We caught up with Manchester based illustrator and designer, Lisa Stannard to hear about her influences, favourite designers, her thoughts on the fashion fashion scene Manchester and her own personal style.

How did you get into the illustration?

I studied Fashion at Manchester Metropolitan University, within my first year there I realized I had a passion for the fashion illustration side more than the garment making. I decided to transfer to the Textiles course at MMU where a large portion of my tuition was dedicated to developing drawing skills for print design and for creative idea generation and colour. My specialism was designing printed textiles, but by the end my illustrations and artwork were as much part of my exhibition as my printed textiles were. They went hand in hand, and they still do! So now I am an illustrator/textile designer/fashion designer/

Do you think there is a clear difference in fashion in Manchester compared to elsewhere in Britain, for example London?

I pay most attention to people with really individual dressing styles who you can see are expressing their creativity or personality through a style, these people could be from anywhere, Manchester or London. That being said, you do see more people with the confidence to do this in London. But the whole Manchester/London comparison annoys me.

What do you think people associate with fashion in Manchester?

These days I think  that it is really unclear, a few years ago I would have said people associate really urban fashion styles with Manchester, but now there are too many different styles and trends going on as well as different people around. Obviously before this I would mostly say that people would associate the type of music coming out of Manchester with fashion. I doubt I need to remind people of these trends, but styles influenced by The Happy Mondays, The Stone Roses and the Smiths and then of course Oasis influencing a lot of street wear and the smart/scally look.

Describe your style in 5 words

COLOURFUL!!
Ever-changing
Bright
Fun
Pattern-tastic

Who is your style icon and why?

Too hard! Chloe Sevigny, because she is massive. Anyone who's fun and quirky personality is portrayed through their style.

What trends will you be following this summer?

Ahhhh I love summer fashion!! There is so much good stuff around too! I will mostly be mixing and matching loads of different and amazing prints. I just like to wear dresses, or little jumpsuits with cute pumps of brogues. I think I will be wearing a lot of my own print designs too!

Which shop could you not live without?

Just charity shops. I always find something and it's always really different. Failing that, probably just Topshop as everything is under one roof! If you are stuck for something to wear last minute you can go and buy your complete outfit from there, including accessories and shoes! And it's affordable for a new designer like me!

What is your favourite item of clothing you own?

At this moment in time it is a dress by Topshop Unique, it's a really light weight silk and has a cosmic print all over it. I'd love to say I designed it myself because it is uses exactly the same fabric and print ideas that I like to.

What item of clothing would you love to own?

Anything and everything printed by Jonathan Saunders, Eley Kishimoto and Basso and Brooke.
Oh and a Hermes scarf!!!

Favourite place in the World?

H O M E !!!

Thanks so much Lisa, we hope to hear and see more of your work soon.

Interview with Clare Potts, words and images by Lisa Stannard.

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