being a hobby to a business. We’ve now moved to our very own studio in Glasgow's East end, surrounded by other creative types it’s called Barras Art And Design (BAAD).
MTV's LauraWhitmore recently wore one of your creations to the Scottish Fashion Awards, do you have any other famous fans?
We are working on it, our pieces are so well suited to the stage and great for photoshoots so its a matter of time before the 'slebs come! We will be in Vogue Russia at some point over the next few months too.
Laura Whitmore wearing OC at the Scottish Fashion Awards
And finally what's next for you guys?
We are basically trying for world domination. We aim to keep climbing the fashion ladder, Vauxhall Fashion Scout is something we would love to be involved in. Also Fashion Fringe or Newgen are both really exciting opportunities that we would love Obscure Couture to be part of. At the moment, we have just launched our ASOS marketplace boutique, you can follow us for all the newest creations. We will also be showing at Fashion Mavericks again to show off our SS12 collection in September and our website with e-shop will be up and running before fashion week. Phew!
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