Full Name

Natalie Coleman

Where were you born?

London

Where did you grow up?

In the Tuscany of Ireland! A small countryside area in Co.Monaghan

What was your first job?

Putting advertising leaflets though letterboxes aged 8!

What got you interested in fashion?

Fashion Wheel for Christmas also my Mother Bridie Meegan had an amazing sense of style, I think I was just born loving Fashion, I used to sleep in my wardrobe!

While growing up did you have a favourite fashion designer who you admired?

I admired photographers more growing, I was obsessed with mood makers but if I had to pick I would say Vionnet or Balenciaga

Where did you study fashion?

I studied in Limerick School of Art and Design and then on the Masters Course at Central St.Martins, London.

Do you remember the first item you designed?

No not really, because I think I was probably four, I was always drawing through school. But I used to cut up my mothers Bridesmaid outfits, I loved cutting clothes up and reconstructing them.

Where do you get your design inspiration?

From stories, life, romance, friends, landscapes, everywhere, absolutely!

What item of clothing have you designed and thought, I don’t like that?

There is loads that changes through the design process, sometimes you get caught on a idea that just won’t visualise or that you just need to let go but generally I love my designs.

How did you start designing your own collection?

I started with a story and sitting down doodling ideas and making up captions for the drawings and then the collection grew from there. I am designing my fourth collection at the moment which I am really excited about it for Autumn/Winter 13.

I can imagine it was a big financial risk, how did you cope?

I have been really lucky as I am just over 1 year in business and selling all over the world, I just have continued interest in my work which has been great. Of course I have friends that buy me lots of bags of chips! And I have had wonderful support from my boyfriend Paul Dowling.

How does having your own label differ from working for a large corporation?

It is two different worlds AND I absolutely love the challenge of running my own business.

What is the best perk in being a designer?

Travel, I am on a plane nearly every week at certain times and I love all the amazing creative people that you get to meet and sometimes collabarate with.

Where can the public buy your clothing items?

In Ireland they can buy at Bow Boutique, in the Powerscourt Town House, Dublin and in Brown Thomas, Second Floor, Grafton Street, Dublin till the end of October. Other stockists are on my website www.nataliebcoleman.com

What’s your favourite design of clothing you have designed?

An amazing wedding dress with beautiful Carrickmacross lace and ostrich feathers as a show piece for next season.

What is a typical day in the life of Natalie B Coleman?

Lots of emailing and catching up on invoices, right now I am just back from Paris from showing S/S 2012 and then last night I went to Dublin to support Plan.ie charity, ‘ Because I am a girl’ by customising a Tshirt for auction. Basically every day is different but right now I am concentrating on my new A/W 13

What’s the most insulting thing anyone has said to you about your work?

Someone body wrote that my collection called, All The Jewellery I Never Got’ would not do down well in recession Ireland! But I think they just didn’t get that it is tongue and cheek humour, I am not actually a diamond dealer!!

But in general you can’t expect everyone to have the same taste nor would you want everyone to like it.

Who would we know who is famous, has paid you the biggest compliment about your work and what did they say?

Lots of people have been very kind with their compliments, I don’t really feel too good about boasting, its mid week and too early for a drink!

What are your favourite types of clothes & colours you like to wear yourself?

It depends on my mood, I think there all different people inside of us, we can all change our look to suit our moods, though I do love luxurious fabrics and I really appreciate the feel of silk against your skin and I love excellent finishings.

Are there other designers out there whose designs you admire, explain?

I love Marc Jacobs for his humour and modernity, I love Riccardo Tisci who designs for Givenchy for his romantic gothic edge and Chanel and Vionnet for breaking barriers for women.

If you had the opportunity to design a piece of clothing for anyone in the world today, who would you choose and what would you design for them, style and colours?

I love Iris Apfel for her amazing style so I would be honoured to dress her, I would also love to dress Bjork and I would put her in my lace and knit wedding dress with Ostrich feathered veil head piece that I am working on at the moment.

So what can we expect to see from Natalie B Coleman for the future?

Expansion of the label, really excited that I am branching out in the US and next year I am looking forward to showcasing my work in a cat walk show. Also very excited about my book called, ‘An Archive, that myself and Paul Bailey a designer friend produced together, it showcases my work previous to setting up my label and it has been nominated for The British Book Design and Production Awards 2011.

In your opinion, what does it take to become a good designer?

I think that it is in you or not!