Interview with Avant Garde designer GEMMA SLACK

It's 9am on a sunny (yet blistering cold) Thursday morning and I'm already sitting in my office with a coffee and interview questions to hand, ready to speak to the predominant up and coming designer Gemma Slack. The girl who caught my eye due to her Avant Garde designs which draw similarity to Gareth Pugh, Hussein Chalayan and Alexander McQueen. An outstanding talent to have at such an early stage in the stepping stones of the fashion industry.

Gemma Slack was born and raised in Sheffield, moving to London to cultivate and enrich her creativity. With a love of fine art and sculpture Gemma engaged herself in an art course at the eminent, Chelsea college of Art and design. Whilst there she started to take an extraordinary interest in the female form, which lead to her tutor encouraging her to try fashion design. In doing so an anomalous fashion designer was born into the industry. Gemma starts by creating paintings and sculptures which she then modifies into garments. 'All my work has the same thought pattern. I research ideas and its then not until the later stages of development that I choose what form it will be, whether it's fashion, fine art or video.'

By using this same thought process Gemma used it as an inspiration for her latest Spring/Summer10 collection 'My most recent collection looks quite scatty but the central theme was about transformation and the interesting concept of somebody forming personality when wearing various garments. For example at a previous show a first time model was telling me how nervous she was about going down the runway, that was until she put on one of my jackets and gained pure confidence strutting her stuff showing the garment to it's full potential. Another way of explaining would be for example Superman, without his cape he is an average man but with it he transforms into a superhero. Another side of inspiration was Rebecca Horns work on extending the body form.' It seemed like quite a strange concept to design a collection on to me but speaking to Gemma made me realise that most of her work always relates back to the female form and body structure, which shows itself within her garments. Talking about influences and designs I asked Gemma what she thought would be the main trends of 2010, her answer? (As sincerely as you can get at that time in the morning) 'I don't know really, I don't genuinely follow trends. I go by my influences and creative mind, but I am sure that leather corsets and metal dress's will definitely be in!'  As for London's style Gemma summarizes 'London always has a certain base even when there are massive trends that sweep through. It is completely different from many other city's as it has it own unique style of mini trends that vary from place to place.'

Gemma has had a tough time starting in the industry and, after hearing her story, she can certainly be considered as an inspiration to all artistic designers. Without any funding, she managed to produce her first outstanding collection independently out of her bedroom, using hard earned savings from part time bar work. Only recently has she been able to afford her own studio to constitute her Spring/summer10 collection and one voluntary student to help on next seasons (which, I may add, I can't wait to see!). I asked her about advice for anybody looking to get into that field of the industry, she answered very honestly, 'actually make sure you want to do it, there are many ups and downs to think about. Also make sure you have money! It's such an important point, but without it you will struggle and it will be an extremely long and windy road. You will need persistence and a great group of friends around you, as I have found out whilst working in the studio at 3am ringing my friends telling them I cant take it anymore!! They were always there to push me and make me realise that it's my dream and ambition'. Being persistent in what she does makes Gemma Slack the extraordinary Avant Garde designer that she has become and her hard work combined with an extraordinary drive is certainly beginning to paying off.  She is London Bug's designer of the month for many reasons but it is ultimately her pure ambition and drive that makes her stand out, combined with her astounding Spring/Summer collection which certainly has taken my breath away. Her well constructed, unordinary pieces will be in your wardrobe must haves for century's of fashion to come. From Leather corsets to edgy dress's, these are garments that are requisite for standing out from the crowd and looking like a true fashionista.