HEKSIE
trousers: HEKSIE
chainmail jewellery: Djezairli
leather cuff and rings: MA leather
eartings: AUMORFIA
ear cuff: RANNKA
Photo, styling & make-up: Sylvia Lajbig
It's nice to have some avantgarde, crazy clothes to stand out in the crowd. But we all need some good quality "basics", like classic cut black trousers. I found mine at HEKSIE - a young designer from London. They were custom made and they fit perfectly. And they're super comfortable.
It's great to have something hand made by someone you know (even if only through social media). It's way better (and not as expensive as you think) to own something made for you than just another piece of mass production. It doesn't matter if we're talking about chain stores or famous designers/brands - you never know who really designed the clothes and made them.
So next time you look for a new pair of trousers, a shirt or a dress - look around, search the instagram or etsy and buy something from a person who is actually making clothes and not just making money with the clothes.
It's great to have something hand made by someone you know (even if only through social media). It's way better (and not as expensive as you think) to own something made for you than just another piece of mass production. It doesn't matter if we're talking about chain stores or famous designers/brands - you never know who really designed the clothes and made them.
So next time you look for a new pair of trousers, a shirt or a dress - look around, search the instagram or etsy and buy something from a person who is actually making clothes and not just making money with the clothes.
About HEKSIE...
I do all my making in my little garden studio adjacent to my canalboat home on the River Lea on the outskirts of London. Our community is currently off grid and the majority of our electricity is solar/wind generated.
Each of my garments is slow made using carefully sourced textiles and the best quality notions that I can find. I favour fabric made from natural fibres and mother of pearl, wooden and metal buttons. Pairing minimal silhouettes with playful details and fanciful twists, I gravitate towards dark and neutral colours and traditional methods of making.
I was first attracted to bespoke tailoring a number of years ago because I wanted to find work that I could do on my boat in times of limited electricity. I loved the idea of sitting next to the wood burning stove in the depths of winter with a pile of finishing in my lap. I enrolled in a specialist tailoring program at an east London college, and then briefly went on to Savile Row to learn trouser making. As I whiled away the hours stitching by hand in the basement workroom, I daydreamed of all the things I wanted to make and wear. I felt restricted by tradition but was absorbed by the methodology of the craft, and the functionality and longevity of the garments being created.
My aim is to strike a balance between traditional and modern methods of making, to incorporate elements of my training into the creation of expressive and durable clothing that can be worn every day.
I am inspired by the characters I meet on the rivers and canals of Greater London, neighbours and friends who are making a living out of what they make with their own two hands, subculture, film, literature, travel to complicated places and spending time in nature.