Studio visit with Charlotte Linton

In a recent trip over to the East End we were lucky enough to visit Charlotte Linton's studio and ask her a few questions.... September 2011 Charlotte Linton, Dalston E8 Your favourite piece from Charlotte Linton AW11 collection? I love the Cape scarf, and I?m looking forward to wearing mine and bringing a bit of life and colour into the gloomy winter. Your inspiration for the collection? Each collection follows the travels of my fictional muse, ?Ermantrude.? She is a travelling zoologist from the earlier part of the 20th century and has a passion for nature, anthropology and culture. AW11 was influenced by Tibet and the Himalaya?s, therefore featuring the wonderful wild sheep and goats which can still be found across the mountain range, Buddhist painting and artefacts, and scrapbook images taken from my blog. The bestselling piece from the collection? The Caprinae scarf seems to be very popular which I?m very happy about. I wanted to create something really soft and beautiful to reflect the regal and majestic nature of the creatures illustrated. I think people often forget about these animals in favour of more exotic species. However, these wild goats and sheep are incredibly endangered due to over hunting and habitat loss and should be celebrated. At what point did you realise you wanted to be a fashion designer? When I was a child I either wanted to be an Archaeologist or a fashion designer. I ended up being lured by fashion but I think I am now trying to bridge the two and I am still just as thrilled to go to a museum, as I am a fashion show. Design by hand or on the computer? Favourite drawing tool? I use a combination of both; all my artwork is first drawn or painted by hand and then developed on my Mac. My favourite tools would be my box of Faber-Castell Polychromes. Can you define your design identity? The Charlotte Linton brand aims to be eclectic, vibrant and humorous. The prints are illustrative with engrained narrative - to be able to transport the wearer from everyday life to a faraway land. What do you love most about your studio/ workspace? My desk with my scanner and iMac. Cut flowers or pot plants? Window boxes - with Pansies in the spring and Geraniums in the summer. I buy them from Columbia road or the local garden centre. Favourite time of day? Night owl or early riser? Early evening when I can go out and run. Favourite local shop & cafe for cake? Although it?s not local I am a massive fan of Ottolenghi and will happily trek there for a brownie and Cappuccino. Favourite soap? Handmade Neem soap from Neal?s Yard. Fizzy or still drinks? San Pellegrino Fizzys. Current bag in use? Artists Space denim book bag. Dream getaway? The spiney forests of Madagascar to see the verreaux's sifaka Lemurs in action. Current music, book/magazine, film? I have been listening to some Indonesian Gamelan music, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldPMifPbngc Reading the National Geographic, and have finally got round to watching Twin Peaks. Spring/Summer 2012 ? Sneak peek (concept/fabric cutting/drawing/mood board)? For SS12 Ermantrude is on an expedition to Java.