From Sketchbook to Catwalk - February 2025

It had been two years since the creation of my last ethical occasion wear collection & fashion show. I was desperate to create some of my new ideas rather than just keep on sketching lots of designs & so I committed myself to showing some new pieces during London Fashion week this February 2025 to ensure it all happened! I was originally planning to be ready for September 2024 but my work got so busy I had to postpone it.

I had the sketches & fabrics organised already for September the previous year but still had to make the patterns & garments. I then got the flu in December straight after Christmas & this was the time I had set aside to work on the collection. I was very ill & weak for about a month but was determined this collection would happen. Then when I finally started cutting & making the garments from the beautiful colours & fabrics I had bought I felt like it was healing me with the uplifting colours I was using, especially during the cold dark days of winter. I was so glad everything had been planned ahead otherwise this project would not have happened!

The fashion shows in spring typically show winter collections for ready to wear brands & summer garments in the autumn, however I was ready to show a summery collection in spring which may have been a bit out of step with everyone else but it didn’t worry me. I make more bespoke & one off pieces and therefore showing in the season of the collection is more in keeping with couture as it is of the moment a reflection & response to the now.

I always try to make ten pieces to show because that is the maximum I am allowed to show with this company. I pay a third party organiser to take part in their shows so they provide the venue, the models, the hair & makeup & photographers. I request what size models I require beforehand & provide my music for the catwalk & then I arrive with my suitcase full of dresses, shoes & anything else I want to dress the models with for my walk. 

Afterwards I have all the photographs & videos from the show sent to me which takes quite a while to choose the best images from the event. I have found that taking in parts in the fashion shows are a lot of work for just one person although I really enjoy it, I love the drama & performance of a real show as opposed to just the still images. The only drawbacks are that you can't do fittings before the day of the show and have to try & tweak the garments on the day.

 As a designer & creator, obviously I am really hoping that the right people are in the audience to gain added media interest. There's no guarantee that someone who could potentially give you some exposure in the media will attend or even report about you, which is always an added bonus, however you are included in the event organisers promotion. Also potential new clients or collaborations would be great for my brand so attending and meeting models, photographers & other designers is useful in itself as you never know where it could lead. I have had a few media mentions & articles off the back of some shows in previous years which is always really exciting. 

The actual freedom of designing, creating something unique & the chance to develop my own ideas, albeit in a very small window of time, means everything to me & is worth doing even for the just taking part & enjoying the process! When I first started to create my own pieces for my own brand I was quite nervous about showing the world what I had designed because it is such an intense, personal & important thing to me, a lifelong passion. Additionally the obvious fear of criticism is ever present especially as I am not a young designer straight from university. My nerves have subsided & I have grown to realise that that energy is there to guide me & my fears have turned into excitement and now I can't wait to share my creations with the world! I guess every creator or artist must feel this nervous excitement in the process.

This year though, I was really happy that some of my friends came along to support me which was a great support to me. I was pleased that they had provided me a helper backstage this time to be my runner & assistant for the whole day which really helped! There's always a friendly atmosphere backstage with the models & helpers but I had added pressure on this year as I was first on the catwalk out of the whole day! Usually you think about finishing the show and being the much anticipated final walk, however I hope I started the show with a flourish of colour!  

The collection is comprised of bold modern silhouettes with a softness created by the ruching detail & made from gorgeous ethical fabrics in beautiful warm summer shades. Each dress is made from a different fabric & colour & a different style. I named the collection Sunset Boulevard due to the colour palette as I wanted to use warm sunset colours. The vibe of the whole collection was a reflection on the 1920’s, imagining ladies with their cliché cocktails on the promenade ambling along and of course looking elegant and sophisticated…

As always the past inspires me especially Hollywood glamour, 1920,s fashion & couture. I love experimenting with different silhouettes & fabrics & how they relate to the body when worn. I like the different ways fabric can be manipulated or structured to create drama. I feel like I have many ideas & influences in my head & then they are processed & are reimagined into my own pieces.

I went on to have an on location shoot with this collection later in the year & some of the pieces went into OK magazine and Notebook  magazine with a front cover!

If you follow my Instagram www.instagram.com/caroline.bruce.designs or Facebook www.facebook.com/caroline.bruce.designs you can see more of my up to date work & commissions.

Sign up to my occasional newsletter for more behind the scenes stories & pictures from the atelier! Newsletter Sign-up | Caroline Bruce

 Also look on my media page for anything in the public domain Media | Caroline Bruce

I would like to thank my friends for attending this year’s fashion show & for the ongoing support they have shown. 

Below are some of my sketches & fabric swatches that I started out with to put the show together.

The colour inspiration image of a sunset

Below are some of the many photos from the fashion show by MOK Photography