A Dairy Piece

Hello! 

I thought it time to have a little reflect on how things are at the minute with the brand and see where I'm at on a personal level as well as a professional level. 

I've been a busy bee of late trying to sort new customer orders out which are all very exciting along with liaising with new customers that I will be working with in the pipe line. Though out this experience I am learning how to get things organised and how to simply be some what a businessman. I always like to sit and have a moment where I'm thankful for all that I have. The support, the connections and the opportunities that have come and will be coming my way. 

At 20 years old I never thought I would own my own business and would be dealing with various customers, writing for a magazine and dealing with a Spring and Summer campaign (coming soon!). If I had told a 15 year old me that all of this would happen I would have simply laughed in my own face and told myself to stop dreaming. Told myself that these things happen when your 30+ not 20. But look! 

It's thank to the connections I've made and the opportunities that these people have given me that I was able to start this journey and start the birth of a new icon of fashion. This blog does act as a diary of sorts. It acts as a vent for me and gives you the chance to see what it's like to own a small business in fashion, what goes on and how it feels. I'm not going to lie and say that it' all glitz and glamour because it definitely isn't at all. Even on the small scale. Its hard. Very. It's all calls, emails and messages between customers, sorting fabric sources and then finally getting to create the clothing. Then praying that the customers loves the item that all your blood, sweat and tears have gone into over a number of days or sometimes weeks. 

I'm in the process of finalising my next project which will be my first campaign shoot! The first photoshoot with my own connections helping out. Each having their own businesses that we will all benefit from with this project. It's stressful and it's hard with it being a one man band type set up but it's all good. All icons had to be stressed to be great right? 

Shop the S/S 15/16 Collection Now!

A Sunday in Sheffield.

It started with waking up at 7am. A sunny day that I knew would turn into a blur once it was over. It's show day and I started the day manufacturing the final dress. This turned out to be a life saving idea later on.

I arrive dat the venue, Soyo Bar in Sheffield at 2pm. The day was filled with nerves, smiles, fittings, make up meetings and run throughs. It was interesting to make connections with models and get to talk with them about future work. This resulted in me being able to have 7 new potential models for runways and campaigns! In particular I have one that I have already asked to work with in an up and coming project with more details coming soon!

It was a great day. The outfits looked amazing, even if I do say so myself and it was then that I felt like a real designer. Only then. It felt real. Getting to see the clothing that I have slaved over for such a long time for on women, seeing them fit, seeing the women smile and compliment the looks simply warmed my heart. It made me feel proud of what I had accomplished. After the fitting was complete I had time to become organised. I had the opportunity to finalise my line up and work out who was changing into what next and if it was at all possible. Shoes sorted along with hair and make meant that we were free to sit and relax for a little bit. This was around 5.30pm.

It was at this point that I thought to myself 'this is what every designer had to do. This is what Coco had to do'. Each great label started somewhere. Yes it was only a small collection. But it was made out of love and each garment had the right amount of care and attention that it deserved. It was also at this point where I started to feel scared. Scared of the fact that there was a possibility that no one would turn up. Sharing this moment with non of the people closest to me was something I was scared of.  A feeling that if I'm honest isn't too new to me.

People started arriving at 7pm and it turned out that the first two people through the door were my parents. This was great as it meant that I had the chance to talk to them and it was nice to feel the support. The room started to fill and it was time for the first runway show to begin. I was the last designer to show a collection and I was happy with this arrangement. It meant that my looks would be the freshest on people minds.

9.15pm and my models were all dressed and ready to go in their first looks. It felt like I had a butterfly nest in my stomach. Look after look my collection was shown and to walk out and feel the applause from the audience was simply amazing.

After the show I got the chance to network with people in the audience and I made a business connection with a potential new event sponsor. The event was put on by Eleganza Events and helped raise £335 for Sheffield Children's Hospital.

An amazing experience.

You can shop the collection now! Use the links below with more of the looks being added very soon!

Draped top with a herringbone pencil skirt 

Seedling print shift dress

Ikat print shift dress

Black shift dress

Check out the Facebook page for more! www.facebook.com/RPDesigns
Any further information please email pilkingtonsdesigns@gmail.com 

Thanks,

Ryan x

Suede Feet

 

✌️😄Happy Monday! 😄✌️It's been a day filled with fabric, sewing and pinning! My back is aching but I can't wait to see my garments worn in November! Very exiting! Watch this space for the looks! What have your plans been today? After having it on loop a little today I've got Jessie J Burin' Up stuck in my head...🎶

 

I wanted to keep it simple today with my look as I'll be behind a sewing machine all day so I picked a basic print tee with skinny jeans and my black suede Chelsea boots. I've wanted some Chelsea boots for ages now as I feel they add a little dapperness to any look with them both being casual but smart at the same time. Love them! New in at Topman! Best of all? It's one day till payday! Yeah only 1 day! 💰💰💰

A Whole New Look

           

Hello!

