The Baglady of Brighton revamps, revives, and recycles vintage fabrics, trimmings and odd bits and bobs to create unique and unusual bags, pouches and purses.
The ‘Baglady’ herself– designer & creator Katy Dormer (who is much more glamorous than she sounds!) fuses together an array of unusual textures and patterns in clashing colours. ‘Giving a new lease of life to old and almost new, means everything has a use and nothing gets wasted’ she says.
Materials are bonded together using traditional techniques such as weaving, quilting and embroidery.
On her website www.bagladyofbrighton.com she features different styles such as ‘Seaside Inspirations’ – these pieces take inspiration from Brighton seascapes. ‘The designs and textures evolve from observing the tidal ripples and the vibrant, moody colours of the sea’ says Katy.
The ‘vintage’ section features luxurious satins, lace and pretty floral prints.
‘Camp Kitty’ is a character that also features on Katy’s bags and purses so I asked her about her inspiration for this. ‘The kittys came about after I was given a box of whiskers cat treats for my cat Clyde’ she explains ‘He turned his nose up at them and instead of throwing the box away I thought the lid would make a great template and so it did!’
Katy explains that she scours charity shops for fabrics and is very lucky to have lots of great resources donated. ‘Its amazing what people hold onto because they love the colour, pattern or texture’ says Katy ‘it feels good to revive what’s been stuck in a cupboard for years!’
Katy grew up on the outskirts of St Ives in Cornwall, she studied Art in St Ives and Falmouth and Textiles in Farnham, finally moving to Brighton where ‘Baglady’ was born. ‘I started making a bag for my sister for a birthday present’ says Katy ‘she had a friend who loved it so I made another and so it started!’
I asked Katy how she came up with the fantastic name ‘Baglady’: ‘It popped into my head one day when I was having a sort out and caught myself laughing of the image of me headfirst in a bin bag rummaging for fabric to re use before it went in the bin!’
Katy tells me she has recently met knitwear designer Suzan Pearson through Brighton and Hove Chamber of commerce and they are in the process of setting up a design collective to share an open studio. She says she is looking forward to working with creatives from different disciplines.
The Baglady of Brighton’s studio is at 19 Montpelier Place, Brighton and appointments can be made by contacting Katy on 07747650795 or bagladyofbrighton@googlemail.com
Her work is also sold via Retail Therapy; 101 Gloucester rd, North Lain, Brighton and at a regular craft market on 1st Saturday of every month at Friends Meeting House, Ship street, south lanes, Brighton
By Helen Ruff
