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Wildly inspired, vivacious blonde Fred Butler is a solid gold designer. Her latest collection entitled ‘A Bee In My Bonnet, With A Honey Comb In My Hair’ references precious metals, black and yellow insects and June i-D MIX headliner Two Inch Punch. First meeting her now bezzie mate and label creative consultant Kim Howells at a fancy dress party, when both girls were dressed like vegetables, Fred Butler’s aesthetic is as wild as her imagination. Creating a collection in support of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, the Colchester born, East London based designer collaborated with Red Bull endorsed artist Ben Ash (T.I.P) this season to create a bespoke fashion film exploring the private lives of bees. Starring four, wide-eyed, sun-kissed female beauties, the fashion film premiered at the Portico Rooms in Somerset House, modelled live by the very babes who appeared in the video. i-D Online caught up with the first lady of accessories to reflect on what she aimed to achieve and how she feels about the final results:
What was the starting point? I dug out an archive piece from Kim Howells’ ‘House Of…’ project a few years ago which had been based on gold, she had been coating pins in gold, and I made that into goldwork embroidery. I wanted to recreate the techniques for myself and make the pieces massive – to take that technique and blow it up big. I worked with hexagons and that made me think about bees and their hives, and then I met a guy who said to me “Tou’ve got a bee in your bonnet”, so I was like, “Ah, that’s it!”. What’s the signature item from the collection? I think it’s all about the bum-bag, the bumblebee bum-bag. I’m wearing the prototype now, the real one is a lot more embroidered. I always wear a bumbag so I thought I’d have a go at designing my own interpretation. How did the collaboration with Two Inch Punch come about? It was The Red Bull Catwalk Studio that made that all possible. I get to work with a musician and go into their recording studios and make an exhibition in support of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. I told Ben it was all about bees and this hive world, and he created all the crackling humming sounds and sampled me humming. I wanted to work with him specifically because his sounds are already like that, so it was perfect. Have you seen any new designers that you’ve been excited about this season? William Wild, who I collaborated with on the latex that he had in his own show on Friday. He’s so great. What kind of girl do you think would encapsulate your SS13 collection? I was listening to a lot of Missy Elliot when I was making it so I’d really like to see her wearing it, especially the headphones.
Text: Milly McMahon
Photography: Stephanie Sian Smith
See all of our SS13 womenswear coverage here.
