Natalie Rae is a bright young designer that is one step ahead in the fashion world, by designing cool clothing with a conscience, creating wearable pieces with detailed craft
elements and a low-key emphasis on sustainability.
Natalie’s 2010 graduate collection from London
Collage of Fashion garnered acclaim throughout the fashion industry. Press
included Vogue.com, September 2010 Italian Vogue’s New Design Talent supplement,
Fashion 156, Amelia’s Magazine, WGSN, and ecouterre.com to name a few. She was
shortlisted for the WGSN Global Fashion Awards 2010 for Most Creative Student
Collection and the Wolf and Badger Graduate Awards 2010. In 2011, Rae as a talented individual that she is presented
her business plan for her new label at the first CFE Fashion Bootcamp, which
gained an amazing response from industry professionals as well as £1000 cash
prize to put towards her new label.
Rae's Autumn/Winter 2012-13 collection illustrates a small story of her mother. Child of the 70's and lover of French prints, velvety textures, antiques and romantic paintings, this collection brings together these unique elements creating a rich feminine feel that is mature, playful and easy to wear. The core shapes of the collection were inspired by the early 70's silhouettes bringing a bit of vintage flare. Elements of French prints and 70's smocking techniques inspired the unique textures and embroideries found throughout the collection.
Materials of this collection are made up of a combination of sustainable fabrics with a strong focus on bamboo and wool. The wool of this collection was entirely sourced from England, paying homage to the great English tradition of wool manufacturing, sourcing solely from Ardalanish, Isle of Mull Weavers. The key values of Ardalanish company are about keeping the English wool industry alive by producing high quality wool with unique weaves and never sacrificing its ethical standards of production. The core colour palette of burgundys, browns and sage where drawn from the earthly tones of Natalie Rae's mother's home in San Diego, CA.
Fashion-Pixel.com got a hold of the young entrepreneur during her break and granted us a mini interview:
Fashion-Pixel: What is your personal style when it comes to
dressing?
Natalie Rae: Very casual. Always have been a casual
dresser, jeans and t-shirt kind of gal.
F-P: What is your favourite colour?
NR: It varies from time to time, like last
season it was red, I got a bit obsessed with it, but it seems to always
fall back to blue, any shade of blue but I do love really strong blues that are almost turquoise.
F-P: Which designer do you admire?
NR: For past designers I love Claire
McCardell, I loved her casual chic style during the 50’s, it was very american and
very feminine. Current designers I would say Proenza Schouler
for their very modern feminine approach to fashion along with their use
of textiles; and Prada, Miuccia’s use of ‘ugly’ fashion is
amazing, I think she has a brilliant mind.
F-P: Do you have a piece of jewellery that
means a lot to you? What is it? If you
want, tell us why is it so important to you?
NR: I actually have a few pieces of jewellery
that are quiet important and have interesting stories but I won’t go
through them all. I guess the most significant one which also has the
cheesiest story is the first ring my husband bought for me. It wasn’t an
engagement ring or anything because he got it for me years before the
idea of marriage was ever an idea but he bought me this beautiful
white gold diamond ring that looks like it came straight out the 1920’s,
it was just an ‘I love you’ ring. It was so sweet and I always wear it.
F-P: What are you going to buy next for your
wardrobe? Where from?
NR: Ha, funny enough I have no idea! I have
been so busy lately, I really haven’t been checking much out plus I
always have expensive taste and everything I want I can’t afford. I
desperately need a new pair of shoes and think I am going to get some
neon yellow vans, there pretty neat!
F-P: What is your favourite outfit?
NR: Some Levi jeans and American Apparel acid
wash t-shirt with a BDG sweater, that is my staple Natalie
outfit. That is how everyone knows me.
F-P: Do you usually buy clothes from your trips
abroad?
NR: I always look and if I find something I
love I defiantly buy it but it doesn’t always happen. I do have other
taste in clothing aside from jeans and t-shirts but I am very
particular, I know you wouldn’t think it based on my staple outfit.
F-P: What piece would you place in a fashion museum?
NR: Not to toot my own horn but would place
one of my pieces from my
graduate collection, one of the shirts
with the layered ‘fur’ embroidery. I have always loved how those
pieces turned out and they there could easily be framed. Also my
SS11 Prada platform wedges, I love those shoes and love to just admire
them but I can’t wear them! I always fall on my face when I do so they need to just be admired.
F-P: What is a key item that all wardrobes should
have?
NR: Jeans. Jeans can so easily be dressed up
or down and if you have the right jeans for your figure they make you look and feel amazing!
F-P: Would you like to live in another era?
NR: That is a difficult question because
every era has its pro’s and con’s, I always find myself reverting to 1950’s American fashion when I look at silhouettes but I don’t think I would want to live in that era mainly because women where not respected.
F-P: What inspires you?
NR: It varies on my mood.
F-P: What is your favourite material to use?
NR: Cotton but lately I have found myself
reverting to silk a lot, there is an amazing amount of silk blends and weaves
and they always feel so amazing.
NR: Absolute perfection, I drive myself absolutely
mad over it!
F-P: What is your latest fashion obsession?
NR: Gold, its strange because I usually hate
gold but I even used it in my last collection. I think in moderation its lovely.
F-P: How do you determine what is chic?
NR: Beauty that doesn’t look forced, just flows
naturally.
All images courtesy of Natalie Rae©
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