2)      How, why and when did you invent your unique style?

It’s an honour to have my work classed as "unique" thank you! After leaving my 9-month art school stint at 19, I attempted to find my footing by trying my hand at several different creative ventures, selling paintings, making hair falls, making hats. Non of which brought in enough money to pay the bills, so I had to back down, be a good little citizen and "get a real job". But after my seventh lame 9-5 office job, I realised where I’d needed to be all along. I quit everything and launched SteampunkCouture.com. The style was something I’d been working in and around for years. There was no specific moment that it was invented. I dug out all my sketch books and realised that the fashion illustration generally stuck to the same style throughout.

3)      How would you describe your style yourself?

I’d say my style is wearable steampunk. It’s day-to-day post apocalyptic, neo-Victoriana that you can wear to a club or to the supermarket without ever feeling uncomfortable.

4)      Where do you take your inspiration from?

It’s difficult to say. I think I subconsciously pull inspiration from things around me constantly. Though I find that artwork inspires my designs the most. Character and concept art for video games and sci fi movies always leave me bursting with ideas. But I also dream up a lot of my designs too! I keep a note pad and pencil by my bed so that I can blindly scribble out ideas at 2am after they’ve come to me in a dream.

5)      What materials do you use?

I work with a lot of stretch knits and comfortable, elasticated fabrics for the clothing. Very rarely do I make clothes out of stiff and lavish fabrics that you’d only wear once or twice at an event or cosplaying. I currently don’t use any real leather, but at first this was due to not being able to afford it. Then all my customers began requesting that I make accessories for them in faux leather as opposed to real so it worked out fine! I use a lot of beads, pearls and brass buckles. I stain lace with  tea and I’ve just started casting my own buttons from a mould I had a friend make for me (because I couldn’t find any big enough) I love huge buttons!

6)      Is SteampunkCouture more like an accessory or a fashion label?

SteampunkCouture is a fashion label. This can encompass accessories and I also sell prints of my fashion illustrations under the label as well.

7)      Is there a certain target group SteampunkCouture wants to reach or are the customers quite different?

Other than being predominantly female (as I am yet to extend my male range) my customers have ranged from tribal dancers to house wives to Hollywood clubbers. I aim to reach people who want to be able to dress Steampunk every day, but comfortably and with confidence that they’re not going to look too over-the-top. Of course, I design outfits for those who do wish to stand out from the crowd too. Since I launched SPC eleven months ago, I’ve made custom clothing for 358 people, over half of which were northern European with SPC’s strongest following being in Germany and Finland.  I think this is due to the fact that the dollar is still weak in comparison to the Euro, so my custom clothing prices become really affordable for my fellow Europeans.

8)      Do you have any connection to the fantasy/ comic scene yourself? I mean, "Steampunk" is a sub category in sci-fi, isn't it? Please explain as well, what exactly "Steampunk" is...

I am an avid fan of the fantasy and comic scene, but have less and less time to actively participate. Yes, Steampunk derived from sci fi literature. The term and style really hitting the scene in the late 80s with a heavy emphasis on aesthetics over music, literature and art. To me, Steampunk is a fascination with Victorian steam era gadgetry, machinery and fashion combined with the day dream of what the world would be, had the steam technology of the 1900s continued into the present day.

A shiny brass mess of flying machines, oily hands and bustles!

9)      Are you working as an illustrator as well? Or are you just using this skill to make drafts for SteampunkCouture?

I regularly receive commissions for Steampunk alter ego portraits, character designs and Steampunk novel illustration. I’ve worked as an illustrator and painter in other styles, but I’m happier keeping the style under the steampunk parasol.

10)  You are modeling, too. Which were your favorite projects so far?

I’m not actively pursuing modelling as a career but oddly, the jobs still come in. I’ve worked with some fantastic photographers and models but it’s the true professional business-minded that I enjoy working with the most. People like kaRIN from the band Collide. She has her own label called Saints and Sinners which I modelled for recently. I do a lot of remote modelling whereby the company or designer will send me clothing or jewellery along with a big fat check. I then organize the photographer and photo shoot and return the stock along with fully-edited photos. I take pride in my professionalism and 48 hour turn-around from the receival of the stock to the mailing back of some lovely photos. I think that has something to do with why I receive so many modelling gigs. That makes me sound a little big-headed, but I’ve dealt with too many unprofessionals with remote modelling for SteampunkCouture. Models and photographers that will take up to six months to return photos or completely bail on the project. This just pushes me to being as professional as possible when it comes to modelling.

11)  Do you have something special in mind that you want to do/ achieve in the near future?

Well, I’m in two minds about that at the moment. One thing for sure is that, in less than a year since it’s launch,  SPC is now too big for me to carry by myself. The rate that new commissions come in leave me with little to no time for creating new designs. So I have two options. I expand SPC into a larger label and employ people to assist in the production side. Or I take a risk in halting my custom work and selling slightly more expensive one-off couture in the hope that whatever I put up for sale will sell each time. But on the other hand, fabrication has rarely been an enjoyable process for me. Having taught myself to sew last September, I still feel like I’m learning all the time. Designing is what I enjoy most and I’m considering looking for design work within other companies.

12)  What are your current projects?

I’m about to embark upon an enormous wholesale order of striped trousers. I’m about to release some steampunk clothing and accessories for 24" super dollfies and at the end of this month, I’m organizing a SteampunkCouture photo shoot with the model Ulorin Vex. I run the fan base for the musician/entertainer Dr.Steel, which is a constant and demanding current project for me, but something I really enjoy doing. I could never go back to my office job. Life is about never settling and always aiming to improve your situation while you’re here, because if you take the time to step out of your box and gain some perspective, you’ll be reminded of just how little time we have on this earth. Quit that lame job and follow your passions!