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

Designer Scenarios.

We all love a good advert right? Seeing the vision of the designer come to life in various scenarios. Below I've compiled my favourite ad campaigns for spring and summer 2015. 

Below there's adverts from Dior, Lanvin, Balmain, Balenciaga and Oscar De La Renta. 

Enjoy!

The Primark Pick

So I recently visited a Primark store to scope out what jeans they had to offer, what prices and maybe try some on. 

This wasn't just a random occurrence though. No. Some of you may know that I am trying a 'new to me' style of jean. A jean that I haven't worn for years and you can find out about a Firetrap air I recently purchased if you scroll back a little on the blog. I wanted to see what Primark could do for me. I already know that Primark is known for its low, low prices so I thought that this was a great start. The fact being that I didn't want to buy an expensive pair of jeans only to go off them a few weeks/ months later. Where's with a pair from Primark it won't matter so much if I of because they didn't cost much. 

After a good old scope and after picking up countless pairs that were close to my side but wouldn't fit right I came across this pair. A slim fit jean. Slightly distressed, soft and the right length and fit. I love them. 

I know I've talked loads and loads of time before about fast fashion and why we should be investing in pieces that will last. I still believe that I really do. But we have to treat ourselves every so often right? There's nothing wrong with that. If we didn't the economy would be non existent. 

This pair cost me £15! Yes £15! What a steal and some of the other pairs were only £9! #itwouldberudenottoo! 

90:10 - The Humble Signature

It's not just me that loves a good hoodie right? 

It seems that you can be searching for ages to find the right one for you. The fit, the fabric, the colour and the style. Sometimes it takes some not so great ones to find ones that work for us and suit us and our life styles. 

Different people have different requirements for hoodies but there is one requirement that is universal. Comfort. They have to be comfy. Otherwise whats the point in buying the hoodie? Thats where 90:10 come in. 

90:10 is a brand with humble beginnings. After the founder, Dan, had a conversation with his neighbour, Paul who worked in the clothing business, in a local pub about being grown up. Dan said "Fair enough mate...I don't disagree..,but when it comes to me having to accept that I'm now a grown up...I'll go to 90% but no higher..." This then carried on to become a T-shirt idea having 90:10 printed on. When people would ask what it stood for he would say that it meant 90% grown up...10% not. Thats how the brand was born. A simple talk with a friend. Nice right? 

90:10 now have a range of clothing including polo shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts and of course T-shirts. I love the story as I think we never really fully grow up do we? We are always young at heart and I think thats important. 

Here I am wearing the 90:10 "Signature" Embroidered Pullover Hoodie in Azur Blue. Made form 100% natural cotton you can imagine how smooth this is to wear! People who know me will also know that I love being able to help the environment. I love signing petitions for the ocean, the forests and if I could afford it I'd adopt loads of animals so when I found out that the clothing is made environmentally friendly then I knew that it was right up my street.

I've hoodies from the not so cheap stores before and they have faded after a couple of washes and are frankly too heavy to even be comfy in. This is lightweight and fits the body just right. Not too tight and not too loose.  One of my favourite things about this hoodie is the fact of its simplicity. It's not over designed or over complicated. Its a simple blue colour, simply design and has the 90:10 logo embroidered on the left chest. Simple. Not fussy. 

Also do you know what? Its comfy! I mean REALLY comfy! 

You can read more on the 90:10 story and view the range here! 

Be sure to follow the brand on Twitter and Facebook too! 

Twitter

Facebook

ASBCI 'Careers in Fashion' Conference

Today I attended the Association of Suppliers to the British Clothing Industry (ASBCI) conference. The theme for the conference was 'Careers in Fashion'. The conference was an insight to the various careers available to people wanting to work within the fashion industry.

The conference was held at the University of Leeds. I love being able to attend events like this were I get to have an insight into the industry I'm so passionate about and learn from experts in various fields. With members of the Association including Asos.com, Next, Burberry, George and many many more I feel privileged to be able to have the opportunity to attend. 

This was my second ASBCI conference I have attended with my first being held at my own university. The University of Huddersfield. That was an amazing event and I knew that this one wouldn't disappoint. 

With pages and pages of notes typed up as the talks were going on I knew that these would be invaluable things to be noting and learning. I've learnt about the process's involved during design and garment manufacture, the risks, how to find the roles your looking for, about various roles in the industry and much more! 

Each delegate also got a pack! We all love freebies right? The pack contained the agenda for the day, the speakers profiles, hand outs from Planet Personnel about CV's, a ASBCI branded note pad and USB, a 'Caring For Your Clothes' technical booklet which is available to buy from their website and the ASBCI 2015 Year Book, which is £25 where sold but free for members! This book talks us through the major points in the year for the Association. It shows what work the Association undertakes and what their next steps are to continue making their members happy. 

After feeling inspired now to make my impact on the fashion industry I better get to that sewing machine! 

ASBCI Website: www.asbci.co.uk 

Toast Feb & March

Hello!

It's occurred to me that I didn't share my article in Toast magazine in February! So I thought I would share it here along with the article that has recently come out in the March magazine!

I love doing the article for Toast magazine so please do check it out and let me know your thoughts! There's more from me on my Facebook page and Pinterest links below. Please do like and follow me and happy blogging, pinning and liking!

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/RyanPilkingtonD/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RPilkingtonDesign