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 new series of STYLEist celebrates the amazing talents of the capital's up and coming style-setters.
Heidi Mottram
Heidi worked in the world of art, fashion and textiles for several years before establishing her own line in 2007. A graduate from London College of Fashion and Central St Martin’s, Heidi started her career working with many major international designers including Vivienne Westwood and Matthew Williamson.
Heidi is a specialist in eel skin as a textile and is considered the UK guru in the use of the product in design and fashion. She has discovered new ways to work with and manipulate the skins, including pleating, ruching, pin tucking and folding to create new textures and shapes and has created outstanding works of art that have been sold in galleries across the UK, as well as developing a collection of corsets and eel skin designs for bags, purses and wallets. She continues to develop the use of eel skin, working on commissions and projects in the art, design and fashion fields and is always looking for new arenas for her creative talents.
Describe your brand
Heidi Mottram specialises in luxuriously soft, jewel coloured, eel skin bags and purses. The brand uses eel skin leather as it is a by product and is a luxury alternative to regular cow hide. The texture, colour and sustainability is of high importance to Heidi Mottram. The collections colours and textures are inspired by ocean life from vast corals to the tiniest fish. Sophie Anderton has recently modelled the bags and purses and is now the face of Heidi Mottram.
What does fashion mean to you?
For me fashion is my business as well as a natural reaction to all things creative. I took my enjoyment and interest in fashion for granted when I was growing up. I enjoyed anything fashion related so I never saw it as work. It was only as I was in the last years at school that I realised it could also be my career. Now my career is also my natural love.
Who epitomises London Fashion for you?
Vivienne Westwood. To me she is the original British Fashion designer
How has London inspired you or your designs?
London has inspired me to use brighter colours for my bags and purses. Rush hour on the underground is awash with black bags. I wanted to inject some colour into this already dark environment.
Where do you hang out?
Usually around the markets be it fashion or food!
What's the worst outfit you've seen someone wearing on the tube?
A fluorescent pink tracksuit with neon yellow trainers! I wanted to bring more colour into peoples lives but I think that person had a bit too much!
What was the first thing you designed?
A fashion collection at school when I was 10 inspired by M C Escher. I am a huge fan of his work.
Which designers inspire you?
Vivienne Westwood, Matthew Williamson, Alexander McQueen
Where can we buy your clothes?
My bags and purses can be bought from my website . A list of stockists can also be found on my website. We sell worldwide.
