What do you do and why is it your passion?
I am the founder and designer of Métier London. Everything about my work reflects my passion. The people I design for. The people I work with. I think it's impossible to build a new global luxury brand for men and women from scratch without being incredibly passionate and excited about every detail. As the head of the company, I am involved in every aspect and I honestly love it all. For me it’s all about connecting the dots.
What is the process for creating your work?
I first start by identifying a journey that one of my pieces in the current collection doesn’t satisfy. Usually this happens when I am doing something and wish I had a piece specifically for it… (In fact, I just developed a wine carrier after going to a dinner party and not having anything nice to carry it in.) I then think about all the requirements around the journey- what you most likely will carry, how you need to access your items (eg. A travel bag always has an exterior pocket which is easy to access for your passport and phone). I also think about what elements need to be modular and versatile. From there, I concept different shapes and details. I play with different lines and curvatures which feel harmonious and allow the functionality to be seamless, effortless and intuitive. Once I have conceived the design, I create life-size scale ones drawings. I then put them together to create a 3D version of the bag out of paper so I can ensure every detail has been considered and achieves what I want it to. In this way, I can also check proportions and spot any additional considerations ahead of making the paper pattern. Once I am happy with it, the work goes to Italy where we make a paper pattern and then develop our first prototype. We work on the thickness of each leather panel and the amount of reinforcement in each layer so that we balance lightweight and lasting- I love when each piece has the perfect, effortless slouch. We then go through several prototyping rounds, fine tuning as we go. I then wear test each piece for at least one month to ensure that it is perfect and also to test any weaknesses. After that, we send the piece to a special testing facility which simulates 20 years of use with wind, rain, humidity and weight. Once the design passes that test it is approved and final samples are made. Without a doubt, my favorite part of my work is sketching - I love letting my mind wander and I love designing the specs for each piece. This is followed closely by my other favorite moment- unwrapping the first prototype. I am actually receiving two new ones tomorrow… I can’t wait.