From designing a crochet necklace for America?s first lady, Michelle Obama to offering  to design jewellery for Irish music legend, Imedla May simply because of her ability to cheer us all up with her positivity , leading fashion designer Yvonne Beale chats to Fashion.ie about herself and tells us about her life as a fashion designer.

Full Name

Yvonne Beale

Where were you born?

Dublin

What was your first job?

Waitress work as a student

What got you interested in fashion?

Creating & making has always been around for as long as I remember.  My Mother & my Grandmother always had needles & yarn in hand.

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

When I was a child the dress designer I knew best was my Mother, she made everything for us.

Where did you study fashion?

At home & at the Grafton Academy in Dublin.

Do you remember the first item you designed?

The vest for my Teddy Bear.

Where do you get your design inspiration?

All around me, all the time  -  on the street, on TV, in magazines.  I am constantly seeing shapes and materials that I reckon I can re-interpret with yarns & needles.

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

As a designer you always feel you can do better again & your new collection cannot but be better than the last !

How did you start designing your own collection?

For my latest collection I used fantastic leather cords worked in crochet to create statement jewellery for the neck & wrist.

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

It is very hard, particularly at the moment & I couldn’t do it without the support of my parents.  Now I want to give classes.  Budgets are very tight.

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

Complete freedom of expression.

What is the best perk in being a designer?

Doing what you truly love to do.  Constantly creating.

Where can the public buy your items?

The Design Centre in Powerscourt, 99b boutique in Rathgar, D6 or www.thedesignbasket.ie

What’s your favourite item you have designed?

My latest leather crochet collection of chunky neckpieces & bangles.

What is a typical day in the life of Yvonne Beale?

Long ....... starting at 9am and not finishing before 9pm.  With all of the office work to be covered these days it is usually in the evening I get most chance to make & design new pieces.

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

I haven’t heard it !

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

Michele Obama.  It was so wonderful to present my crochet necklace “Grace” to Michele on her visit to Ireland in 2011 and she sent me an absolutely lovely letter of thanks which I treasure.

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

I could live in my jeans & jumper.  Clothes just have to be comfortable to wear.  No frills or flounces.  Colours have to be warm though because I am so pale.

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

Calvin Klein, I love his classic clean cuts.  So elegant.

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?

Imelda May.  She is just a fantastic person to cheer you up.  I would love to design a super leather neckpiece for her.

So what can we expect to see from Yvonne Beale for the future?

More statement crochet jewellery in exciting materials.  I am now looking for suede cords.

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

Plenty of imagination, hard-work & 101% commitment.

How do people contact you?

www.byvonne.ie