An exclusive editorial and interview by Karl Slater. KALTBULT Magazine has been keeping a close eye on Lucilla Gray’s steady rise in the uk fashion industry. With her first collection drawing our attention, her second definitely needed to be looked at in greater detail. With a heavy use of colour and digital print Lucilla Gray promises to be a household name in the very near future. We were lucky enough to meet the designer for this short get to know you interview on her inspirations and aspirations for her self named label Lucilla Gray.
KALTBLUT: What’s your inspiration behind your current collection?
Lucilla Gray: My work always has an underlying theme of powerful femininity. FW 15/16 explores my love of minimalism through abstract print and vibrant colour blocking. The angular lines featured in the print design, continue throughout the collection building upon the brands identity of strong silhouettes and clean cuts.
KALTBLUT: What are your biggest design influences?
Lucilla Gray: I’m always pulling my design influences from the world around me, I think you can get a lot of information from observing architecture, people and culture.
KALTBLUT: Would you say you draw inspiration from New Zealand?
Lucilla Gray: I guess so, living at the edge of the world definitely gives you a different perspective. New Zealand is unique because of it’s isolation, there’s a rawness about the place.
KALTBLUT: Your collection is very textile based, what and why made you to decide to go down this route?
Lucilla Gray: Partly being based in New Zealand actually! Access to textiles can be limited here and at university I would see people using similar fabrics to each other, so I started creating my own and would import materials you couldn’t easily find.
KALTBLUT: Who would you most like to see wearing your clothes?
Lucilla Gray: Someone who represents the sensibilities of my work, a powerful feminine role model like Ella Yelich-O’Connor.
KALTBLUT: Who’s your favourite fashion icon and why?
Lucilla Gray: Issey miyake, I love the way he works with structure. I saw his work at an exhibition in Sydney when I was around 12 years old and it’s alway’s stayed with me.
KALTBLUT: Whats the best piece of advice you were ever given?
Lucilla Gray: Take risks.
KALTBLUT: Tell us about your journey that led you to this point.
Lucilla Gray: A year ago I went to Amsterdam to showcase my graduate collection at an emerging designer exhibition. Since then I was introduced to Lewis and Leigh PR in London and they have helped nurture me and bring my work to a wider audience.
KALTBLUT: Whats the best thing about being you?
Lucilla Gray: I enjoy being able to work in my field. I feel really lucky that i’ve been able to continue my fashion journey.
KALTBLUT: What do you do to let your hair down?
Lucilla Gray: I like to explore my city and enjoy nature.
KALTBLUT: What does the future hold for Lucilla Gray?
Lucilla Gray: I plan to keep building the brand and evolving the aesthetic, At the moment I’m working on a presentation for New Zealand Fashion Week and my next collection for S/S16.
KALTBLUT: What was the last music track you listened too?
Lucilla Gray: Yumi Zouma – Catastrophe
KALTBLUT: What item of clothing could you not live without?
Lucilla Gray: Probably my sneakers, I like the practicality as I pretty much walk everywhere.
KALTBLUT: If you were any kind of cake what would you be?
Lucilla Gray: A chocolate cake for sure, simply because I love chocolate.
Links:
Web: lucillagray.com
Instagram: instagram.com/lucillagray/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lucillagray
Twitter: twitter.com/lucillagray
Outlets:
TEAM CREDIT:
Photography: Karl Slater www.facebook.com/karlslaterphotographer
Styling: Kennedy Silver kennedysilverstyling.tumblr.com
Makeup: Lauren Reynolds using MAC instagram.com/laurenreynoldsmakeup/
Hair: Daniel Palmer at Taylor Taylor London danielkpalmer.com
Model 01: Phoebe Summer represented by Profile Models www.profile-models.com
Model 02: Nathalie represented by Profile Models
Text: Karl Slater