New Look is British fashion brand that is known for its affordability and great women's wear. However, did you know that they also have menswear too? No? not surprising as this isn't a well known fact but that is about to change!

On a recent visit to a New Look store in Meadowhall in Sheffield I was shown around the new men's range and their new approach to men's fashion. The brand is predominantly a women's fashion retailer with a huge shoe range. I mean, its epic. After going around the range, learning and loving, it shocked me why people aren't aware of this and why it isn't as popular as I think it should be. Then I started to think back to when I used to visit New Look when I was around 13 and I can remember the range of men's fashion available being very mix matched. The yester year of fashion for the brand is gone now with a full on amazing collection of amazing fashion.

I was amazed be the growth of the men's department and I was so excited to see that the store has looked and dedicated time to the range. A real passion came through as we chatted about everything from the past, how men shop, my thoughts and their plans for the future. The thought of shop by trend and I love that each trend has a different guy name. Such as Alex for the Vinyl "fashion forward" trend, Jack for the Sports trend and Tom for Geek Chic. After plenty of notes being made it was time for the really fun bit! The try on! I asked Alex, the Men's wear Expert at New Look Meadowhall, to choose some pieces from the range that he liked and thought would look good together and I would then try them on and we could take some photos.

The rail of clothes emerged and it looked fab from the get go. We took the rail to the dressing room and the clothes really started to show themselves off. The quality and the fit of these clothes has really sky rocketed from my experience in the past. In a matter of fact I was originally wearing black super skinny jeans anyway that day and Alex had picked a pair out for me to try on and they fitted even better than mine did! Not to mention the stunning fit of everything else on that rail! I bought he two scarfs you see in the photo's. Worn them every day since!

I think I've covered the fantastic quality, fit and range that the store offers but what I would also like to day is the amazing, un-beatable customer service I was given during my visit. With big smiles, warm welcomes and a "nothing is too  much trouble" approach, the team made me feel so welcome and even part of the New Look family. All of them were also very stylish too. After being treated like a king for a good few hours and having a great chat with everyone I can see amazing things happening with the New Look men's range. I know where I'm going when pay day comes! Not to mention Christmas!

Here's the photos from the day. Check out the Meadowhall Sheffield store today! I can guarantee you'll be very happy you did. Remember, to "Always Be Classic".

#NewLook #Meadowhall #Sheffield

See you next time!

LA Skin Care Review

 

Hello!

Last week I visited Olympia Beauty in London and although I don't work in beauty it's always nice to see another industry and who doesn't like a good few pampering products?! Whilst going around the stalls I found LA Skin Care which is a skin care brand from Sheffield! (woo!). I admit that I've not got model skin and  that it could be much better. I was looking for a solution throughout the day and this one hit the mark!

The issue I have with my skin is simply that its a little too oily causing blackheads. Not fantastic and something I've been trying to solve for a while now with many different brands and products but to no such luck. After talking about the brand and the products I found three I wanted to take a chance on.

I decided to focus on three essentials that I knew I could commit too and ones that Louisa (brand founder) recommended for my skin. I purchased the Facial Cleanser, Facial Sugar Scrub and a Hyaluronic Moisturiser. I have used them all for a week now, day and night, and I'm already seeing amazing results! My skin is much less oily and as for my black heads there are no where near as severe as they were! I'm on my way to being blackhead clear finally! These three are great for me too as I'm not much of a morning person if I'm honest and I like that its a simple regime I can stick too and still see results.

This brand for me is like a god send. The products are all naturally inspired, delicious for my skin and best of all animal friendly! A little goes a long way too meaning great value for money. Which is great with everyone's wallets and purses being a little tighter now! An amazing Sheffield brand and one that is definitely one to try, love and share!

What's your beauty regime? Let me know and comment below!

For more information on LA Skin Care then check out the website: www.laskincare.co.uk
Follow them on Twitter too! : @LASkincareUK 

#LASkincare #RyanPilkington

Thanks for reading and remember to "Always Be Classic"! Bye!