Creatives Assemble!

Author’s Bio - Angela Benjamin of Ange B Designs, is a sustainable jewellery designer and maker based in West London. Alongside her jewellery design business, she also teaches one-day jewellery making workshops for beginners.

The urge to create and make has been with me for as long as I can remember: whether it was the rose petal perfume ‘distilled’ in one of my mum’s teacups, to hand-stitched paper handbags (British weather was not cramping my blossoming sense of style!) and poorly crocheted hats for my dolls - I’ve always loved making ‘stuff'!

As I’ve developed my little brand and through sharing what I love to do with the world, I’ve discovered some amazing fellow makers and creatives.

Two years ago, I had an amazing opportunity to make my first ever leather handbag. Rich Williamson of Leather Craft Workshop Days patiently took me through the process of cutting and hand sewing my very own messenger bag. What made the process even more special was Rich encouraging me to make my own brassware for my bag.

There’s nothing like making things by hand for giving you an appreciation of its worth, not to mention the therapeutic benefits of making. The finished item is now a favourite accessory that I know I’ll use forever.

Handmade Horween Leather Satchel with Brass Clasp

Last year, I commissioned a bespoke garment from one of my favourite Instagram friends, fashion designer Karen Arthur of Reddskin. As a self-confessed ‘denim head’, my dream was to have a custom made garment made from some heavy weight denim, which my Mum has had in her fabric stash for the best part of twenty years. It was important to me that the garment included old, up cycled, and/or handmade materials.

I couldn’t have chosen a better designer for the job - not only did Karen incorporate some of her own fabric and haberdashery stash, she also invited me to make my own fastenings for the piece! I won’t lie, I was initially thrown but not one to shy away from a challenge I set about researching and making prototypes.

Several weeks later, I had made a set of brass buttons and ‘sliders’ for the dungaree-style fastenings of my denim pinafore dress.

With both collaborations, the pleasure of exchanging ideas, problem-solving and coming up with not only workable but aesthetically-pleasing sustainable items cannot be overstated.

Can’t wait to find my collaborations buddy for 2020…

Bespoke Demin Pinafore Dress with handmade brass buttons and sliders