| Francesca Marotta
see pictures of Francesca's recent catwalk show of her sexy, funky couture at the Cobden Club...
Francesca Marotta is a young designer from Notting Hill. She recently came second in the "Neuvieme Concours Jeunes Createurs", international fashion awards which was held in Lille, France.
She was born in Sicily in 1973, and says her roots play a great part in the way she creates her collections. She moved to Belgium when she was five and decided to leave her family and moved to London at nearly eighteen in 1991.
She has studied at the London College of Fashion, part of The London Institute & ADAR. Since, she has worked for several companies and has had few fashion shows of her own and built a small clientele list.
Describe your work and how you arrive at this stage of your career?
Being Italian I have always been interested in fashion, I think it's a medical condition in our genes! I started sewing by the time I was 10 and then when I was in my secondary school, I attended an evening course in sewing and pattern cutting. At the age of 17, I moved to London to start my higher education at the London College of Fashion. While at college I designed a t-shirt for Lee Cooper and Help a London Child Charity. After finishing my course, about a year later I landed a job as a PA fashion designer for Souled Out and thanks to them, I had the opportunity to create a promotional dress for the washing powder Down to Earth and a fashion show in Osaka, Japan. Before that, I had a fashion show in Belgium too. The problem is when you work in an artistic environment you tend to drift from job to job, especially if you want to set up your own company.I worked for a couple of young designers helping them with the pattern cutting, the sewing etc.. In December 2001, I submitted a project for a fashion award in France and ended up in the final. The final show was held in Lille last March and I was extremely pleased to win the Second Prize of the Jury. Right now I have submitted another two projects for two fashion awards, one in Japan called the Onward Award (organised by the company that funds Gautier, Karan, etc fashion shows and one in Italy called the Mittlemoda Award which is an extremely important award for Europe. Being out of College is really hard to find investors so taking part in competitions is a good way to promote your talent. I have been unemployed for quite a while now so I do hope this will give me a break-through. My aims in life are to be able to open a little Boutique and set up my own Couture House. I just have to work hard and see what the future holds for me. I can describe my work as being Avant-Gardiste and all the clothes that I designed are exclusively one-off pieces. I design mainly for women but I do create for men and children.
What is your favourite shopping area and why?
I have to admit that Portobello Road is my favourite, it's just round the corner from my flat and I just love the atmosphere, especially when the sun decides to show. Another area that I absolutely love but it is in Paris it's the area called Le Marais, there is the great Interiors Boutique that sells all vintage stuff and it's fabulous, it's nice to stroll in Paris, there is a touch to it that London doesn't have.
Where do you find your inspiration?
I find my inspiration is basically anything and everything, it can be music, a photo, a visit at a museum, my sons, people anywhere (I observe a lot!), what they wear, their hairstyles etc. Food is a great inspiration too, the way food is presented to you in a restaurant can become a piece of art.
How do you define style?
Style for me is when there is an "aura" coming out of somebody, it's nothing to do with beauty or what they wear, you know you can wear the best clothes in the world with the best make-up and hairdo but still you ain't got it, it's difficult to explain it, it's the vibe that comes out of you. Style is on how you carry yourself too, your clothes and you are one. Some people don't suit what they wear, they don't look right, it's just not them! Style commonly means a trend and that's where we all got it wrong.
If time and money was no object, what would your perfect day in London be like?
I would like to wake up as late as my sons would allow me. Then a chauffeur would of course be outside my door, taking us to wherever my sons want. They will be the ones deciding, as long as they are enjoying themselves I know my day will be fun. For me though, the perfect day would be to buy all the shoes and handbags that my flat can store (I am a show and handbag addict) and buy the most of the Bulgary jewellery collections. And order a ring from my friend Adrian who is a jewellery designer. Tell us about a real London fashion gem, for example a great but little known designer or street. My friend Adrian who is a fantastic jewellery designer and diamond-setter. The ring he designs are rings you could die for but you truly could kill for. The way he uses diamonds.his work is just amazing.
If you could pick one garment to wear every day, all season, what would it be?
It will have to be a black leather jacket. I bought one a few years ago and it basically never leaves me it's either on my shoulder or wrapped around my waist and it looks good worn casually with denim and trainers or more sophisticated for the evening.
Is there a particular style that makes you wince in pain?
Those boot-leg trousers and denims, Woodstock is long far gone..the 70s fashion has much more to offer to us if we want to do a revival but not those trousers. I just can't stand them! Who is/are your icon(s)? Italian actresses from the great times of Cinecitta like Gina Lollobrigida, Sophia Loren, Anna Magnani.
For what issue would you sacrifice your sense of style?
For my sons. I have twins (nearly two years old) and I have lost my style for them (well for the moment anyway!)
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