About me
As one half of palmer//harding I am well versed in the designer sector of the fashion industry, designing for and marketing to the luxury consumer in an international arena and appealing to the consumer and industry press globally. Through this experience, I have gained a confident knowledge of collection design and brand development; team management; local and international marketing and sales strategies; and EU manufacturing and supply chain coordination.
My day to day responsibilities include designing biannual collections of womens ready to wear (retailing from £190 - £1600), patterncutting and sample development, brand and team management, fashion show production on schedule at London Fashion Week, working with local and international suppliers and manufacturers, distributing to luxury retailers globally.
Projects
- palmer//harding aw15chaos is not total disorder, it is a multiplicity of possibilities, a thing that is birthed from the void and about that which is possible inspired largely by julia fullerton-batten’s series “in between” which captures the turbulent transformative years of adolescence; the autumn winter 15 collection explores a minor chaos through the juxtaposition of innocent silhouettes of girlhood with more severe and powerful lines of womanhood. this polarisation finds harmony through a haphazard placement of abstracted embroidery and graphic erratic stripes, empowering an esoteric tribe of women. additional inspiration Manfred Pernice, Faig Ahmed Max Colby Helmut Newton styling - Carmen Borgonovo, casting - WeCast, make up - Attracta Courtney using Bourjois Cosmetics, hair - Stephen Low at Neville for L’Oreal Professionnel, , nails - Marina Sandoval using Bourjois , lighting design- Fridthjofur Thorsteinsson, production management - Ned Lay, music design - Malcolm Pate Shown at the ICA London February 22nd 2015 palmerharding.com
- palmer//harding ss15 full showSound passes transiently through the space, reminding us how life is just a series of moments to be celebrated. The freshest buds begin to bloom, slowly stems bow under the weight of their blossom. visible effects caused by the passing of time, each phase of its transition no less beautiful than the one before. The permanence of beauty remains even as appearances alter. change is inevitable, embracing it it what keeps the beauty alive. The allure of petals unfurling, paint beginning to peel and surfaces cracking inspire fabric textures that reflect a journey through life. gossamer fabrics such as crepe de chine, chiffon, lace and devoré float throughout the collection on an aspiring breeze, while a dusting of pollen lands on the garments in the form of embroidery in alcantara and swarovski crystal. The colouration of the collection creates a bouquet of soft magnolia blush, pale cornflower blue, primrose yellow and vibrant orchid pink; highlighted with the potency of lily white. Set amongst the 17th century baroque arches of lincolns inn chapel undercroft, the palmer//harding ss15 collection finds life.
- palmer//harding ss15 menstrength//vulnerability. the contrast and the tension between these two emotions provided the design foundations for the palmer//harding ss15 menswear collection. as a starting point, the duo examined the power and humility found in vintage collegiate uniforms, exploring the juxtaposing elements of the serviceable functionality with the refinement and authority with which they were worn. reinterpreting the nostalgic, classic scholastic styling and giving it a contemporary relevance, the duo looked to their own London surroundings for inspiration and were drawn to texture. the impactful yet delicate nature of worn billboards, with torn and peeling edges that expose concealed layers of history and stories past. through these references, the duo developed functional fabrications such as foiled closures and collars that react when crushed; fragile layering with exposed and raw edges which simultaneously nod to the idea of serviceable functionality whilst referencing the dynamic yet wistful peeling and fraying of the billboards. against the tension of the fabrics, the palmer//harding exploration of strength//vulnerability is realised in their silhouettes. youthful and boyish boxier structures are interspersed with billowing, curling detailing, mirroring the elegant simplicity of posters catching in the breeze. presented in a spectrum of rich summer tones, the collection showcases various shades of black, brown, and beige, metallic orange, through to classic white, with hints of blues, turquoise and purple dispersed with print. we also see the brands first foray into printing. inspired by the torn textures of weathered urban posters; the duo have tamed the aggressive and intimidating surface to create a print that interprets the protective and robust qualities, yet embodies the fragile and yielding elements beneath. embracing these polarised qualities, palmer//harding’s new film captures the robust strength and tender grace that is required in modern masculinity. starring sam oldham, team gb olympic gymnast, and shot by cecilie harris of boys by girls, the film portrays the athlete’s agility and power in motion, embracing both the subtleties and sweeping actions required to achieve such skill. video - Cecilie Harris athlete - Sam Oldham model - Oliver Jones at Premier Model Management hair - Cristian Pignatta at Neville using L’Oreal Professionnel makeup - Maria Papadopoulou using MAC cosmetics photography assistant - Cat Wilding and Rosie Williams styling assistant - Naomi Golding music - Actress “Birdcage” with thanks to: Lucy Austin Simon Nash at Premier Model Management Sam Graham at Mission Sports Management James Smith at Loughborough Sports Ruth Stevens at Jockey Catherine McMahone at L’Oreal Professionnel Naomi Golding Tanya Narula
- palmer//harding AW14 womenTo put pen to paper allows the crowded mind to give birth to thought. With its flat planes and linear form, the modest elegance of paper serves as a cleanser to the mind; a beautiful canvas with which you can re-imagine the world. The visual and tactile elements of paper are beautiful in their simplicity, but unique and powerful with the versatility they possess. When new, the clean, bare space on the page is inviting; an exciting, intriguing void that challenges as well as inspires. When held, its subtle curves reveal its quiet and tender elegance, but torn or shredded, it suddenly becomes a dynamic life force, creating rich textures that allow expressive, vibrant shapes and movement. Through experimentation, palmer harding created fabric textures that mirror the life of paper. To recreate flat and smooth finishes, a multitude of different surface treatments were applied. In contrast, to emulate layers of intense shredding and richer textures, technical jerseys and patent leathers were teamed with U.S. cottons and wool to reflect the different tactile and visual qualities. The hues and tones within the collection are represented by shades of “paper” white and highlighter yellow, accented with charcoal and rust, referencing the tools used in the creative process of design. Presented in an abstracted environment designed by Malcolm Pate and complemented with the scent of “paperback” books by Demeter Fragrance Library, in this clean yet disheveled atmosphere the collection finds its home
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Projects credited in
Work history
Founder & Designer
palmer//harding received NewGen sponsorship (from Topshop and The British Fashion Council) in London for the first 4 seasons. We were nominated for the 2011 ANDAM award in Paris and were chosen by Vogue Italia to be a part of Vogue Italia’s Talent corner in Milan during AW13 fashion week where we were presented to an extremely high calibre of international press and buyers.
palmer//harding feature regularly in international consumer and industry press including Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Elle, Marie Claire, The Independent, the Wall Street Journal, WWD and Business of Fashion amongst others. palmer//harding stockist include reputable luxury boutiques and department stores globally, such as iconic retailers; Dover Street Market (London), Ikram (Chicago), Louis Boston (Boston), Curve ( LA and NYC) The Room at Hudson Bay (Toronto) Isetan (Tokyo) Boon the Shop and Space Mue (Seoul).
Skills
- Apparel
- Clothing Alteration
- Design
- Product Development
- Styling
- Wardrobe
- Fashion Illustration
- Mood Boards
- Trend Analysis
- Trend
- Dresses