Charlotte Taylor has turned a dream into a reality. Leaving her 9-5 to set up her own fashion label. Working non stop from start to finish, Charlotte is documenting every step through her blog… Now young talent really do have a working source to look up to.

Monday Morning:
Firstly congratulations on the label. The first collection is almost complete…how does it feel??

Charlotte Taylor
Scary!! It’s quite hard to put into words really. I’m so proud of it and I love it but my oh my does it annoy me sometimes. I have put so much into the collection and I can’t wait to see how people react to it. I don’t think I will know until it is all together whether it is as cohesive as I want it to be and whether it has a strong impact or not. Oh course I worry whether or not people will like it and will I sell, but you can only do what you can do; I’m not superhuman so I try to not to be too hard on myself and just enjoy it.

Monday Morning:
Your blog was such a simple yet genius idea. What made you decide to open up the blog and document the creation of Charlotte Taylor the fashion label?

Charlotte Taylor
It’s weird; a lot of people ask me this. I don’t really know why it came to me. I am not a huge Internet buff but could see that the Fashion world was rapidly going down this direction and thought I’d jump on the band-wagon. Also I guess when I was starting out I was looking for all the advice I could get and there was hardly anything honest out there. I was in the dark a lot of the time and felt that I could help others by sharing my knowledge. It was also to start the Pr ball rolling as well. Without a collection to show your options are limited. No one is interested unless you have images to show.

Monday Morning:
London Fashion week is right around the corner, you must be very busy, excited, scared?!? What’s left to do in the run up to the launch?

Charlotte Taylor
A LOT!! No matter how much you prepare, there is always more to do. It’s mainly finishing the collection, but we are shooting it for the look-book next weekend too. That then needs to get printed etc. I also have to prepare for the exhibition, which basically involves creating a pop up shop in the Freemasons’ Hall. I’m even serving tea and home-made cakes. I also have to make sure that I get the right people down to see the collection as well. It’s harder than you think.

Monday Morning:
Grabbing inspiration from ‘grannies, bird ladies, penguins and much much more’, we can’t wait to see the line. Do you have a favourite piece?

Charlotte Taylor
I love all of it so far actually. I always make sure that I design stuff that I like, it’s very easy for someone with great taste and style to design something totally hideous but have a warped view of it because they spent so much time perfecting it etc. I’m a fierce critic of myself and anything that’s not 100% gets kicked out. Saying this I think the headscarves will be a hit. I have designed a fabric print made up of little gold penguins, which I adore. I have a silk version, which will get made up into head scarves. LOVE.

Monday Morning:
What would be the hardest part of what you have gone through setting up Charlotte Taylor?

Charlotte Taylor
The risk of it I guess, but that has two sides to it. Leaving a steady job, my home and friends to go and live back with my parents on an island with no steady income and a limited social network. I guess this should have been hard but I revelled in it. I need to push myself and I was bored of the easiness of my life.
So the hardest part…hm. Trying to run a business whilst retaining a creative flair and remembering why I am actually there.

Monday Morning:
And the most fun??

Charlotte Taylor
All of it. I ADORE what I do. I love designing clothes. My studio is a really special place. I get to walk the dog on beach at lunchtime if I want. I can go fishing with my pop after work for our dinner. I am my own boss so I work when I want (this mostly does not work in my favour as I’m still going at 11pm). What will top it all though will be when I see girls in the street or at a premiere wearing one of my designs. That will be really special.

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Monday Morning:
Outside of fashion, what are you interested in?

Charlotte Taylor
My main hobbies are sports related. So on the island I’m always in the water wakeboarding and I’m learning to surf. I run a lot and have recently got into triathlons, as I’m a keen swimmer to. I also love to ski, especially with my family. When I’m in London I play netball and Hockey too. I sound like an obsessive but please bear in mind a lot of the time I do none of the above. Apart from that I like Sunday lunch with the girls or a glass of vino at the local.
I love being stupid and fancy dress is also a big part of my life.

Monday Morning:
Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

Charlotte Taylor
With the business I would like to be selling worldwide and have opened at least one stand-alone CHARLOTTE TAYLOR shop. I would like to have done a couple of collaborations with brands. Fred Perry or a similar sports brand would be great as well as potentially children’s wear and leather goods (although I hope to develop these within my own label). On a personal level I would like to own my own house. I desperately would like a campervan and an old school Mercedes SL and to be able to travel to at least 1 new country per year.

Monday Morning:
What’s the dream, what’s the main goal you are pushing towards career wise?

Charlotte Taylor
To be on a level with a brand like Marc Jacobs. That’s an empire. He’s got it spot on.

Monday Morning:
Where can we find you?

Charlotte Taylor
CHARLOTTE TAYLOR AW10 will be shown at:
FREEMASONS’ HALL
WILD STREET ENTRANCE
COVENT GARDEN
LONDON

20th-23rd February 2010
10am-7pm

Blog: www.charlotte-taylor.blogspot.com
Contact: charlotte@charlottetaylorltd.com