Pearls & Swine ~ A Sliver of Vintage, a Sprinkle of Glamour & a Pinch of Madness…

Well here we are folks, back after a few days of quiet with the first of a string of fantabulous features to make you smile, and first up in our full assault on your visual senses is Pearls and Swine. 

Now I first came across this fabulous brand of accessories about two weeks ago when I was noticed Facebook comment from artist Gabby Young, and I instantly loved what I saw, so dropped an email over to Pearls and Swine to see if they'd be interested in featuring on Love My Dress.  I wasn't sure what I was expecting back, but I'm not sure it was the extremely prompt and very friendly reply from the lovely Bink, the designer behind this highly original brand of accessories…

"I am Bink, the designer/creator of Pearls & Swine accessories; I attempt (in my own way) to make the world a prettier place.  I am a maker of accessories or wearable art. Being a “Woman of
Curve” I live in a world where clothing is not my friend. I hate
shopping for clothing but accessories don’t discriminate! I am fairly
flamboyant in my dress sense but my accessories are the statement; they
are what are most important to me and they are not just loud, they
scream! I don’t feel I have chosen to design but rather that design has
chosen me."

Imagery provided courtesy of Pearls & Swine, Copyright (c) 2010, Trafford Parsons

"I had hoped to grow up and be sensible; I turned 30 and freaked out
as I had hoped to have done great things with my life. I hadn’t allowed
myself to do anything creative; I worked as a live in care assistant
for the elderly, disabled and terminally ill. I confess I hated it but
felt that until I decided what I wanted to do with my life I had to
keep going as I had no qualification etc.  Halfway through my 30th year
I knitted a simple scarf for my mom and the creative floodgates were
opened. I’ve just turned 35, and I'm still not sensible…"

How would you describe your style?…"Burlesque punk sparkle-tastic
wearable art, with a pinch madness, a sliver of vintage and a sprinkle
of glamour.  Pearls & Swine is about being empowered, fabulous and the
adornment of women. Women need to feel good about themselves and I know
that what I make will create a positive reaction. I am often told that
when they wear my work they are so many compliments. I like that my
work is out there creating conversation, admiration and forcing people
to speak up in a positive way! We all like compliments and we never get
them enough, we are ALL fabulous, and sometimes it’s nice when others
notice it!"

 

Qualified or Self Taught? …"I
barely got through school as I had problems with my dyslexia. I am
passionate about what I do; I wake up every day and create pretty much
all day. I don’t do things in the prescribed manner i.e. Draw it up,
make a sample etc. I just have an inkling and I create, freehand and it
becomes what it becomes. I prefer to make new work rather than
rehashing old ideas over and over. I didn’t do very well in Art; my
teacher didn’t think I had much talent at all! I trained as a tattooist
for a while but gave up when I realised my drawing skills weren’t good
enough. I am too much of a perfectionist to be a tattooist who used
other people’s drawings. And I was too opinionated when people wanted a
rubbish tattoo!" 

What materials do you work with?…"Wool,
felt, paint, glitter, beads, feathers, sequin and whatever I find that
twinkles or inspires. I have a haberdashery addiction; I go bananas
when I enter a haberdashery shop! I love glitter the most; my house is
covered in the stuff. I think it would be fair to say I am in touch
with my inner drag queen!"

How would you describe the Pearls and Swine experience?…"Pearls & Swine is a cornucopia of fabulous and original objects. I aim to please when it comes to bespoke work; I am very much the sort of person who puts my heart and soul into what I do. I want to make people happy through the medium of accessories! When I am dealing with a client I like to keep them informed every step of the way as to what I am doing, I like their input but I am very confident if left to my own devices. I know what I like, I know what I can do and I love to be challenged. There aren’t many people who are very daring when it comes to dressing up so I love it when I get someone who wants to push the boundaries of what is acceptable!"

Where do you seek your design inspiration from?…"I have countless sources of inspiration! Films, art galleries, clubs, vintage, religious icons of different religions, burlesque, music, theatre, costume, junk markets, charity shops, Ebay, drag queens, bright clashing colours, luscious textures, cultures like India, Mexico, Thailand, Brazil, New Orleans (where colour meets religion) and so much more!  I currently have about 1500 images of cupcakes on my laptop!…"

"I
develop new obsessions with random objects pretty much daily…. I spend
a lot of time online sourcing unique items or images, which excite me.
I collect mannequins, porcelain dolls, retro art, religious tat, nautical themed items, skulls, shoes,
books, (though both my partner and I are dyslexic!). I like things that
I think are “horribly fabulous” and I think this comes out in what I do
though I think I manage to translate it into being more humorous than
horrible!"

Do you design bespoke/made to order?..."I
do bespoke and I sell whatever I create. I am not usually inclined to
hold onto what I make, I feel that I am on a creative journey on which
I am eager to take the next step to wherever I am going! My work has
evolved drastically over the past few years (when you consider it began
with a knitted scarf). So I don’t feel like I need to hang onto
anything, once it is photographed to document it I am happy to sell
whatever I make. Since devoting myself totally to my creative work a
year ago I can see a huge leap forward in what I do now!"

Do you have a muse when designing?…"I suppose I am designing for those who aren’t scared to be admired for being different, for those who want people to compliment their good taste and to be noticed when they walk into a room Dresser uppers are my favourite people in the world, I wish I lived in a world where everyone dressed up fabulously everyday.

I struggle with the amount of brown, cream, beige etc that seems to be the world we live in. My home is an explosion of colour and kitsch, I need to be surrounded by colour to be happy. I have little interest in fashion or other designers, not through jealousy but I like to think my own creative thoughts without being influenced by what others are doing. I get excited when I see a unique piece of art, clothing music, film, an advert on tv! I hate that people shamelessly rehash other people’s ideas, music etc. I wish everyone chose to be unique but we live in a world dominated by money not art."

Have you worked with Brides before? Do you sell any bridal pieces?…"Yes! I have created many bridal hats, veils and fascinators. I confess that I feel it is the biggest honor to be asked to create a bridal accessory! This is one of the most important days of a woman’s life and to be involved in creating such an important accessory is wonderful!!"

Price Guide?…"From £3-£60 at present!"

My goodness, that is MARVELLOUS value for money for such original, unique one-off and fabulously fun designs! I just love them! ….and I've loved getting to know designer Bink a little better, she's one of those fabulously interesting people you could chat for hoooooooours with over afternoon tea and cakes!  {fancy it one afternoon Bink?} 

To purchase one of Bink's fantastical designs, get yourself off over to the Pearls and Swine website.  You can also purchase from Love Burlesque – described by Bink as a "burlesque wonderland, which I highly recommend (plus she has shoes that you would sell your soul for!!)"

♥