Award winning young designer Joanne McGillivray’s debut collection is now available to buy online. Since her preview of the collection during a fashion show at the brand’s successful launch party in June, the ‘Russian Revolution’ line has been hotly anticipated. The contemporary premium womenswear label was created by Scottish Fashion Awards’ Scottish Graduate of the Year 2012 winner, Joanne McGillivray. Designed for women who are classical and feminine in style, but also design aware the collection epitomizes high end luxury, with simple classic cuts which still incorporate many of AW13’s most popular trends and have a beautiful wear-ability factor.
Joanne is no stranger to designing for the high street; with her dress design selling out in retail giant M&S after winning an internship with the brand in 2012. Waiting a year to see her winning dress hit M&S stores and online, Joanne experienced first hand the importance of ensuring her design was perfect before being released. With this in mind, Joanne has taken great time in overseeing all parts of her brand are as high quality as her designs, with a major part of this time spent on sourcing the right manufacturer. The Joanne McGillivray brand is all about luxury and using the best materials; there was no doubt for Joanne that this would come from using a British manufacturer.
The decline of the British manufacturing industry has been a much discussed topic in recent years, with so many brands and designers choosing to outsource the production of their garments to overseas manufacturers. With tough financial times for all industries, many may not find it surprising for designers to choose cheaper manufacturers around the world. This has been found, however, to bring many negatives with countless reports of underpaid workers in poor working conditions. Not only this, but the cheaper manufacturing of goods are compromising on the quality of the product, not to mention the damaging effect this has on Britain’s own industry. It was reported earlier this year that 90% of the clothing Britain now wears is imported from overseas, a shocking percentage when the UK champions so many fantastic designers. There has however recently been a resurgence in support for Britain’s own fashion and textiles industry, with traditional British brands such as Barbour, Jaeger and Mulberry leading the way for established brands supporting the UK’s own industry. Joanne leads the way for upcoming designers, setting an example for other young designers who may be lured by the reduced costs of manufacturing outside Britain. Joanne understands the importance of promoting her support of britain’s long-standing manufacturing industry; the young designer understands it is the upcoming talent which can shape the future of the UK’s fashion and textiles industry, especially when it comes to British manufacturing.
With this in mind, Joanne chose D&M Fashion as the producer of her sought after designs. Based in Alloa, Stirling and owned by a husband and wife team, the Scottish manufacturer has been established for over 20 years. With such an experienced manufacturer, Joanne could not be happier with her designs being produced in the UK and now being on sale, "British manufacturing is so important to me, and I am delighted to be using D&M Fashion based in Alloa. As a young designer it’s so important the quality is of a high standard and represents the brand. Britain has such a fantastic history of manufacturing in fashion and textiles and I have always wanted to support the industry. By using a manufacturer in Scotland, it makes it a short travelling distance for me and allows me to be involved in every aspect of my brand from design to production to the consumer". Joanne shows further support for the British fashion industry, choosing to create her unique digitally printed debut collection within Scotland at the Centre for Creative Textiles at Glasgow School of Art.
Joanne McGillivray’s debut collection will be sold on her official website from today (Tuesday 3rd September 2013). The already popular womenswear brand will also be stocked on two established online retailers later in the month. The first of these stockists is The Editeur, a high fashion e-commerce site, stocking other high end brands including Ralph Lauren, Diane Von Furstenberg, Jospeh and Nicole Fahri. The collection will also be stocked on September Street, an online boutique which specializes in stocking premium designers who take a responsible attitude in sourcing and producing their garments, using British manufacturers and supporting the UK’s home-grown industry.
Continuing with supporting the British fashion trade, Joanne has also been announced as one of the fantastic brands appearing at Scotland’s ‘Edinburgh Pout’ tradeshow. Joining the line up as part of the ESpark pop-up boutique, Joanne will bring her debut collection to the weekend show on the 21st and 22nd September held at Edinburgh’s Corn Exchange.
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