Layered leather and floral fluidity
- Louise studied at Central St Martins and her degree collection was bought by Chanel
- She began experimenting with manipulating leather while working in the fashion industry
- Sculpting and cutting leather are her specialist techniques
Intrigued by the way two surfaces can become one through intertwining, cutting or weaving, Louise Heighes works with sustainable leather to produce framed artworks. With mathematical attention to detail, Louise handcrafts 3D pieces that play with light, adding texture and depth to a space. Her love for leather began in London at Central Saint Martins where she was pursuing a textile design degree. Her interest grew stronger as she explored textile ideas for accessories. Her strong connection to the material led to her final degree collection being chosen and purchased by Chanel and years later to a career in the fashion industry. “Designing textiles and exploring new materials concepts for top brands such as Azzedine Alaïa, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton is very stimulating," says Louise. Drawing from her experience in fashion, she now focuses on exquisite embellishment techniques and high-end materials to create one-of-a-kind art pieces for the interior design industry.
Interview
- What led you to find your passion?
- While working in the fashion industry and designing textile concepts for accessories, I started to explore different ways of working with leather. I became enamoured with the versatility of leather, which can be shaped, bent, folded, twisted, and intertwined, yet maintain its durability, softness, and tactility.
- Can you share your experience of selling your designs to Chanel?
- After finishing my MA at Central St Martins, I travelled to Paris with my portfolio, to meet Virginie Viard, who was Karl Lagerfeld's assistant at the time. She loved my work and after showing them to Karl, she bought most of my designs and a few of them were used in the Chanel show for the following season.
- What inspires you?
- I have always been inspired by the flow and movement I find in the natural world. Be it a field of wildflowers or the blossom on a tree, I have always loved the way the shape of a single petal or flower can be repeated over and over again, creating a myriad of ever-changing new patterns.
- What motivates you to keep following your passion?
- I enjoy showcasing the beauty of nature in my designs. I also love the relationship between my work and mathematics. My techniques are mathematically complex and need to be perfect for them to work successfully. I really enjoy this aspect of my work and also the way that the end results look so rewardingly simple.
Louise Heighes is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2001
Where
Louise Heighes
