{"id":34433,"date":"2014-07-30T09:00:06","date_gmt":"2014-07-30T09:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wonderlandmagazine.com\/?p=34433"},"modified":"2014-07-30T09:00:06","modified_gmt":"2014-07-30T09:00:06","slug":"ones-watch-georgia-hardinge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandmagazine.com\/2014\/07\/30\/ones-watch-georgia-hardinge\/","title":{"rendered":"ONES TO WATCH: GEORGIA HARDINGE"},"content":{"rendered":"
We get to know Georgia Hardinge, the designer with British Council Approval…<\/p>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n There is no doubt that London is a major player in the worlds of high-end and high street fashion, but what about the space in between? UK shoppers looking for a middle ground between the \u00fcber-creative and the monotony of the commercial suddenly find themselves in a sartorial limbo…<\/p>\n That\u2019s where the British Fashion Council\u2019s recently announced BFC Contemporary initiative comes in: a new scheme that has been created in response to this increasing demand for contemporary fashion. BFC Contemporary aims to strengthen the UK\u2019s contemporary ready-to-wear and accessory markets by providing up-and-coming fashion designers a money-can\u2019t-buy mentoring programme.<\/p>\n Each year, the BFC plans to hand-pick some of the UK\u2019s most promising contemporary designers and launch their collections to 18 million shoppers through a dedicated retail space on eBay, sponsor of BFC Contemporary. 2014\u2019s BFC Contemporary recipients are Georgia Hardinge, Alexis Barrell, Paper London, Prism and Zo\u00eb Jordan, and we\u2019ve got an exclusive interview with Georgia Hardinge \u2013 already famous for her structural designs and modern aesthetic \u2013 to discuss what this recognition means to her.<\/p>\n Your designs focus heavily on architecture. Why did you choose to explore the more sculptural element of fashion?<\/strong><\/p>\n I have loved architecture and sculpture all my life, so it feels like something that comes naturally to me. I’m constantly inspired by buildings and sculptural techniques; especially living in London with such a great mix of old and modern buildings around me.<\/p>\n Can you talk us through your plans for the BFC Contemporary pieces?<\/strong><\/p>\n I’ve just started designing for this which is very exciting. The inspiration comes from architectural shadows on buildings. I\u2019m going to be using my pleating techniques to create sort of 3D sculptural silhouettes in free-flowing fabrics. The collection will be out in September alongside some of my signature pieces.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n How will receiving the BFC Contemporary initiative help you and your brand?<\/strong><\/p>\n I’m very proud to be part of this new initiative, a first for the BFC. Not only do theBFC give us business support and funding, but the mentoring programme will be really helpful to grow my business in today’s competitive market. So, to be honest, this support is invaluable.<\/p>\n On a wider scale, how do you think it will impact the fashion industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n I think it will give many young designers the opportunity to grow and create successful businesses. Working with eBay will also bring my designs and the other brands\u2019 to a whole new audience. It\u2019s got over 18 million shoppers, so it\u2019s an amazing site not only to be working with, but also to be supported by.<\/p>\n What does being a \u2018contemporary\u2019 designer mean to you?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contemporary means current, original and modern. I feel as a contemporary designer you need to push the boundaries of design but still be relevant for today\u2019s market and still be commercially viable.<\/p>\n Why do you think there is this (relatively unexplored) gap between high-end and high street fashion collections?<\/strong><\/p>\n I actually think that this is a market that is growing rapidly to try and bridge the gap. With the success of limited edition designer collections at places like H&M and Topshop, as well as the growing trend for sports brands to use famous collaborators and designers, I think high-end fashion is becoming more accessible than ever.<\/p>\n