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What I make
I make handmade, bespoke, unique items including;
 Leather bags and clutch bags
 Leather bum bags
 Childrens cartoon character bags
 Childrens clothes
 Baby Shoes
 Ladies clothes
 Bandanas
 Knitted accessories (hats and scarves) In winter
 Leather gift carriers for wine & champagne
 Fancy dress, costumes and dancewear
 Greetings cards
The list grows everyday as new customers request more and more bespoke, locally made items
When & how did I become a designer
I have always been creative, growing up with a father as a graphic designer allowed me to
experiment with many ideas, and there was
always paper, drawing pens and other
equipment to play with.
My mother taught me to knit, and I knitted my first pair of slippers when I was 8 and attempted several
other clothing items.
I attended Huddersfield Art & Design College in 2000 where I gained a diploma in Art & Design, I then
went on to study Textile Crafts at
Huddersfield University where I gained a
degree (BA Hons 2:1), I specialised in Knit.
I won a stand at new designers in London where I had the opportunity to display my final degree
exhibition. I went on to work for
agencies, producing knitted fabric samples and also sold knitted accessories at craft fairs and markets.
I did this for several years alongside other work and training, including teacher training in Design &
Technology , supply teaching, a Diploma in Web design, and evening classes in sewing skills and
photoshop.
I began making fabric bags and then leather bags. I worked from my attic at home and I moved into my
first studio in 2012.
What inspires me & how I work
Traditional styles, simple shapes and timeless
fabrics are a common theme for many of my designs, especially my childrens clothes and baby shoes.
Gingham checks, tweeds and florals,
sailboats, stripes and polkadots, colour matched to create fun, bright and comfortable combinations.
Yorkshire dialect and personal messages , printed or hand written onto leather gift wine carriers, baby
shoes or bags, perfect for a special gift.
I begin a new project or design by sketching some ideas. I then sketch construction ideas before
making a first sample - usually from scraps of f
abric or leather. The first sample is nearly always thrown away and the pattern is re-drawn, cut, and a
second sample is made. Usually the second sample is almost perfect with just a few tweeks to the
pattern before making the real thing. I keep the 3rd sample along with the pattern as a guide for making
the item in the future. Many of these samples can be seen in my studio next to my pattern rail and box.
I make an
exclusive range of clutch bags for Sitting Pretty Boutique. I use matching dress fabric , as used in the
shop, to line my leather clutch bags
Where I sell
I have an online store:
https://folksy.com/shops/VictoriaSugden
Sitting Pretty Boutique, 141 Wakefield Road,
Huddersfiled, HD5 9AN. (Leather clutch bags.)
https://www.facebook.com/SittingPrettyBoutique?fref=ts
KT Bags, Victoria road, Elland. (Leather bags and wine carriers, or anything else people request).
https://www.facebook.com/KT.Elland?fref=ts
Contours Dancewear, 80 Huddersfield Road, Elland, HX5 9AA. (Dancewear, costumes. Fancy
dress coming soon.)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Contors-Dancewear/211341192216118?fref=ts
Cloud 9 Gallery, 7A Union street, Bacup, Lancashire, OL13 0AA . (Childrens Clothes & Baby
shoes.)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cloud-9-Gallery/384186088389837?fref=ts
I can also arrange an online payment and post direct from my studio for items seen on my facebook
page if a customer so requests.
https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaSugdenDesigns
Customers can buy direct from the studio at a
massively reduced price during Open Studio
Weekends, which we at exchange mill are hoping will be a regular event.
Keep upto date with these events by checking my website: www.victoriasugden.co.uk and also like my
facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaSugdenDesigns
Qualifications
BA Hons 2:1 Textile Crafts,
University of Huddersfield
Level 3 Diploma Website & Development,
Huddersfield Technical College
Level 2 Diploma Designing & Creating web pages, Calderdale College
BTEC Diploma Foundation studies Art & Design,
Huddersfield Technical College
PGCE Design & Technology
University of Huddersfield
Other training at evening classes:
Sewing skills workshop
Photoshop skills
Illustrator skills
Contact details
Write to:
Victoria Sugden
Studio 305A
Exchange Mill
Saddleworth Road
Elland
HX5 0RY
Email:
[email protected]
Telephone:
07903152173
Website:
www.victoriasugden.co.uk
facebook business page:
https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaSugdenDesigns