Textile Design graduate Rianna Phillips believes ‘life is too short for boring accessories’. She understands that sustainability is an important issue within the fashion industry right now and tackles this head on by creating digitally printed fashion accessories. She works with the precise dimensions of each product so the pattern pieces can be jigsawed seamlessly together with extremely minimal wastage per roll of fabric. We were interested in know more, so thought it a good idea to ask her our SF questions!
Do you remember where you were when you decided to set up your own business?
I was working as a fashion intern and realised I didn’t like designing for another company. At uni I was always free to design along whatever brief I liked, it taught me to be really self motivated and driven. So, I quit my internship and just went for it!
What gets you out of bed everyday?
I absolutely LOVE running my business, it makes me jump right out of bed every morning. There is always something to do, orders to get out and collections to design. It’s a dream!
Tell us about your brand?
The prints I choose range from minimal to bright and bold, so there is something to suit everyone. One underlying theme of my designs is travel. Many of the prints were photographed whilst travelling around Australia, Bali, Malta, Tunisia, and also lots of places in the UK. The Kuta Palm Leaf print was photographed whilst passing through Seminyak in Bali, the XL Portfolio Size Clutch was designed to comfortably see me through a long flight to Australia, and the phone cases were introduced because I wanted a durable but fashionable case for my own phone. So it’s been a slightly selfish labour of love!
Who would your ideal “celebrity” customer be?
That’s a tricky one because my idols are all everyday girls that turned their blogs into fantastic careers. I’d love to see Amanda Shadforth (www.oraclefox.com) carry one of my clutches, or Blair Eadie (www.atlantic-pacific.blogspot.com). However, if I saw Queen B (Beyonce) carrying one of my accessories I’d probably crumble to pieces.
What tips would you give someone looking to set up their own business?
Be extremely strong and driven. Being told ‘no’ is only the first round of negotiation, so don’t give up. Do your consumer research – I teach on the fashion and textiles course at Manchester School of Art and my students are absolutely sick of hearing me say that.
If you could go back in time, would you do anything differently?
No because if I did anything different back then, I wouldn’t be where I am now. No wait hang on, I would buy more shoes, many many more shoes! Given the chance I’d do university all over again, at the time I didn’t appreciate how much fun it was and how lucky I was to have free reign over my projects.
How do you unwind outside of work?
Travel, random and fun days out with the family and a stop to get ice cream is always a demand of mine. There is always something going on in Manchester; exhibitions, cocktails, fashion shows, me and my fashion friends are always kept busy!
With a further insight into Rianna Phillips history and the story behind the brand, it isn’t hard to understand why her products are so loved, seen as the person who makes them is in love with what she does every day. Now that’s a lifestyle we should all be striving to achieve ourselves!
