Lucienne Atkins Jones
MALTESE FASHION DESIGNER SPEAKS ABOUT THE JOURNEY INTO THE BECOMING OF LILLY LOU
Lucienne is one of the Maltese known fashion designers, and we’re not just talking about Malta here. You see, Lucienne, the Maltese fashion designer started her first collection under the brand Lilly Lou internationally in the UK. To let you know more about the designer we had a quick chat with her, and she told us about her successful journey as a Maltese fashion designer. SO TELL US, HOW DID IT ALL START? Designing is my passion. I started drawing illustrations at a very young age. As I grew up, my passion for fashion designing grew bigger, designing my first bridal gowns and evening dresses for family and friends. I studied and worked in media so I utilized my marketing expertise to develop a brand from scratch. So, Lilly Lou, started in year 2011 - currently offers ready-to-wear and custom-made evening and bridal dresses. Lilly Lou team builds up exquisite dresses with fine material, precious embroideries, and outstanding quality while always maintaining a form of sophistication. We aim to become the first high-end international brand based in Malta. WHAT IS BEHIND THE NAME LILLY LOU? My mother who was called Lilly was a great inspirational to me, she always told me to follow my dream and gave me great encouragement. She was the strongest and kindest hearted woman I have ever known. When she was terminally ill, I used to sit with her in bed and have long chats with her and she encouraged me to follow my dream and start my own collection. So yes, Lilly is after my mother and Lou is just my name but shortened. If she was still alive she would be so very proud of me. HOW WOLD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR AESTHETIC? My designs are different from modern, classic to vintage couture, each woman have a different style and personality, but if I was choosing a style for myself I would go for simplicity, classic and royal. WHAT MAKES LILLY LOU STAND OUT AMONG OTHER LOCAL DESIGNERS? Lilly Lou is an international brand, and not a
WHO’S THE FASHION DESIGNER YOU LOVE AND ALWAYS LOOK UP TO? Ziad Nakad. LET’S GO BACK TO YOUR LOCAL CLIENTS, BECAUSE WE’VE SEEN MANY BRIDES LOOKING GREAT ON THEIR BIG DAY WEARING LILLY LOU! HOW DO YOU BRING THE CLIENT’S DREAM TO A REALITY? Maltese women like to dress up, and they give great attention to their wedding dresses. However, Lilly Lou’s clients have a certain personality and a special style, so it is always our pleasure meeting the demands of the mentality of our clients. We make sure that their dream dress comes into reality. It has to be awesomely unique. Lilly Lou’s brides always feel their dresses are a modern, majestic royal piece of art and a piece of themselves.
work shop or studio. Aside from our designs, our aim is to make our ladies feel confident, and confident women always look good. In addition to that, we serve on an international level with international standards and high quality. WE KNOW THAT YOU DESIGN FOR EVERY BODY SHAPE, AND ACCORDING TO THE PERSONALITY OF THE CLIENT TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT! My specialty is to understand the clients’ body shape, and accordingly design something that perfectly fits their bodies, by hiding the unflattering body parts and highlighting the best parts in their silhouette, with or without being revealing. All clients have different characters and personality, when designing the dress I always take that into consideration.
IS READY-TO-WEAR ANYWHERE ON YOUR FUTURE PLAN? We already have evening and bridal ready-towear. But, if you mean casual ready-to-wear, it is definitely part of our plan. A PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’D TELL YOURSELF WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED… It is always the 3 P’s for me: work with passion, be persistent, and always be prepared! FINALLY, YOUR FUTURE HOPES FOR LILLY LOU… To succeed on a global level.
Visit us at Lilly Lou Bridal Designer, 16A, Triq Haz-Zebbug, Attard • T: 2713 3178/9975 7778 E: admin@lillyloubridaldesigner.com www.lillyloubridaldesigner.com I DO 59