Monday, May 24, 2010

Behind the Design - Hopeless

Good morning everyone.  This week's Behind the Design features Gabrielle of Hopeless.  The creator of beautiful, vintage inspired handmade lingerie.  Her collections are stunning and she was a pleasure to interview!

Where does your inspiration come from?
Everywhere! I love watching old movies and usually base my ranges around a film, but I also love looking at art books, vintage magazines, and visiting galleries.


Do you have a spot you like to go that helps you feel creative?
I can never force it, when I get that urge or idea I will stop what I am doing and just draw out the designs in my head for a little while. If I set aside time and go somewhere to do the creative work, I usually come up with nothing!! I am constantly thinking about design ideas and colours and things, so I have sketchbooks, notepads, and scraps of paper all over my house.


Where do you most of your work?
I work from home and have my machines set up on the dining room table. I iron in the adjoining kitchen, and do all my hand sewing on the couch in front of the tv!


How did you come up with the name for your business?
My sister just thought of it one day and I thought it sounded perfect. Not your typical lingerie brand name, and it can be interpreted in a number of ways.


Your favorite thing to make?
I love making one-off pieces. I get bored very easily and much prefer the process of putting the first sample together rather than sewing lots of the same thing. That said, it is always good to perfect and practice certain skills - and I can see certain sewing techniques have improved hugely over the past few years.


What is your all time favorite design from past or current collections?
Probably the Dahlia Bra and Garter Belt Set from my first range. I think it's a really good example of what Hopeless is about.


You couldn't run your business without __________?
The support of my family and my boyfriend Nick.


What advice do you wish someone had given you when you first started your business?
Be patient. But I am still trying to get a hold of that one!

Coffee or tea?
Black coffee and chamomile tea (not at the same time obviously).

Favorite magazine/blog/daily read?
Style Bubble.

If you could follow one person around for a day, who would it be?
Karl Lagerfeld.

Do you have any hobbies or creative outlets other than your work?
I do love Singstar.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, money and time being no object, where would you go and why?
South America - Just because I think it would be an incredible adventure!

If you had to spend a year on a deserted island, what 5 things would you bring with you?
Nick, a sewing needle, a mattress, a toothbrush, a dictionary.

Thank you Gabrielle for participating in this week's Behind the Design.

Photos courtesy of Hopeless Lingerie.

Gabrielle can be found at:
Etsy shop
Web site
Blog
Twitter

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