Lucy Lilley doesn’t work like any conventional fashion designer. Instead she churns out her romantic designs from decadent mansions or, more recently, her co-op style house share. Working from Shrewsbury, she eschews the hectic drone of London where most budding young designers flock. Instead she is carving a niche of her own.
She graduated with a BA degree in fashion design from Bristol University of West England in 2001. Her graduate collection provided the seed of a blossoming experiment into using vintage fabrics. Now she fully recycles, drawing from a collection of fabrics that date back to the Victorian era. Having later won help from the Prince’s Trust to fund her self-employed adventures she now continues, successfully, to work as a fashion designer. And she’ll be rolling into Birmingham soon too – with a monthly appearance at the Custard Factory’s Saturday Flea Market. Right now though, she’s talking to Fused…
Musician, fine artist, actress – there are some jobs that just seem to elude most of us. How did you become a fashion designer?
I decided to go self-employed without any recent work experience behind me. I moved into a studio in a decaying mansion in Shrewsbury that was let out to local artists and run by the council for two years. After I moved into my beloved home shared with my talented friends. It’s somewhere we can all indulge in creative past times - from events organising, music, fancy dress parties and badge making. In that time, I worked as a workshop artist on various high profile fashion and textile projects with: a graphic artist called Carl Jaycock, Shrewsbury and Atcham Council, Broseley Youth Group, Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company, and the Visual Arts Network Shrewsbury, sharing and developing my recycling techniques.
So, you’ve done a lot of work in community arts?
Yeah. In February 2004, my experience in community arts took me as far as the Island of Reunion, Indian Ocean, near Madagascar where I shared my recycling fashion skills with the local community. The result was a fashion show, among tropical flowers and under the blistering sun, at the Association Allones Marron – a day centre for the unemployed.
That certainly sounds inspiring to me. What inspires you?
I am inspired by my current life experiences, by the beautiful people that surround me, by my ethics and growing environmental concerns, my spiritual beliefs, and above all the beauty of fabric itself.
And how do your inspirations manifest in your work?
These inspirations are evident in my recent works: one off skirts dripping with Victorian lace; gypsy scarves; hand painted portraits of my loved ones in black ink on canvas; pale blue and gold embroidered skirts with hand pleated trims; whimsical cream cami-tops that whisper history and romance and vibrant Ra-Ra’s with embroidered, appliquéd and patch worked waistbands, in lemon, pink or brown. Also, for hot summer days, I have floaty white dresses made from vintage handkerchiefs. I make things when I feel inspired, the rest of the time I collaborate with other artists. Recently I pooled resources on a male and female outfit covered in graffiti by a Munich-based artist called Felix which was then sculpted by me.
Lucy’s one off pieces are available at Diversion, Shrewsbury with prices starting at £45. Inquiries: 01743 366146. For all other inquiries call 01743 235404 or check out the website: www.lucylilley.co.uk.
Words: Erica Crompton
Image: Al Pulford / www.rockphotography.co.uk