Lynne Coleman
‘Everything is always informed by something else, that’s where you evolve and get new ideas ’
Ever since I was little, I wanted to be a writer. When I was 22 I worked at a radio station and a famous old Scottish DJ called Scottie McClue said to me: ‘Right you need to work in fashion.’ I never thought much of it until I was made redundant at 24. I decided to write my first book A
Girl’s Guide to Vintage which basically led me around the UK, shopping in 15 cities looking at different city styles. It kickstarted my stylist role because I went to write for The Scotsman and The Edinburgh Evening
News. To be allowed to write about fashion, I had to create the pictures to sit beside it, which led to me becoming more of an expert in textiles and design.
Next I worked with DC Dalgliesh, the world’s only artisan tartan mill, as a brand guardian. I just thought it would be a really great idea to do a Cambridge Satchel Company-style makeover with Shepherd’s Plaid, by bringing gorgeous bright primary colours into the check.
From there I got the bug and went away to write book number two, Cashmere: A Guide to Scottish
Luxury. Alongside this I came up with six key pieces with hundreds of years of design heritage in them. I decided to do them in monochromatic colours because that way trends can come and go around you.
I think we’re all creatures of habit, so even if you think you are an innovator, there is something that triggers your imagination and it’s usually come from a bygone era, whether that’s old architecture or a sixties dress.
Everything is always informed by something else and that’s where you evolve and get new ideas. The next push that I envisage is the customisation of the line. If you saw that configuration of an Argyle jumper but you want it in jungle pink and lime green, I can make that happen for you. Those shapes will stay the same but the next evolution is ‘wear it your way’.