SS12 - the prep and the photoshoots

Getting carried away with Bonsai trees and Kaleidoscopes - exciting times!

So the fabric arrives, we make the collection and before we know it its time for the photoshoot and also Short film - which we are doing with the wonderful and infinitely talented HarrimanSteel.


The beginning - the fabrics on my pattern cutting table before sampling begins....



The SS12 team consists of The Harriman Steel team - Produced by Beth McQueen.



Fifi - the wonderful model from Models 1. Also from the Isle of Wight = she is ace.



Camilla - Hair and Make-up extraordinaire who has worked with me from the beginning.



Katie Mills - best intern ever who has now unfortunately left. :( :(



Claire Pepper - Photographer and filmographer (is this a word?) legend. Who has put up with my random requests for 4 seasons now and still smiles and produces legendary shots and footage. Basically she is my hero.



Sophie Harris - Greenslade - OMG...Sophie does the best Nail art in the world - FACT!


Shoes provided by non other than Charlotte Olympia - Us Charlottes sticking together....fashioned here by one of our Origami Penguins, who unfortunately were cut from the shoot. We have made up for it with some on location shots for you below which set the mood....



We are family....


Hans Solo - at least he's not in Australia...



Delusions of grandeur....


Lunch Time - on a diet for fashion week...


Hair and Make-up - its all about the red lip


Napping in the make-up case...riiight


Shoe fetish - well who wouldn't with these..



Mario Testiono watch out..



Back to nature...not quite Antarctica...

Anyway a little insight in our random world and wonderful Photoshoot and Short Film.

Massive thanks to the team, who i'm sure you will agree went above and beyond this season.

Big love C xx

Farewell fair Isle

Its time to move up to the smoke, say farewell to the folks and the Isle of Wight - its a huge step for us and the business but my oh my what a heart wrench.

Saying good -bye to our dad was pretty tough. We're all a bunch of softies and we see each other all the time but having spent two years living and working from home I have become closer to my folks each day. I reference my father in particular as mum (who is equally awesome) works in London every week so I see her on a regular basis....Dad is rarely let off the island for fear of his own safety (and others) ....all pretty girls at London Fashion Week yesterday probably can relate to this and I apologize on his behalf - again!


The cat tried to make a break for freedom in our van and the dog wouldn't even make eye contact - the depths of depression :(

One last cuddle before off..


However - onwards and upwards. By the time we reached London both Ben and I had stopped our wailing (just kidding, it was only a mild sniffle) and were super excited about the new studio and the world of possibility that lay in front of us (fickle I know - sorry dad).

Ben had been up a couple of days before to lay the floor and transform the studio from this:


To this....


This is a half way finished picture. Ben and his gal Camilla spent days painting and cleaning and then Ben lay the black and white floor, which we love (partly assisted by my fella, not known for his DIY skills - who added, lets say some "character" to the straight lines and neat edges...)But on the whole a pretty stella job done all round :)


Our visionary and enterprising Fashion Design operation now runs from a fantastic old BBC building In White City, London which has been taken over by the lovely JP Creative. They have turned the old Building into a creative hub for arty industries, with a great community and work environment. We love it.


We are now fully settled in and it is suitably lived in already. I have an ability to make anywhere seem like I have been there for years. I never know whether this is a complement or a hint at my "creative" untidiness!

An Homage of sorts....

So in the chaos of moving ship from the Isle to Sunny Shepherds Bush (details of which to come - our new studio is seriously cool) I have decided to take a bit of time out to share with you one of our little obsessions for SS12.

Having received a Bonsai Tree earlier in the year (an amazing gift with huge Sentiment. The lovely gift however requires the following.... watering every day with RAIN water NOT tap water, a twice daily leaf spray with RAIN water, continual trimming and a once weekly soak in a bath...phew. If you knew me you would understand why this poor tree is looking a little on the skinny side at present :(....)
Anyway, said tree ignited a new found interest in Japanese Art and Culture, leading on to our latest obsession du jour - ORIGAMI!

