FashionAfrica: Tell us a bit about Anita Quansah

Anita Quansah: Anita Quansah is British African designer, a textile design graduate from Chelsea College of arts and design London, who creates luxury intricate embellishments for fashion, interior and jewellery using vintage and recycled materials. My designs have been exhibited at private exhibitions and widely recognized by discerning women seeking something distinctively luxurious, and used in editorials such as British and German vogue, Muse, German Tush and Vision Magazine. April 2010 issue of British Vogue referred to one of Anita Quansah London neckpieces as “Best Buys”

FA: Why Fashion Design and when did you decide to go into it?

AQ:I love fashion and all things beautiful. I guess this passion for design and creativity stems from my early childhood, watching grandmother a seamstress teaching and making the most beautiful clothes from very interesting and embroidered textiles. Her Passion for creativity, her energy and her determination is what drove me to start experimenting at a very young age. I guess also being brought up around women and watching their different styles evolve also had an impact on me.

Also after years of selling my Luxury handmade couture fabrics to renowned fashion designers, I wanted to create a fashion line that people could not only learn about the intricate techniques used and see the true value of it, but also fall in love and own a piece of a true wearable art. Then in 2004 Anita Quansah London the fashion line was launched. Since then, the line has proven very successful, sold out in the Laden Showroom London which was the first ever boutique that stocked the line, then from then, I went on to sell on Asos online which too was very successful And now I am designing a range of neckpieces to accompany the fashion line.

FA: Beautiful designs Anita, I must say that the geometrics and structure in your designs are what attracted me to your work. How have you managed to combine these in your designs effectively?

AQ: Thanks for the lovely compliments. Geometrics and structure plays a vital role in my designs, from the textile design to fashion and to jewellery. I try to introduce different design elements when am creating, this makes each piece exciting and new each time. For instance the Jewelleries are bold yet structured and beautiful, created with the finest vintage materials, mixed with modern findings. I have pieces created using recycled African prints fused with vintage materials from 1940’s, shells, beads, pearls, gold and silver plated mixed metals, and Swarovski crystals.

FA: You’re involved in fashion design as well as interior design, how do u manage to balance both?

AQ: The two aspect of my design work side to side. The design process is the same, from the physical craftsmanship to the end product.

FA: We are aware of your interest in promoting ‘recycled textile’, How well are you doing on that?

AQ: It’s going remarkably well. Recycling has always been my passion. I try to encourage others too. There is a lot we can achieve by recycling. Many designers are now resorting to this mode of working. It is easier to work with, Firstly I am doing my bit to saving the planet by not wasting but conserving and re-using. You will be amazed how much material and fabrics are discarded each time. These pieces are then collected by me from trawling charity shops, vintage stores, some donated, then transformed   into unimaginable luxury statement pieces which are truly one of a kind.

FA: As with hand-designing your fabrics, how efficient is this? (I’d assume it’d take longer?)

AQ: Because my pieces are not commercial and they are one off pieces it takes time to create. Each piece within the collection whether it’s fashion, interior or jewellery is designed and handmade solely by me in my studio. Some pieces can take a few days, some hours, and some weeks. For the interior and fashion pieces, each piece is individually hand embellished free hand using reclaimed and vintage fabrics to add texture in a similar way that painters add colour by painting onto a canvas. By using a variety of techniques such as appliqué, and fabric manipulation and embroidery

For me Luxury is time, so products that take time to create should be appreciated. The physical craftsmanship hours, fine fabrics and years of knowledge involved in creating all my pieces is a luxury that I personally honour and hope others will as well.

FA: Any notable fashion designers you have worked with in the past? present?

AQ: In the past I have sold numerous textile pieces to notable fashion design houses such as Christian Lacroix, DKNY, Diane Von Furstenberg, and Ishiko. In 2004 I collaborated with my all time favourite designer Christian Lacroix for his 2004 spring/summer haute couture collection, embellishing a tailored piece with my intricate textile techniques which featured on the runway. I was also commissioned to work on a piece for a client.

I’m constantly on a look out for future collaborations with renowned and up and coming fashion designers.

FA: What would you say gives you the most inspiration?

AQ: I draw inspiration from Culture/travel, Nature, Art, Fashion present and past, music of past and present generation. Most of the time culture and nature has had a huge impact in my design. For nature inspired design I look to great artist such as Monet, Gustav Klimt and Robert John Thornton as well as the ever changing beauty that surrounds nature the tone, patterns, placement and proportion.

FA: Are you currently the only stockist of your brand or are there other avenues where your brand can be purchased?

AQ: Private commissioned work can be made through me, through my website. Stockists includes www.notjustalabel.com, My Sugarland boutique London, online www.mysugarland.co.uk and www.shrimptoncouture.com

FA: As an African designer, What would you say makes your designs outstanding?

AQ: My designs are rare, luxurious, exciting, breathtaking and most importantly individual. Because it is a contemporary design label, which focuses on superior craftsmanship, this makes it different from the rest.

FA: Intentions to expand your stock market to Africa?

AQ: Oh yes. I would love to expand to Africa, I believe we have rich sense of style, which sets us aside from the rest of the world, and Anita Quansah London Jewellery will be perfect for those couture designs created using our African materials.  Look out for Anita Quansah couture craftsmanship on Ankara.

FA: Where do you see ‘Anita Quansah’ in 5-7years?

AQ: Normally I like to take each day as it comes, but in 5-7 years time, I hope to have made the brand more successful, and a house hold name, Have designs both fashion, interior and jewellery stocked in African Boutiques, and big department stores worldwide. But most importantly, to maintain the value of my craftsmanship and keep my creative spirit alive

FA: Thanks and Good luck with everything

 

 

- Romola Sadiq