With collections that have been in New York, L.A, London and Paris, Irish designer Nathalie B Coleman has certainly made a name for herself in the fashion industry. Celebrities such a Mary J Blige, Marina and the Diamonds and Mutya Buena of the Sugababes, have even personally requested some of her pieces.
The Monaghan born Irish beauty greeted me at her desk wearing a beautiful grey cocoon coat from her latest collection, which of course I instantly fell in love with! We spoke in depth throughout the interview from where her love of fashion all began, to her inspirations in her current collection and what the plans are for the future of her label.
What motivated you to get into fashion design, was it something you always wanted to do?
Yes, I had a little sewing machine when I was little, one of the small pink ones. I was just always obsessed with clothes. I loved pretty dresses. I would even hide them in my school bag ( because you were only allowed wear them at parties). I was about five or six but I always had a love for clothes and my mother always had a passion for fashion too.
After you graduated from Limerick College of fashion did you know an M.A in Central St. Martins was exactly where you wanted to go or did you have other plans?
I did the MA because I was offered it. I didn’t really want to do it. At the time I felt like I had just done it for the sake of it. I was tired and I wanted a break because I was working so hard for so many years. It felt hard trying to switch off sometimes. It was a funny kind of period in my life at that time. I don’t know why but I almost felt like I lost my love of fashion for a while. I think I just needed a break. I had just come back from working in an orphanage in Africa, so once I stopped designing I found it very hard to get back into the swing of things.
What happened when you finished your M.A?
Well after my M.A, which was two years long, I went straight to New York to work with Three Is Four. Then I came back to Monaghan and started my own label.
What made you decide that having your own label was exactly what you wanted?
I always had that feeling that I wanted to have my own label. It just felt instinctive, the right direction for me.
What was your secret in starting and preserving the label so well?
I was lucky that I got buyers quite quickly in the beginning. I was realistic about my goals, I didn’t want too much pressure on myself. Of course I had goals for each season, but it just takes baby steps.
I also do a lot of trade shows which is great. I show in Paris every season and I will be showcasing my work at Berlin Fashion Week in January, then I’ll have a presentation in New York next year too.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to becoming a fashion designer?
I would tell them to work hard. If it’s meant to be then it will work out. You should have fun and enjoy the experience and know that it is OK to fail sometimes. People put a lot of pressure on themselves sometimes and if things aren’t working out then it just means you need to take a different road or approach to something.
I see you’re working with Microsoft at the moment, what are your favourite products that are making life that little bit easier for your busy lifestyle?
Well I’ve been using two items at the moment, the Windows Nokia Lumia 1020 phone and the Surface RT. The phone has a really cool camera, it has 41 mega pixels and a Carl Zeiss lens. The Surface RT is a tablet with a keyboard attached into the case. It’s really handy because you can use your USB or hard drive which is one thing I really missed. I find it annoying that you can’t do that with an iPad.
It’s great for traveling and I’ve discovered lots of cool apps for some of my favourite fashion sites which I can even pin to the Start screen. Theres also a ‘Fashion’ app which allows me to follow the feed of all my favourite bloggers, which is really cool.
Where you do draw your inspiration for your collections and can you tell me about your current collection?
From life each collection is like a diary page for me. It reflects what has been going on in life around that time. My previous collection, Sarah Suitcase, was quite romantic and girly because it was around the time I was getting married. It was quite nostalgic, girly with butterflies. ‘I Belong To Me’, my current collection, is a little bit harder than my collections in the past.
It came from the idea of having a smashing party with my friends. I’ve always wanted to do it and I will definitely be doing it every year now. It’s when you have broken or left over delft and you just start smashing it. It was really therapeutic! From this I started to look at inspiration from Cubist art, representing things that break apart and when things fall and displace.
What piece from your new collection is perfect for women to embrace their curves?
Well I’m quite big chested myself and this is one of my favourite pieces. It’s great for big or small busts, it has both satin and spandex so it’s good for embracing your curves.
What can we expect from your collection in the future?
Well at the moment I’m working on my A/W 2014 collection which I am really excited about. I feel like the label is growing up with me so it’s going to be more grown up. I’m going to move away from print, which I’m excited about because I’m putting more emphasise on the texture of fabrics.
I’ve actually ordered the most expensive fabric I’ve EVER ordered, its a lamb skin leather. It’s been created especially for me, with gold, black and champagne stripes. It’s beautiful, the back of it is just one light champagne colour. I’m working also with a lot of beautiful lace and wool. The mood is still quite romantic.
Finally, whats on the agenda for you next?
Well I’m going to New York this week, I’m doing a runway show with the IIBN, the Irish International Business Network. The event is held on a rooftop in Manhattan and a few other Irish designers are showcasing there. I also have press meetings for the presentation I’m doing during NY Fashion week next year so it’s going to be busy!
The photos from her collection above are edited from the video of ‘I Belong To Me’. To see more of her work and the video of her new collection check it out here.
Special thanks to Edelman for the opportunity to interview Nathalie.
