With dreams of opening a shop one day, a Nottingham woman has spoken out about how she’s making ‘slow fashion worth waiting for’ from home. Vivienne Pearsons uses African wax fabrics and materials from India to make completely unique clothes.
Fifty-year-old Vivienne lives in Attenborough and said she has always been creative. During lockdown, Vivienne’s hours were reduced from her full time job so she decided to start making clothes.
Her brand Orange Erin is home to individually crafted dresses and kimonos made from fabrics sourced from around the world. She cites her influences as Barbara Hulanicki, Bridget Riley and Frida Khalo.
Are you a true Nottinghamian? Test your knowledge
Vivienne said: “After making my first garment, I really enjoyed it and the response was really good. I had made a dress and posted it online and someone reached out to me to say they wanted it. I went on to make a few more garments and it grew from there.”
Vivienne has gone to John Lewis to promote Orange Erin and hosted a pop up shop where she sold more than 35 garments.
She said: “I started this journey to get out of the corporate world and be more creative and I absolutely love it. Orange Erin is slow fashion worth waiting for, my garments always have different designs so you’ll never bump into someone wearing the same garments.”
Vivienne’s prices start from £19 up to around £179. She added: “It’s not cheap but equally, a lot of time and materials go into them, I can’t make something for nothing, customers appreciate that too. I pull influences from all over the world and love South America, European Folk Wear and 70s style.
“I get many repeat customers and what I make is unisex, it's for guys and girls.” The name Orange Erin was inspired by a cup and saucer with Clarice Cliff designs Vivienne was given by her mother on her 18th birthday.
On July 8, Vivienne will be at the Bottle Top market in Lady Bay and on August 5 and 6, at the Framework Knitters Museum.
READ NEXT:
