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When it comes to her collections, Sydney Pimbley uses sustainability as her guiding light. The London-based designer and graduate from the esteemed Central Saint Martins collects vintage fabrics and fashions them anew. The result? Distinctive, unique pieces that range from sweet and lacy to eclectic and sexy. We caught up with Sydney about where she finds inspiration and what she's loving from her latest collection, below.
How did you first get interested in becoming a designer?
I have a lot of core memories starting from a young age when I knew I wanted to be a fashion designer. I come from a very creative household, with my mother working in television and my father being an architect, so there were always beautiful fashion and art books at home, which I remember regularly pawing over. I’m also lucky to have had access to the fantastic art and fashion exhibitions in London which served as a major inspiration for me to join the world of design.
How do sustainability considerations factor into your collections?
All designers have a responsibility to contribute to the climate crisis by using their imagination to encourage people towards new modes of behavior. I try to do things I believe in, making pieces that are beautiful, nostalgic, and authentic. Pieces that capture the mood of the moment and, hopefully, in a smart way, contribute to a more sustainable future.
What emotions are you trying to evoke with your work?
I want each of my garments to feel like a real celebration of the individual. The fact that each piece is unique due to the one-off nature of the materials I work with reflects that we are all individuals with different tastes. I aim for my garments to evoke a playful, sensual, and timeless feeling when they are worn.
Where do you find design inspiration?
Inspiration comes in many different forms. My projects tend to be vibrant, colorful, detailed, and playful. The research stage of a project is extremely important to me. I see this time as a coming together of different ideas and life experiences. Developing this research into collages and drawing from the images I have found and pictures I have taken sets the mood of the entire project and is one of my favorite stages of the design process.
I'm often inspired by places I have been and by my Welsh heritage. I collect materials, objects, and fabrics wherever I travel, and I often use these in my work, as the fabrics themselves are very inspiring. Some of my projects have also been inspired by iconic individuals such as Barbara Cartland and Salvador Dalí. Their colorful lives serve as a springboard to my designs.
Experimenting with technique is also hugely important in my approach. Sampling is a major part of fashion with knitwear, which was my focus of study at Central Saint Martins for my degree. My work often includes very detailed embroidery, beading, and many different knitting techniques. Each of these processes takes a lot of experimentation and time, but being able to create your own fabrics with different materials opens up a world of possibilities, and I find this very exciting.
What are a few of your favorite designs from your latest collection?
Personally, I really love the Mixed Leather and Shearling Jackets. The different colors and textures that have been pieced together really stand out. The Fisherman Shorts are also very beautiful. It's always nice to include some knitted garments in each of my collections as a celebration of the techniques I learned during my time at university.
