TEXTILE FORUM COLLABORATION

Last winter we were given an opportunity by the Textile Forum to collaborate with Ringhart Fabrics in designing two new fabulous dresses for our latest collection. Having supplied tailors throughout the country with their divine range of fabrics for over 40 years, Ringhart specialises in producing high-quality shirt cottons for menswear labels. We were delighted to work with them in creating two new easy-to-wear, feminine pieces that incorporated traditional shirt features.

The first item that we designed was our gorgeous pink shirtdress. We wanted to create something a bit different for our collection and we thought that a longline shirt would be the perfect versatile piece that could be worn casually thrown over jeans or dressed up with a pair of heels. The placket front, buttoned cuffs and contrast patterned lining made a feature of Ringhart’s gorgeous cotton whilst the wide collar was a nod to seventies-inspired tailoring. We were spoilt for choice when it came to fabric, but the pink paisley immediately stood out to us. Mixing it with a more formal candy stripe, however, paired down the final look and took the piece from desk to disco.

For our second garment we decided to add another little black dress to our collection. Using one of Ellie’s vintage robes for inspiration, we designed a sultrier number with billowy sleeves and a frilled hem. We were drawn to the delicious quality of Ringhart’s Marcella cotton and loved the crispness that it brought to the shape of the dress. Keeping it all black, however, would be way too conventional and so we choose to line it with the same pretty pink pinstripe from our shirtdress. We named this piece the ‘Monza’ and it will hopefully be joining Ellie at the Monza Grand Prix at some point in the future.

Thank you to Ringhart Fabrics for collaborating with us on these two fabulous pieces, Plus samples for helping to make our designs a reality, and the Textiles Forum for introducing us to each other.

http://www.ringhart.com/

https://plussamples.co.uk/

http://www.textileforum.org.uk/­