Inspiration - it comes in all shapes and sizes!

Inspiration is an intricate, unusual phenomenon. What inspires one person may leave the other dumbfounded. But the interesting thing is that inspiration – whatever its origin – makes things happen.

If you would like to indulge us for one moment, have a listen to the following song, which singularly inspired our designer, Edith, to come up with one of our favourite wedding dress designs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoVSdZ1MXCw

You will hear that the beginning of the song is rather homogenous and structured. However, when it gets to 4.55 minutes, a very different beat comes in. At first you think something’s gone wrong, but then the new beat becomes one with the entire song, and somehow ‘fits’. 

In fact, the ‘off’ beat just serves to make the rest of the song more interesting.

Edith was inspired to put this theory to the test, and created a wedding dress design that incorporates two very different elements that unite to become one interesting and vibrant design.

Like the song, this dress is a very structured and symmetrical, made from quite a stiff fabric called duchesse. On this strong dress, a piece of soft chiffon appears – the 'off beat' element inspired by the song. This surprising component breaks the symmetry and ‘strength’ of the dress.

Theoretically the design is controversial and slightly off-kilter, but when you see it come to life the two elements complement each other beautifully - the soft chiffon adds movement to the otherwise very stiff dress, and in turn is given structure by the gown’s structured symmetry.

Another source of inspiration for Edith is this incredibly majestic and unique lamp.

This inspired Edith to create an absolutely stunning design that is eye-catchingly elegant, and intriguingly adventurous.

This dress is made of a very strong fabric called super duchesse, which gives it its bold shape. Each piece of the skirt has 'boning' in it, which is traditionally used in the bodice of a wedding dress to give it more strength. But being an experimental and innovative designer, Edith has used the boning to create a strong, lamp-like pattern.

Our final example of intriguing inspiration originates from one of Edith’s trips abroad, and really shows just how abstract the source of inspiration can be. While snorkelling in crystal blue waters, Edith chanced upon a group of shrimp. Their fascinating, layered tails sparked an idea for a unique wedding dress design.

A song, a lamp, and a group of shrimps…it’s safe to say that absolutely anything is capable of provoking inspiration. It doesn’t matter where you are or what’s in front of you – it’s all down to whether or not you can see the innate beauty in things, no matter how small or ‘ordinary’ they may be.