Hawthorne and Heaney Visits Burberry Maker’s House

British craftsmen, British makers, Burberry, Christopher Bailey, colour, exhibition, fashion, Fashion Embroidery, Feminine, floral, Hawthorne & Heaney, interiors, Makers House, Masculine, Nancy Lancaster, Orlando, Pindrop studios, rosalind wyatt, Rose de Borman, Shepherds Book Binders, Soho, ss17, textile designers, Thomas Merrett, Virginia Woolf

Burberry is one of the most acclaimed British fashion houses, and to celebrate their Spring/Summer 2017 collection, Burberry partnered up with The New Craftsmen to hold a week long exhibition at Maker’s House, Soho. This event showcased the best of British craftsmen, designers and makers as well as the latest Burberry collection.

Hawthorne and Heaney Visits Burberry Maker's House London Hand Embroidery

As you make your way into the house, you walk through the garden which is covered in fairy lights with large white sculptures of heads, figures and giant horses creating a magical atmosphere before you’ve entered the building.

Hawthorne and Heaney Visits Burberry Maker's House London Hand Embroidery

The house was divided into sections, the first floor is where the makers set up their studio for the day. Each day there are a new group of makers, from jewelry makers, basket makers and textile designers. Whilst I was there, I was lucky enough to see the work of Shepherds Book Binders, sculptor Thomas Merrett, textile designers Rosalind Wyatt and Rose De Borman and even got to listen to storytelling from Pindrop studios. Watching all of this was very exciting, especially to see the work that goes into their practice.

Hawthorne and Heaney Visits Burberry Maker's House London Hand Embroidery

Downstairs is where they displayed giant mood boards showing the inspiration behind Burberry’s SS17 collection designed by Christopher Bailey. For this collection, Bailey took inspiration from the novel ‘Orlando’ by Virginia Woolf, where in the novel the protagonist’s gender changes halfway through. He also drew influences from Nancy Lancaster’s interior design, using her sense of colour and floral designs.

Hawthorne and Heaney Visits Burberry Maker's House London Hand Embroidery

At the very top of the Makers House is where the Burberry collection was located. Each look was presented across the room with music playing in the background. There was a huge screen where we could watch the catwalk show and this was held here in the Makers House. We found out that even the carpet was bespoke designed for the show!

Hawthorne and Heaney Visits Burberry Maker's House London Hand Embroidery

Hawthorne and Heaney Visits Burberry Maker's House London Hand Embroidery

The colours in the collection ranged from black and gold to soft mint greens and pinks. Shapes and techniques used alongside the colours captured both feminine and masculine qualities and this fits the story of Orlando.

Hawthorne and Heaney Visits Burberry Maker's House London Hand Embroidery

This collection was also celebrated as this was the first time the garments were available to buy immediately after the show. Normally it takes around six months to buy what you see on the catwalk.

Hawthorne and Heaney Visits Burberry Maker's House London Hand Embroidery

This was truly a beautiful collection and a great way for everyone to experience and celebrate London Fashion Week.

 

 

 

 

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