Shout out for up-and-coming Leeds independent designers

Our lifestyle correspondent and resident fashion expert Lisa Darwin discusses the rise and rise of independent designers.

As men and women alike become more fashion savvy, enjoy making a statement with their clothes, more and more people are stepping out of the high street’s haze and into the bright lights of independents. Why? Well, they have a lot to offer at affordable prices and have the ability to create fabulous bespoke garments giving you that personal service.

When it comes to securing unique, original pieces – independents are the way forward. Myself, I love to wear something fun and flamboyant a statement of my personality, an original piece that I won’t see on every woman I walk passed on the high street.

And with so many independent fashion designers and outlets in Leeds at our disposal, such as the fashion boutiques in Leeds Corn Exchange, Lamberts Yard, Accent Clothing, The Allotment to name a few, it’d be a mistake not to try them.

Especially when you think that every pound you spend with independent designers and stores, supports local businesses, designers and entrepreneurs. Ensuring your money, earned in Leeds and spent in Leeds, will stay in Leeds!

Talking all things fashion, I had the pleasure of catching up with Dawn Wood, chairwoman of Fabrication in The Light, which is home to 80 plus individual designers within fashion, interiors, art, and accessories. Dawn, herself an award winning fashion designer boosting a fashion career spanning over 2 decades in film and theatre continues her passion for making clothes through her own label, Ages of Elegance.

Dawn alongside a number of local designers run regular independent workshops in the city for anyone with a passion for fashion, training in pattern cutting, sewing, design techniques etc. The designers also manage the Leeds Fashion and Craft Network open to emerging designers and anyone with a love for fashion.

There is a great fashion movement taking place in Leeds right now seeing Leeds Fashion Festival taking place on 5&6th March and again later in the year in October. The momentum of high street fashion brands happy to work in collaboration with independent designers is so positive and the buzz across the city is evident. Dawn and the designers are preparing their collections for the catwalk shows and welcome the high profile platform the LFF will give them.

So without further ado, allow me to introduce you to a few of the well-known independent fashion designers continuing to make waves in Leeds and involved in the LFF.

Bo Carter, Bo Carter Boutique
Zara Mia, ZaraMiaAva
Victoria Reddington, Isaac Ava/Fashion Pony
Jag Kaur, The UJag Fashion House
Darecca Stainforth, Dazarocks
Agewin Reid, Gwen Reid
Lisa Jayne Dann, LisaJayneDann.co.uk

Ms. Wood said, “Leeds is a fashion/shopping destination to be taken seriously and independent designers play a key role in this. I’m delighted to see the development of Leeds Fashion Festival which is a positive event for everyone in the city and I am over the moon to be involved alongside other independents. Exciting times lie ahead for independents and high street brands together, we have ambitious plans at Fabrication with new premises coming soon so watch this space.”