Hackney designer secures museum commission

Sarah Ingrams, Reporter Thursday, May 31, 2012
2:52 PM

A fashion designer from Hackney has secured a sought-after commission at a London museum.

Estelle Lordonne was asked by the Fashion and Textiles Museum, Southwark, to design a collection to accompany ‘Pop’, their upcoming exhibition on design, culture and fashion.

Ms Lordonne, whose label Suicide Blonde features luxury leather bags and silver jewellery, lives and works near Mare Street.

A designer for over five years, Ms Lordonne is proud of her entirely handmade collection.

She said: “I like to work with people in Hackney so I buy most of my leather from round here. I work with small manufacturers in Hackney. I’m trying to be locally-based and I’m feeling quite strong about it.

“A long time ago a lot of leather people were working around here. Sadly they aren’t any more. I’m trying to keep them going.”

She added that her technique of digital printing on leather is unusual. “Not many people use it that I know of. It’s quite a difficult technique to do because you need to do it before the leather is treated. But I think people are starting to jump on the band wagon now.”

Her collection is available at http://www.ftmlondon.org/shop/