Studio Stories

Designing and tailoring bags for the past 45 years is both a privilege and a joy. Like most creatives, my studio is a sanctuary. A place to explore and discover new styles and colour palettes whilst finding improvements within the design process at each stage. Ironically, most of my inspiration and thought process happens away from the studio; on a train, plane or the top of a London bus jotting down ideas, shapes and tones to translate into collections.

A 10ft x 5ft cutting table is central to the space with a 1950’s riveting machine and a 60yr old flatbed industrial machine my essential tools of the trade. Heavy tailors’ scissors, chalk and an imperial tape measure are essential tools of my trade. I still think and cut in inches, a remnant from my days as a costumier in the 1970’s, although commission and buy fabric in metric.

Whilst piles of materials will vie for space on the cutting table when collating new bags, all surfaces are cleared and tidied at the end of each day. It’s the way I love to work with chaotic creativity; as that’s when the magic happens.