Background
"It's the simple things in life that count"
Within the hustle and bustle of modern times individuals try so desperately hard to be individual, blind to the reality that it's the ones who don't who stand out. Charlotte Taylor builds her creations around such an ethos. The effortless. The endearing. The mysterious. The strong.
Charlotte's collections are tailored to all aspects of everyday life, laid bare ready to be grasped by the individual and transformed into their own story. Strong tailoring, bold silhouettes and sculptured shapes provide canvases for dashes of colour, textures and prints. Charlotte's vision subtly emphasises the female form, juxtaposing androgynous tones with effortless elegance.
A Lancashire lass, Charlotte moved to London straight from school to pursue her dream of becoming a clothes designer. Five years later she graduated from Central Saint Martin's and was selected to be a part of its prestigious press show. Along the way Charlotte assisted numerous designers including Marcus Constable and at fashion houses including Frost French. Upon graduation Charlotte was snapped up by Luella, subsequently leaving in June 2009 to set up her new venture under her own name.
Isle of Wight based Charlotte has really made her presence felt by virtue of her standout designs and colours, her engaging blog which charts her endeavours to launch, develop and sustain her business and her sheer determination and talent.
Inspiration
April 2011, Japan.
It's springtime and the Cherry Blossoms are in Flower. We stumble upon a Bonsai tree nursery, a cohabitation of all colours, shapes and sizes. Many a generation of Bonsai stands by admiring their blossoming saplings. Sakura, a tree surgeon by trade, effortlessly glides through the tree families, pruning away their untimely growth spurts, quenching their thirst and warming their hearts, bellies, leaves and trunks with a calculated move to a sundrenched lounger for an afternoon of relaxation. As the sunlight dances through their leaves Sakura makes haste for the bee hives.
The cultivation of Bees and tree nurseries has been a fascination of hers since childhood and the dusting of intricate artwork and tattoo craftsmanship that shrouds her skin is a testament to this. Her body is the essence of the garden, personified- every inch is considered and camouflaged, from the nape of her neck, to the tips of her finger nails.
As the day draws to a close Sakura heads home, meandering along the winding river.
Fishermen are snoozing in the last of the day's sun whilst the humming birds and crickets provide the delicate yet arbitrary soundtrack. She sits on the bank momentarily to model a miniature penguin from some paper in her pocket. She had heard of one losing its way and emerging in Australia- what a journey that must have been!
Sakura is thankful for her choices, her passion and her life. She can and always will dance to the rhythm of her own drum.
How does it make you feel?
Living, laughing, dancing.
