Stacey Richards

I formed Sample Remix in 2006/07 whilst I was studying for my degree at the University of Lincoln and I’ve continued to design and produce garments as bespoke one-off pieces for clients photoshoots and catwalks. Sample Remix specialises in one-off couture pieces, custom made, measured and cut for the wearer – creating that unique edge that I have a reputation for. The best way to describe my work would be that it is like wearing a functional piece of art which has been made just for you. Some of my achievements include returning as guest lecture at Lincoln Uni, Alternative Fashion Week collection and an Alt Fashion magazine feature.

Describe your brand

The Sample Remix brand is all about making something special and unique for the client. Taking ideas from all around and re-sampling them to create the unique piece. I’ve been told the brand is quite eclectic and has a mixed style from fetish to high end couture. The brand itself started in my final year of University, I had always wanted my own label when I finished my degree as I couldn’t imagine not making something or being creative.

What does fashion mean to you?

When I first went to study fashion I wasn’t crazy about it, like the way I am now. I find it fascinating how you can change your whole mood and put on a new persona by simply changing your outfit. I wouldn’t say I ‘m one of these people who must have the current seasons “it” item. I look for items that make me smile or make me feel good when I am in them. This is what I try and do with my own brand as I want to give people that piece in their wardrobe that they love to wear and which makes them feel amazing.

Who epitomises London Fashion for you?

It’s not really one person, it’s more the whole street culture we have here, how people don’t care what others think and just wear what they want. I think in London we are really good at mixing ideas and inspirations from all over the world and even history to create our own looks. It’s a really inspiring place to work and live, I think a lot of other designers around the world look at our street culture for inspiration for their own collections.

How has London inspired you or your designs?

London is an amazing place, you see people wearing anything and everything. I love people watching and it’s great to see everyone’s own personal style. It’s very inspiring. There is so much culture and differing opinions in London it’s hard not to get inspired.

Where do you hang out?

I’m a bit of a hermit and tend to spend my time in my studio researching, designing or making items. When I do venture out I like to go around Portobello Road to find little bits, checking out exhibitions mainly in the Tate galleries and going round the East London area to events and club nights.

What’s the worst outfit you’ve seen someone wearing on the tube?

I’m a strong believer in wearing whatever makes you happy as a person. Be it an extravagant hat to a simple 3 piece suit. Although not everything people wear is to my own personal taste, I love seeing people on the tube or just out and about who make the effort to not care what others think and wear what they want.

What was the first thing you designed?

Hmm I can remember drawing design ideas when I was a child but I guess fashion design proper didn’t really start until I was in college. The final collection of my National Diploma was military style looking at WW2. Instead of looking at British Military I looked at the German side and did two outfits based around this theme. I had loads of fun doing the mini collection; I hand dyed my fabrics and used inks on a skirt. I made a un-boned bustier to which I sewed cardboard photo slides with military images inside. It was great fun and from doing that it really sparked my love for fashion.

Which designers inspire you?

Well I adore Vivienne Westwood, I really admire the way she is using her fashion to express her political views and what really matters to her. John Galliano will always be a huge inspiration for me, his work just goes into that amazing world of fantasy. Alexander McQueen just did what felt right to him and in the process made the most beautiful creations. A true inspiration to me is Mildred from Mother of London who I have been lucky enough to work with – she went out there and made her mark on the fashion world.

Where can we buy your clothes?

You can buy my current designs online by visiting my Etsy shop at as well as my label site. I do custom work and, if you like my style but want something specifically made just for you, just get in contact.

• Tweet

London’s taste for the eclectic and avant-garde keeps it firmly at the frontiers of fashion – creating the perfect, fertile environment from which an abundance of new designers can emerge. The energy and diversity of the city has been a constant source of inspiration for generations of London-based designers and indeed, anyone interested in fashion, and this series of STYLEist celebrates the amazing talents of the capital’s up and coming style-setters.

