A conversation with David Ellwand, the creator of
Q.Your designs take their inspiration from the natural world. What elements of nature do you find most inspiring?
A.Thewholeofthenaturalworldinspiresme,butnothingquiteasmuchastheraincyclefromthecloudstothegroundandbackupagain.Afewotherthings:shootingstars,insectwingsthroughamicroscope,thesmellofbuddleia,crackingopenastoneandfindingafossil,theflamesofafire,thewayawaterfallerodesthestoneitfallsover,standingonapebblebeachinastormandbeingdeafenedbythecrashingwavesandthemagicalnoiseofthestonesrollingbackandforth,orstandingunderasweetchestnuttreeinaheavystormlisteningtotheraindropsfallingthroughthetreecanopy.Thenaturalworldisfullofinspiration,andmostofitscomplexityisbeyondmycomprehension.
Q. Previously, you created couture fairy fashions in Fairie-ality. What was similar or different about creating the designs for Fairie-alityStyle?
A.Aswiththefirstbook,ImadethingsupasIwentalong,withoutanyplan.Ialwaysworkthisway.Thenewbookdoescontainsomemin-iaturefashion,butatamorecomplexlevel.Forexample,afewyearsafterthefirstcollectionwasmade,IopenedaboxofpetalsandfeathersIhadstoredaway.Thecontentsoftheboxhadfadedtosubtlehues,andIusedthemtocreateadressIhaveincludedinFairie-ality Stylecalled“vin-tage.”IlikethisdressmorethananyIhaveevermade.Likewine,thepetalshadmaturedtoagreaterbeauty.
Themainthemeforthenewbookiscolor,andinparticularthewaycolorsexistandinter-actwithoneanotherinnature.Thenewbookincludesalotofmypersonalphotographytakenoverthepastsixorsevenyears—imageslikethejackdaw,skylark,andTuscantoad.Idecidedtoexaminethecolorwithintheseimages:theyellowofaskylark’sbeak,forexample,ortheblueofajackdaw’seyeandtheorangeofatoad’swart.
PB IS
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• $1
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• Al
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A Sourcebook of Inspirations from Nature
Fairie-ality The Fashion Collection from the House of Ellwand
ThefirstenchantingglimpseintotheworldofFairie-ality.
“�If�only�the�coats�and�dresses�created�for��Fairie-ality�were�life-size.”�—�Elle
HC ISBN: 978-0-7636-1413-3 / $40.00 ($49.00 CAN) PB ISBN: 978-0-7636-3262-5 / $19.99 ($26.00 CAN)
Thenewbookismoreseriousandlesswhim-sicalthanthefirst,andIhopefansoftheoriginalFairie-alitywillappreciatethat.Ialwaysliketotrysomethingabitdifferent.Abookwithhardlyanywordsandnopagenumbersorindexiscertainlydifferent!Ifyouwanttorememberapage,folddownacorneroruseapaperbookmark.Ireallyhopethatinafewyearstherewillbelotsoftatty,well-thumbedcopiesaroundthatpeoplehaveputtogooduse.Idescribethebookintheintroduc-tionasaprintedfollythatpeoplecanuseasapointofreferenceandhopefullyatypeofvisualmeditation.
Q.Your designs for fairies are all organic — the ultimate in eco-friendly chic. What are your thoughts on “going green” in the human world?
A.Leavespaceinyourgardenfornature—anettlepatchforthebutterfliesorafewoldrottinglogsforbeetlestomunchon.Findafewacornsorchestnuts—infactanytreeseed—andplanttheminapot.Whentheyhavegrownalittle,transplantontoanyavailableland.Themoretreeswecanhave,thebetter.Afterall,theyarethelungsoftheearth.
Q.What does your own home look like? Have you incorporated any organic colors or elements into it? Did the process of creating Fairie-alityStyle inspire you to make changes in your home?
A.Alongwithmywifeanddaughter,Iamcur-rentlyrestoringanewhome.WeplantopaintallthewallsintheFairie-ality Stylecolors.Iamalsothinkingaboutcoveringanentirewallwithpressedflowerpetals,thencoveringitwithwater-basedvarnish.Ihopethatovertimeitwillfadetoabeautifulneutraltone,andIcanponderwherethecolorhasgone.
Also by DAviD EllwAnD
www.fairie-ality.com
