Bite Autumn 2012

designer profile

“ It is great to be recognised and supported within your own country and your own city. I think the fact that Tessa Hartmann puts on these awards in Scotland and gets celebrities from around the world to come and support us is just fantastic. It is good to be part of something quite big in Scotland.” Patriotic nature aside, William has also experienced success in other areas of the UK and beyond, showcasing in New York with the Scotland Re:Designed collective, at Royal Ascot and at the London Fashion Week Stephen Jones Hedonism exhibit. Grinning excitedly William said, “Stephen Jones inviting me to Fashion Week is the biggest thing to ever happen to me. I think without his support I would not have experienced such a great year. Showcasing at London Fashion Week with other milliners that he had chosen was such a big coup.” Reflecting back on the success he has experienced this year alone, William hopes to take his brand further afield in the future. “ Since I started out I have wanted to make hats that were understood internationally. It is quite interesting because every year I get orders from The Middle East and I am always surprised, I also get orders from France, Spain and America. I think there is definitely a market in America for millinery. I have my first New York stockist.” Despite these hopes, William remains a true home- bird and believes he can continue to achieve great success internationally from his Glasgow based studio.“I love my local clients coming into the studio and seeing what I do in a working environment because it takes down barriers.” Dundee born Hayley Scanlan has fast become one of the UK’s most popular young designers since graduating from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in 2009. With just one collection, Hayley has showcased in New York with Textiles Scotland at the 2011 Dressed to Kilt event alongside Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood and has gained a celebrity following with stars such as Jessie J and Marina and the Diamonds donning her creations. “It is so surreal when you see a picture of someone famous wearing your design, especially because you know the design process that garment has been through,” Hayley giggled. “It is crazy because I do not even have my own studio yet, I still make my pieces from home.” Despite her sudden success, Hayley remains grounded and realistic. This is no surprise as the young Scot was brought up in fashion conscious surroundings. “My gran was a dressmaker so I was brought up surrounded by clothes all the time. She looked after me a lot when I was younger so I have always had an interest in making clothes. I was able to knit from around the age of five.” Alongside her degree, Hayley built up her keen knowledge of the fashion industry whilst interning under Jeremy Scott in Los Angeles in 2007. “Working with Jeremy Scott was the most amazing experience;

I learnt so much about how the fashion business works. I was over the moon to have got a placement with him. He is still one of my favourite designers.” Now, five years later, Hayley is paving her own way in the industry and has impressed many with her futuristic, geometrical prints gaining her publicity on Vogue.com.This year Hayley received national recognition of her work, winning the prize for Scottish Young Designer of theYear at the Scottish Fashion Awards. Hayley’s speech quickens,“That was a big shock. Everyone in my category was very talented and most had been working for longer than I have. To come in and win it based on one collection was amazing. It has opened a lot of doors for me and now people are beginning to take me more seriously.” With an explosive graduate collection, Hayley has achieved much in two years. Now, looking to the future, Hayley is determined to return to design in a new studio and further prove her ability with a bigger and better spring/summer 2013 collection and the launch of her HS Sister Line.“I am just about to launch my HS Sister Line which is more affordable. Many people have asked for the same shape and studded style of dress with plain fabric. I know what it is like; a normal girl does not have hundreds of pounds to pay for a party dress. I am looking forward to

Make-Up:Ailsa Docherty

www.hayleyscanlan.blogspot.co.uk/

Location: The Lighthouse Glasgow - www.thelighthouse.co.uk

working on a new collection. I cannot wait to get into the studio and to show people that I am not a one collection pony.”With plans to remain in Dundee at the moment, Hayley Scanlan is determined to make international ties whilst still working in Scotland.“Breaking into America is something that is, hopefully, going to happen soon. I want to reach a wider audience. I know that in LA, NewYork and Japan there are people that will like my style.” In recent years, Scotland’s fashion industry has risen in profile.With the textile industry playing a significant role in the country’s industrial history, Scottish designers have taken inspiration from their roots to produce a wide and diverse range of impressive garments. Standing poles apart in style both William Chambers and Hayley Scanlan represent a bright future for the continuously expanding Scottish Fashion Industry. www.williamchambers.co.uk/