Interview With Upcycling Challenge Designer Lesley Hampton (Toronto)

Share about the journey that led you to fashion design.

When I was growing up I would turn on FASHION TELEVISION instead of Saturday morning cartoons, and would watch the magic developed to create runway shows and the attention to detail on all the garments. Travelling when I was younger, my parents showed me back streets of Jakarta,Indonesia that were filled with meters of rich embroidered brocades and lace. When I started university, feeling a bit lost with my career path, I went back to basics with my creativity in Art and Fashion. Seamlessly, now I'm building my career in Fashion Design and expanding my brand in the Canadian and International fashion industry.

I know you trained at the University of Toronto and Sheridan College. Talk about the highs and lows of studying fashion design. What did you find easy? What was a challenge?

The highs of studying fashion design is the ability to be around like-minded people just starting out in the fashion industry. It is incredible to be around such creative individuals with different backgrounds, and have those people as inspiration throughout the academic year.

A low of studying fashion design would be having to follow the curriculum. As a creative person and new brand, I often because distracted with wanting to work on my own designs over school assignment, but in the end I was able to thrive in both areas and Im so happy for the experiences.

Who you are as a designer? Aesthetic? Customer? Brand? Etc.? Do you offer a new line each season, create custom work or both?

I design for any women, or female identifying individual, who wants to feel strong and confident in their clothing. The silhouettes and fabrics Im most drawn towards allow my customer to feel like a warrior, having them know they can accomplish whatever they set out the achieve, from the office, to the red carpet, to a night out while wearing LESLEY HAMPTON.

LESLEY HAMPTON offered a new line each season as well as custom work for clients. 

I am so thrilled to have you a part of the EFWA Upcycling Challenge by Marilyn R Wilson. Have you ever upcycled used garments before? If so, how?

This challenge is exciting for me as I am relatively new to working with up cycled used garments. Earlier this year I completed a design challenge with Mont Pellier in which we were given eco-friendly material made of recycled plastic bottles to make a couture gown. Im excited for my EFWA piece to have similar couture qualities.

Please share a little about your approach/inspiration for creating your runway look for this international show? What can the audience expect?

The inspiration of the runway look for this show is inspired by a geometric pattern of tailoring. The audience can expect a warrior. 

What would you most like the international fashion audience to know about you as a designer and your brand?

As a designer, I am proud to be First Nations and an emerging Canadian talent in the local and international fashion industry. As a brand, LESLEY HAMPTON hopes to bring more diversity to the runway and media to allow every body to feel empowered.

What's next for you as a designer? What are your long term dreams?

In October 2017 I will be showing my Spring Summer 2018 collection at Toronto Women's Fashion Week and look forward to elevating my brand locally and internationally in the near future.

Links - 

Website – www.lesleyhampton.com/
Instagram – @lesley_hampton
Facebook – www.facebook.com/LesleyHamptonDesign/
Twitter – @LesleyHampton
YouTube – www.youtube.com/channel/UCr2n4mfMcJjEz3I5FmKFtZw
Vogue UK designer page - http://www.vogue.co.uk/brand/lesley-hampton