I asked Claire a few questions about the line and premiering at Galway. Here's what she had to say...
CWG: Tell us about the new line. What inspired it and what can your fans expect?
CO'C: The brand is called Lil'c couture (pronounced lil see), as it is very much inspired by hip-hop culture but also by Parisian Couture houses to give it that glamorous edge. The name Lil'c was inspired by various rappers who have 'Lil' before their name, so I figured as my name is Claire, and the brand is influenced by hip hop, not to mention it is a high end clothing brand it couldn't be called anything else.
CWG: How was it produced? Walk us through the creative process.
CO'C: Before I sketch I gather various reference points and ideas that are used as inspiration to develop a theme. For this collection the main theme is based around the concept of camouflage.
After that comes the sketching and choosing fabric swatches. It is then narrowed down to the designs that will go into making up the collection. All garments are then made in a 'toile' for fittings so as to get an idea of how the finished garment will look. After that comes the exciting part when the collection is made up in the relevant fabrics and is ready to hit the runway.
CWG: The styling was great. Who did it?
CO'C: All the styling was done by me. The collection was broken down into various 'stories' which involved some late nights putting looks together that would be catwalk worthy.
CWG: What did you think of the show at Galway Fashion Week?
CO'C: Galway was my first 'sole' fashion show and it was great. Lil'c couture hadn't previously been seen by the public, but the show went down a 'winner' as they say and the feedback has been fantastic - very positive.
Claire at Galway Fashion Week
CWG: What are your hopes for the future of Lil'c Couture?
A: The main goal of Lil'c couture is firstly to establish the brand but also to bring a new look to the stereotype street/urban wear.
Hence it is made with lots of TLC (True Love for Couture) for those who dream of being chic by day as well as by night. Long term Lil'c couture will hopefully be available Stateside as the brand draws heavily on American culture.
If you want a taste of Lil'c couture before Claire breaks America, check out the shop here.
