Bite Autumn 2012

bite fashion

Hair & Make-Up: Jenn Mathieson & Sam Johnston The Academy of Make-Up www. theacademyofmakeup.com

LONDON MAY BE ONE OF THE CELEBRATED FASHION CAPITALS OF THEWORLD BUT SCOTLAND IS FAST PROVINGTHATTHEY HAVE VAST FASHIONABLE TALENTS INTHEIR MIDST. CORRINE MCCONNACHIE EDUCATES US. Takeover Style Scottish

L ocated over 300 miles away from Britain’s fashion capital, it can be quite easy to deem Scotland’s fashion contribution as parochial. However, since the establishment of the Scottish Fashion Awards seven years ago, designers such as Christopher Kane, Holly Fulton and, now, William Chambers and Hayley Scanlan have put Scotland on the global fashion radar, proving that stylish success is possible north of the border. At this year’s Scottish Fashion Awards, hosted by TV personality and international style icon Alexa Chung on June 11 th in Glasgow’s Clyde auditorium, Scotland presented a wealth of great fashion talent. Renowned milliner, William Chambers won Accessory Designer of the Year Award for the second time while 28 year old Hayley Scanlan walked away with theYoung Scottish Designer of the Year Award based on her debut collection. The Bite Magazine spoke to both the designers about their success, inspiration and future plans. Tucked away in Glasgow’s industrial city centre, entering William Chamber’s studio was like stumbling upon a secret art exhibition. Every time I returned to look at a wall, I discovered a new piece, embellishment, material, or colour from classic ladies church hats to trendy flower inspired pieces made out of straws. Humbly passing the studio off as “messy” was William himself, whose hats have featured in Vogue and Elle and have graced the heads of celebrities such as Roisin

handmade headpieces for customers. Smiling, William said, “I then got bitten by the bug and decided to pursue millinery starting with an evening class at Glasgow Metropolitan College.” In 2007,William Chambers Millinery was set up and, within a mere matter of months, William’s career was kick-started when pop artist and fashion icon, Roisin Murphy wore one of his hats on several dates of her European tour. “It is so surreal to work on a piece in the studio and then to see it on a celebrity. When it comes to product, celebrity definitely is power.” From that moment onwards, William Chambers Millinery rocketed to success. With a unique avant-garde style,William has impressed many with his forward thinking millinery. “When I started making hats I became obsessed, everything I looked at became a hat,” William laughed. “I can take inspiration from almost anything, from nature to photographs and illustrations.” William’s keen determination and passion for design resulted in him designing pieces for the 2010 Dressed to Kilt fashion show hosted by Sir Sean Connery in New York, appearing in many features on Vogue.com and showcasing at the Art of Contemporary Millinery exhibition at the Menier Gallery in London. This year William’s designs have reached a whole new level of popularity, winning William his second Scottish Fashion Award since 2010. Sitting up proudly, William said,

Murphy, Suzi Perry and Scissor Sisters’ singer Ana Matronic. “A hat is made to be worn and a hat comes to life when it is worn by a personality, especially a celebrity.” Originally planning a career in textile design, William gained a first class honours degree at the Scottish College of Textiles in 2001. However, with the lack of job opportunities available, William left the textiles industry to work as assistant manager in VV Roleaux Glasgow, where he created