| Mary Benson |
British Fashion designer, Mary Benson will skip London Fashion Week next month and concentrate on one off special show pieces, collaborations and private orders.
Benson says the expense, seasonal cycle of producing collections and drive to create more “couture” pieces are some of the reasons why she wants to design off the seasonal schedule.
She said: “I’m not doing a collection this season. I’m doing more private orders and stuff. It’s just really, really expensive trying to do Fashion Week every single time.”
“But I’m making more one off special pieces. A bit more art based I guess. As opposed to just quick like commercial stuff really. More kind of couture.”
The designer spoke to munwaiwong.com at the Mary Benson, Print Making Workshop at the Hackney Walk presents The Stich Academy’s Masterclasses in London.
Attendees got to make their own T-shirt with help from Benson and her team.
| Mary Benson and Mun Wai with his T-shirt the designer help make. |
Benson’s debut collection was her AW15 line shown with Fashion East at London and Paris Fashion Week. She is developing a celebrity following with the likes of Rita Ora, Paloma Faith and Radio 1 DJ Gemma Cairney wearing her designs.
For her future projects, she has a number of fashion names she has in mind to work with.
Benson said: “I might be working with [luxury shoe designer] Terry de Havilland again, my friend who I did the shoes with. And I might work with [milliner] Stephen Jones again (who she’s been collaborating with for the past two seasons).
“I’m going to see to what he thinks of doing a special headwear line to show for this season because that will be nice.”
Benson also mentions she would like to work with Swarovski again and with a jewellery designer.
The London-based designer said: “I would be nice to kind of do some jewellery at some point because I have not collaborated on that before.”
| Mary Benson helping make Mun Wai's T-shirt |
And the pace of the change in the fashion industry is something that has spurred Benson to take a look at designing at her own pace.
She said: “I’m kind of not wanting to do things on schedule anymore. Fashion changes so fast now and it’s changed so drastically lately I don’t think you have to show when you are told to show, you know.
“I kinda want of want to do my own thing really. Do more stuff like this, more art take on it as opposed to like banging out collections.
“If I had my own way I would do just one collection a year or something and actually put loads of time and thought into and really exhaust all the ideas…”
So, what is Mary Benson planning to design and what would they look like?
The fashion degree graduate from Westminster University said: “So, my idea is to create these more beautiful long lasting pieces. Really considered, loads of embroidery, loads of textiles, loads of thought put into them as opposed to I guess fast fashion, in that way.”
I’m sure fans and followers alike will be keenly waiting.
