The up-and-coming fashion label Honor Gold has already made the right impression in the fashion industry. Drawing on style icons such as Vivienne Westwood and Chanel, this unique and original brand is definitely one to look out for. Without any formal design background Honor Gold creator Jade Jessop has already made waves in the industry, having been selected from 138 designers to present a collection at New York Fashion Week and has a range available on the biggest fashion e-tailor ASOS.com. Flavour caught up with the Midlands art painter-turned-designer talks, and we asked Jade about the importance of fashion, who she’d like to dress and her new pole-dancing hobby. Well, she should brought that one up on her own.
How did you get into fashion design in the first place?
I’ve always made my own dresses as I wanted to be unique and original. Girls were always asking me where they could buy my outfits!
What is your personal style like?
I like trying out new looks so it can be very girly to demure. I also like to wear dresses that stand out so there is always a lot of colour.
Who is your favourite designer?
Vivienne Westwood is a true style icon of our times. She doesn’t care about what anyone thinks and has been the one to start trends
Which celebrity would you most like to wear one of your designs?
Cheryl Cole. I could see her in our asymmetrical dress and Rhianna always looks great – I’d love to see her wearing one of our designs.
Flavour has two amazing dresses from Honor Gold to give away to two lucky readers.
To be in with a chance of winning, text honorgold + your name to 87474.
Floaty Dress
This floaty dress looks great worn with a waist-clinching belt, which pulls all the material in and gives you a gorgeous silhouette. It will make your waist look more defined and give the dress a new shape. PRICE: £50
Note: dress does not come with the belt pictured. The Gold Leaf belt can be purchased separately from Honor Gold.
The Lace Backless Dress
The Little Black Dress you need to have! Every girl needs a LBD in her wardrobe and this one is the perfect slinky, stylish number that’s got the classic twist of being made in lace.
Remember, girls – a black dress means you can go even wilder when you’re shopping for shoes to wear with them! PRICE: £65
Did you go to fashion school or train as an apprentice?
No. I’ve built up my client base via word of mouth and just been lucky enough to have a really strong loyal client base.
If you had a choice of all designers in the world, who would you prefer to work for?
Chanel, because the precision and time that goes into the work is priceless and a form of art to me. Plus Chanel always has a classic yet modern look.
What inspires your designs?
Anything and everything can inspire me from going to London and seeing people in the streets – clubs, going on holiday, watching movies…
Why did you go for ready-to-wear and not couture?
I want to create a brand that is accessible to everyone, like GUESS. That’s what I want to create with Honor Gold – a glamorous brand but it’s accessible glamour.
If you weren’t designing clothes, what would you like to be doing?
Painting. Before I become a fashion designer I used to do paintings for a gallery.
What are your favourite hobbies?
I’ve started to learn how to pole dance and it’s so much fun!
You were part of the up-and-coming designers show at New York Fashion Week, which is probably every new designer’s dream. How were you discovered for that show?
Last September ASOS were sponsoring a New York Fashion Week event for up-and-coming UK designers. Profile, the London-based exhibition for design talent in the UK ran a competition and we entered Honor Gold. ASOS buying director Caren Downie, who joined the e-tail giant from Topshop, along with ASOS head of design Sarah Wilkinson and Jenny Holloway, director of Profile, selected the designers from an entry pool of
138 designers and we were chosen. After New York, ASOS asked us to design a collection for them and then it was on the site. It all happened very quickly!
Describe your philosophy about the art of fashion.
The art of fashion is about creating something wonderful that expresses ones personality through their clothes!
What would you say you love most about fashion?
It’s always evolving and I’m happy to be part of such a creative field.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Be yourself and your designs will work.
Words by Tolu Akisanya