ORIGAMI - from Wiki

Origami (折り紙?, from ori meaning "folding", and kami meaning "paper"; kami changes to gami due to rendaku) is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, which started in the 17th century AD at the latest and was popularized outside Japan in the mid-1900s.



We have made a penguin army for our new studio out of some paper printed in one of our new designs. Here's a sneak preview of Army Officers at work:


You can get instructions on how to make him here:

And if you want to do any further designs here:

Enjoy!

CHARLOTTE TAYLOR - The Anthropologist....

So, its been a bit hush hush our end as all the bits and bobs are confirmed etc, you may have heard, but you probably won't have.....CHARLOTTE TAYLOR is launching a new diffusion line with ANTHROPOLOGIE set to hit stores in October 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The collection, originally named CHARLOTTE by CHARLOTTE TAYLOR, will have the delectable prints you’ve come to love - some are new, never been seen before and some are adaptations of the originals.

If you are a Londoner you will be aware of Anthropologie as they have two stores in our Capital, otherwise they are primarily known for their Stateside presence - We will be exclusively stocked on their website and in their American stores, not in the UK ones, for Autumn / Winter 2011 otherwise known as Fall 2011 (I think).

This has been a huge part of the label for the past few months and it has been something I have been desperate to share. We have been developing the line, visiting Philadelphia, where their extremely cool offices are.....

(Our nervously anticipated meeting in the States began with a double kiss standard welcome, for which I forgot to shut my mouth and plonked a sloppy number on a poor buyers cheek - good start. I am also told that as our discussions progressed i slowly began to resemble a sweaty lobster, cheeks deepening in shade as exciting possibilities were laid out in front of us - nice. )

.....continual trans-Atlantic discussion, design development and oh so much more.

You may have seen that our large scarves (part of the mainline) are already on the website. This will be followed by a couple of new additions, developed especially for the stores. So lots going on...

More updates to follow with images of the line!!!!

Intern needed!!

Looking for a full time intern to help me in London from 1st sept - end November. Must have experience in sewing / pattern cutting / design. Email me with a CV if you're interested. charlotte@charlottetaylorltd.com. Travel expenses within London paid.

Thanks!! Cx

2 1/2 year stepping stone.

So its been just over two years since a tentative notice was handed in at Luella - was I mad leaving such an iconic, British brand....? I think most of my colleagues thought so, their eyes telling the tale, but my mind was set. I was leaving my 7 year London home and moving in with my parents in my mid twenties, on an island where I knew only a couple of people. Hmmmmmmm.....yeah good one Charlotte, sound like a great idea....Well it turn turned out that is was.

After a couple of amazing years on the island, beavering away in my little studio, dancing to cheesy tunes, sewing for hours upon end and spending every spare minute on the sea, wakeboarding and surfing (well im trying to) and getting to hang out with my folks as an adult for 2 years (this is the best bit), I now have a date set to leave and its official. Argggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

EXCITED / HAPPY / SAD / DREAM COME TRUE / SCARY / HAPPY / SAD / EXCITED / SCARY / DREAM COME TURE / EXCITED / EXCITED / EXCITED / EXCITED

EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So Ben and I are set to leave the island for London on the 1st August. (Dad found a hire van for £15 / day last year and has been relishing the thought of the move so the bargain can be fulfilled).

We have found an awesome studio in the mecca that is Shepherds Bush (I once heard that it is the best place to shop in London (this was before Westfield came) because of its diversity and product range....not soooo sure about this fact but I do know that it is host to Goldhawk Road aka fabricbargainroad.com, it is a stones throw away from Notting Hill and the lovely Portobello AND there is a mega climbing wall under the Westway for completely non- competitive scaling with bro at lunch time. Winner!

So this is a fairly mega move for not only me but also for the label. If I revert back to my initial goals when I set out - THIS move was one of them to achieve in THIS year. How great is that.

There are some which are not quite there yet but its only June....pleeeeeenty of time to buy that Mews house, VW camper and travel the world.....pleeeeennnnty of time.

So....How have we managed to achieve this....well I shall go into detail in my next post. For now Londoners I look forward to seeing you all very soon. Ill be the one in deck shoes and a barber wondering aimlessly around Shepherds Bush complaining about the traffic and staring and the bright lights of Westfield in awe / confusion.

xx

Grazia believes....

