Rags to Stitches

Old or second-hand fabrics are manna from heaven for Bridgnorth-based designer Samantha Waine.
Through her innovative recycling business she is carving out a unique name for herself in the world of eco-friendly fashion

SAMANTHA’S COMPANY DIRTY PRETTY, NOW IN its second year of trading, produces unique recycled fashion clothing and accessories which are available in outlets all over the Midlands and online at www. dirtypretty.co.uk

The Dirty Pretty collection is regularly showcased at eco design fairs around London, re-made fashion fairs across the Midlands and other leading industry events all over the UK.

Samantha recently showed off her wares at Alternative Fashion Week in London where her creations were also seen in all their environmentally sustainable glory on the catwalk and judged by some top names from the world of fashion.

I became passionate about starting up my own 100% ethical fashion brand.

The 24 year-old set out on the road to becoming a designer when she embarked on a foundation art course at Stourbridge College.
After opting to specialise in the area of fashion and textiles she went on to study Fashion Design at Plymouth University in its college based in Taunton, Somerset, where she was taught all aspects of design, pattern cutting and construction.

She also gained invaluable work experience during her studies, spending two months at a number of companies including New Look and Ted Baker where she was employed as garment technologist. And she was also given the opportunity to work as assistant designer of menswear at Blood and Glitter.
“I worked alongside the managing director, learning how to run a successful fashion business and designing both men’s and women’s collections,” she said.

Samantha’s final degree collection for graduate fashion week sowed the seeds for the vision of her future in the fashion industry.
“This was my first recycled collection,” she said. “From this experience in the fashion industry I became passionate about starting up my own 100% ethical fashion brand.”

I like to start with classic vintage shapes and put my own mark on them, either panelling with clashes of fabrics or altering the way they fit the body.

The talented designer, who has just launched her summer collection for 2009, draws much of her inspiration from the past, but with a modern twist, and keeps herself bang up to date with new trends by studying current catwalks styles.
“I like to start with classic vintage shapes and put my own mark on them, either panelling with clashes of fabrics or altering the way they fit the body,” she said.

“I also get ideas from the limitations of my materials. For example, I use a lot of men’s shirts as a basis for some of my designs. Each season I figure out new ways of cutting the shirt up and putting it back together, trying to use as much of it as possible,” she added.

Dirty Pretty has also been working alongside animal charity the PDSA, creating its own diffusion lines which are sold in the charity’s new concept Catwalk stores which sell surplus stock from shops such as Topshop, Debenhams and Evans, alongside the Dirty Pretty brand. Samantha’s collection is created totally from clothing donated to the PDSA shops.

Dirty Pretty is now in the process of focusing on the relaunch of its website. Samantha explains: “I have started a new online store feature where you can choose the shirt from which we make your dress.

“I have a range of the different shirts and patterns and colours from which to choose. If customers cannot find one they like they can request a certain colour which I source for them, or they can supply their own. I then make the dress just for them,” she added.

Samantha is also on the lookout for new stockists in a bid to expand the business and says that Dirty Pretty always needs fabrics, particularly vintage ones.
“Please get in touch with me if you have some that you no longer need, or want me to make you something out of it,” said the designer.