Amy Konstanze Mercedes Rainbow Winters

Amy is a new media artist and fashion designer whose work lies at the intersection of fashion, visual arts, music, film, dance and theatre. The British/Swiss artist graduated from Central Saint Martin’s in 2006 with a BA in Theatre Design. Previously Amy has worked in the smart textiles industry on research and development projects collaborating with scientists to create new fabrics for the fashion industry. She has won numerous awards and grants for her work and has been recognised by the likes of Channel 4, HSBC, Science Museum London, Science Gallery Dublin, TSB and the CSM Innovation Centre.

Her background in theatre gave her a strong spirit of observation and understanding of human behaviour and its environment. It is the foundation behind her obsession with artificial environments and the role of the human within this environment. The central theme in her work explores interaction- reaction, response and process. A personal obsession with theme parks, imaginary worlds and multi-sensory experiences and bringing incongruous disciplines together such as art and science are the driving force behind her work

Describe your brand

I fuse the cutting edge of science with the high-art of fashion to create visually stunning pieces especially made for music videos, rock-concerts, award-ceremonies, advertisements, magazine editorial and red-carpet events. The brand is highly theatrical, playful and expressive. The new collection includes two amazing showpieces. The first is the ‘rainforest’ showpiece which changes colour on reaction to sunlight and water, morphing from a black and white world into living colour. The second is the ‘thunderstorm’ dress, which is sound-reactive and transforms the wearer into a living thunderstorm. Made with bespoke holographic leather and sound-reactive, animated electroluminescent panels, as the volume rises, the dress illuminates to create ‘visual music’. The wearable pieces include bespoke prints on simply cut garments, which are inspired by the vibrant colours of the rainforest, light rain, cloud bursts and tropical thunderstorms.

What does fashion mean to you?

Fashion to me is another form of art which through the use of the human body has the power to become interactive, I love working on photo-shoots and short films with my work and being able to create a specific atmosphere, another way of creating a living painting or illustration.

Who epitomises London Fashion for you?

Previous ‘60s style icons such as Twiggy who made London hip and who are still really relevant today for setting the city as a centre of experimentation. London in the ‘60s was a period of optimism and hedonism and new innovations in fashion, the mini-skirt, paper-dresses. Subconsciously my new collection is inspired by that time with optical illusion mini-dresses in rainforest colours.

How has London inspired you or your designs?

I think in London you always feel on edge as there are so many inspiring designers and new innovations that you have to keep pushing yourself. Naff places like the Trocadero Centre’s ‘Funland’ are also inspiring- a complete artificial world, all the sweets and video games look grotesque yet are strangely fascinating.

Where do you hang out?

I love the feeling in London you can dress for your area so it could be looking glamorous and polished in South Ken or mooching round brick lane on Sunday mornings. I also love all the little bars/café in Shoreditch, the river-bank in Richmond and the spooky beauty of Highgate cemetery. Canary Wharf over the weekend is also interesting, an empty space-town (although I don’t hang out there!).

What’s the worst outfit you’ve seen someone wearing on the tube?

I quite like bad outfits! Tourists can be the worst offenders, but I would say it’s a tie between bored office-workers on the way to the gym after work with their rucksacks and trainers or the late night Leicester square clubbers wearing shiny nylon and far too much fake tan.

What was the first thing you designed?

Back in my school days I studied textiles and had an obsession with flowing water and its iridescent reflections- I created everything from waterfall chairs to paintings recreated entirely in stitch using a sewing machine as my paintbrush. On a more costume/fashion note at college I designed costumes for dark fairytale operas- Gottfried Helnwein was such a fantastic inspiration with his extravagant rococo style opera dresses filled with lights.

Which designers inspire you?

Thierry Mugler, each one of his shows was designed as a spectacle and the exuberant, expressive vision of John Galliano. Younger designers who inspire me are Nicholas Kirkwood’s architectural shoes, Gemma Slack’s sculptural dresses and Holly Fulton’s art-deco 3-D prints and embellishments.

Where can we buy your clothes?

Showpieces are made to order through the website www.rainbowwinters.com.

The Spring/Summer ’11 line has been released- wearable works of art which change colour, reacting to rain and sunshine. The label just launched this September so look out for stockists soon.

• Tweet