I wanted to create a brand to help fix the cravings I kept getting, turning my flat 2-D illustrations into physical products.

I started small with little ghost enamel pins and was amazed by the response I received. I still remember, packing 80-90 enamel pins from orders only the day before! I wrote out every single address in awe looking at how far and wide we were sending these ghost pins out across the world!  Now I had sampled a taste and I wanted to see how far I could take it.

Many, MANY product experiments along the way, here I am with ALXNDRA. A season-less textiles accessories and jewellery brand. With an East meets West aesthetic drawing inspirations from Japanese culture, personal experiences and the idea of nostalgia to create unique pieces. 

 

Being “Seasonless” means ignoring the traditional fashion calendar timed to spring and fall collections, instead opting for a more personalised calendar. Individual products or capsule collections are released whenever the timing feels right. This is then allowing the maker to create better products without the pressure or rush to release at the “correct” times.

Slow-Fashion is an awareness and approach to creating fashion that considers the processes and resources needed to make better products. It particularly focuses on the sustainability aspect of these processes. For the maker, it considers that in order to create better garments, realistically it takes more time as it values fair treatment for people, animals and the planet. For the customer it involves buying better-quality items that will last for longer, opposing the fast fashion trends that increase on global landfill waste.

 

It feels like I have always been influenced by Japanese culture but I guess it probably stems from watching anime as a child as it seems to be the case for most westerners.

I feel there is always something new to learn about the culture. Japan became a dream destination for me and I finally was able to experience a two week trip back in 2016 and it definitely surpassed all my hyped up expectations. It was spring, it was beautiful and two weeks was not enough! I have since visited various parts of japan on multiple occasions and it never disappoints. I have accumulated a handful of incredible friends out there too which is a wonderful excuse to visit and see new sides to a place that can be viewed differently in a non touristy kind of way. There are invariably new things to discover, whether it is the food, local traditions or the multiple temples and their tales. It intrigues me and regularly stimulates my project work.

 

I have been lucky enough to work privately for small clients and also be involved in bigger projects such as fabric print design for designer Sabinna, band merchandise for multiple independent musicians and many enjoyable collaborations with some great independent companies and artists (Family Store Brighton, Super Unofficial, Black Water Studios, Fy! etc). I am also a published illustrator with card and stationery company Whale & Bird with some of my designs having been stocked in shops such as Paperchase and Scribbler.

 

Please feel free to contact me for commission work. Whether you are a company or just an individual looking for a unique gift! I am happy to answer all emails about possible illustration requests. I also offer wholesale on select items. You can email me for any wholesale enquiries via the contact options above.