Vlasta Collu
Vlasta Collu is a bespoke
designer from Slovakia. She took a course at London College of Fashion but she
mainly learnt her talent from her family growing up. Vlasta is trained in
photography and has degrees in other things like mathematics.
Vlasta is a bridal designer but
also makes couture evening dresses, hats, bridal head wear and shoe clips.
Vlasta
has been designing since 2003. She hasn’t been working for very long but she
has become very popular in that short time. Vlasta has had a few different studios
while designing. Her current studio is located at The Marlborough Centre, 96
George lane, South Woodford, London E18 1AD. She has been there for 5 years.
Vlasta rents out two suites in the Marlborough centre. One of these is her Boutique where she keeps her bridal dresses and where customers go and the other is her workshop where the magic happens.
Vlasta rents out two suites in the Marlborough centre. One of these is her Boutique where she keeps her bridal dresses and where customers go and the other is her workshop where the magic happens.
When I
first went in to Vlasta’s boutique I was struck by its beauty. All the stools, seats
and curtains are the same fabric, which she made herself. Everything is the
same colour, everything is clean and tidy and it is beautifully lit, so after
seeing her beautiful boutique, I thought her workshop would be a mess. I
couldn’t’ve been more wrong. It was clean and everything was in its place and
very organized. What I really loved about her workshop was the inspirational
sayings over her walls which was a nice touch.I also noted all her furniture was from Ikea!
I think
one of the best things I learnt about Vlasta is that she believes in psychic
readings and has one every other day. She plays very close attention to the
reading, which I find fascinating.
I learnt
she has a partner called Corrine that helps
run one part of her business. After she has finished at this other job she goes
to the workshop and helps Vlasta create dresses. This is amazing considering
that Vlasta only taught Corrine how to make dresses a year go.
I think Vlasta must be an amazing teacher she is got Corrine up and running in only a year.
I think Vlasta must be an amazing teacher she is got Corrine up and running in only a year.
Vlasta is
completely her own boss and even through she does have a business partner,
Vlasta pretty much runs everything herself.
As part
of her business is designing bridal wear, she does made to measure orders where
a customer picks out a dress from her samples and edits it to fit the bride
perfectly. She also does bespoke wedding dresses and evening dresses where
after talking to the customer and getting some ideas, she designs them
something beautiful to wear. She also makes bridal head pieces and shoes
clips. She makes bridesmaid’s dresses as
well as mother of the bride dresses. Vlasta has several stockists in European
countries such as Denmark and is now expanding into America. She does all this
from her one shop in London.
Her latest project is for ‘WOW’ or World of Wearable Art, which takes
place in Wellington, New Zealand. From what she has told me, she is making a
beautiful 50’s dress which will be made out of silk with a net overlay with
hundreds of handmade flowers that will spiral outwards from the dress’ heart.
When I asked her about other features of the dress, she grew secretive and only
mentioned that colour-changing technology will be involved.
Finally, I wish her the best of luck and I’m sure we will be seeing her
all over the magazines one day.