CT Elephants parading their way onto Grazia Daily....weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Stella believes.....

Check out the Elephant Skirt in Stella.......


LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!!!

SS12 - Random as always

The inspiration behind this seasons' collection.....

Japanese Nail Art and Tattooing

I have had a bit of an obsession with Japanese Nail art for quite some time now and have always been desperate to cover myself in beautiful Japanese illustrations (although this has never happened - i am a grade A wimp and a professional mind changer).
All the same it is a big influence on this season.


Fishing, fly fishing, fishermen, fish - you get the theme

Last season by the sea (we are officially moving off the great Isle in September) so it seemed rude not too. I have always had a thing for fishing boats and the colours of the nets, worn paint and old sea dogs that spend their lives on the oceans. (Dad and I once descended on an ancient pub in the back end of beyond for a musical evening where locals could take it in turns to entertain with their particular skill - an Isle of Wight X Factor - that consisted mainly of said sea dogs singing their shanties, the Elton Johns and Leona Lewis's of the sea if you like . The unusual musical choices and "eclectic" crowd at the evening left a lasting impression on both dad and I and if I can even share an ounce of this evening with you, your life will be better or at least fuller as a result)

Bee - keeping
Coz dad wants bees at home and no one else does and we have been arguing about this for about a year now = its on the brain whether I like it or not.

Occasionally I get to sit in the garden and sketch ideas. I think this is actually my favorite bit....new prints are blacked out.

SO thats it. Im excited. I think its going to be an exciting season!! xx

Look believes.......

Big Thanks to Look for featuring the Lobster scarf this week!! xx

Metro believes..........

Big Thanks to the Metro for believing xxx

Telegraph believes......

Big up to Alicia Waite for I Spy(ing) the Ant Print Shirt on the Telegraph Fashion site

Toot! xxx

On Sale - Di Guardo Boutique

A lovely independant boutique a stones throw from Portobello Road in London - Di Guardo, owned by the delectable Letizia is a haven for gems, some of them covered in Lobsters and some not.


212 Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill, London W11
020 7243 9274

Ben the....

BIG BROTHER BUSINESS BAD ASS

So who better to go into business with than someone you trust implicitly, respect, have known for literally ever, never (well rarely) argue with and generally have a right laugh with - my brother Ben.


Benjamin Taylor, as of a week last monday / tuesday is officially managing the business side of things at CHARLOTTE TAYLOR, helping develop the brand and generally provided a whole load of expertise needed to take the label to the next level and then to infinity and beyond etc...



We are very excited about everything and have even built a proper office bit in the studio. Our favorite new additions being the "That was easy" over-sized button from Staples and the picture of us both as kids above our desks (random clothing included).


Some people may say that we are mad - those who know us know that it is what one might say a "Killer combo" or an "Unstoppable force", or perhaps "A no brainer" - or maybe mum and dad have brainwashed us.
Many a proud parent has indeed given a tone deaf, rhythm less child an unshakable self belief in their talent and shoved them, oosing with confidence onto an X-factor stage or the like, only to be told that dying cats sound better. Lets hope we are not in that bracket.

I am sure that as we wear our B and C super hero outfits to the office every day anything is possible.

Nylon Believes.....

In this months NYLON - A fab article and another interpretation of a fab way of styling the collection.....some nice words said too :)

Vogue Believes....

Vogue feels the lobster and ant love....

On Sale - Young British Designers - NOW

The lovely Young British Designers have a limited selection of the collection on sale now.... GO FORTH AND GOD SPEED - GET SOME LOBSTERS IN YOUR LIFE!

AW11 - On Sale at Coggles

INCOMINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG.............

Selected items of the new collection now on sale at Coggles. More to follow at Young British designers next week and if you're in London any time soon, pop into Di Guardo Boutique, 212 Kensington Park Rd in Notting Hill, you may find a few gems in there also!


The full collection will go on sale in August / September in further boutiques in the UK and USA. Watch this space!