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SCOTTISH accessories brand Quincy Designs creates scarves and clutch bags inspired by travel.
The brand was founded by Coleen Stevenson, a fashion design graduate of Heriot Watt University from Bonnyrigg, Midlothian.
Stevenson’s lecturers encouraged her to explore the fashion industry in London and when she was a student she secured an internship with the late Richard Nicoll.
Developing a lust for London life, she originally made plans to return to the city after graduating, but when the time came, Stevenson had a change of heart.
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She explains: “After I graduated I became disillusioned with the industry down south and, having seen the creative industries in Scotland grow, I found there were actually just as good if not better opportunities here. It’s quite an exciting place to be right now.”
So Stevenson decided to remain in Scotland where she launched her Quincy Designs from her living room in Edinburgh.
She began production with a design from her graduate collection, The Original Boston print. Her products were initially stocked in The Scottish Design Exchange, after which she established her website and things really took off.
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Travel acts as Stevenson’s primary inspiration. She says: “My fiancé and I like to travel and he always takes beautiful photographs and really captures the colours and feel of the cities we visit. That always inspires my prints.
“I like to share stories of our travels through the print design.”
Travel has remained her inspiration from day one. The original Quincy print was developed from a photograph taken from a taxi cab in Boston.
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Stevenson’s latest collection, The City, was inspired by various images taken on her travels to New York, Boston, Prague and Barcelona. Each scarf has been named after the city in which each image was taken.
Every aspect of the collection’s manufacturing was completed in Scotland. Designs were digitally printed in Leith and hand finished by local micro manufacturers.
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Stevenson carefully selected printers and manufacturers who shared her passion for ethical practices and sustainable fashion.
Colour plays a large part in the aesthetic of the collection. She exaggerated colours through manipulating images into striped designs which worked to enhance the palette.
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Individual colour combinations further act as a homage to each of the places Stevenson has visited. However, her bold use of palette goes beyond distinguishing cities.
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She explains: “I always wear pretty simple clothes – black, white or grey – so my scarves are an ideal way to help me add pops of colour and make an outfit more exciting and vibrant in a subtle way.”
Empowering women through the use of design is an aspect which has remained close to the heart of the brand, and has a huge influence on where she envisions the brand going in the near future.
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She says: “I want to share my travel stories with other women and make them feel confident and alive. My goal for the immediate future is to have strong inspirational women wearing my designs. Nicola Sturgeon is top of the list.”
www.quincydesigns.net
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