Born in Spain but based in London, Elena Garcia originally trained as a linguist, her Public Services Interpreting leading her to work with local groups, and making her aware of the problems faced by migrant communities and people in penitentiaries. Following her passion for design, she returned to school to follow a degree in Surface Textiles for Fashion at the London College of Fashion, producing her first collection in collaboration with friend, Ilya Fisher directly upon graduation.
Still working with Ilya Fisher and Carolyn Abbott, both textile designers and friends, who now do the felting, cut work and specialized dyeing for the Elena Garcia collection. Ilya is a shibori dye-resist artist, and Carolyn is an experienced felt artist, who was trained by Elena and Ilya, to make the jackets and camisoles for the collection. The Elena Garcia collection has a romantic flavor tinged with a Victorian sensibility. Designs are labor intensive, with a particular focus on indigo dyes, traditional shibori dye techniques, intricate and detailed cut work applications and nuno felting on a pure silk base.
“We have a responsibility to do what we can to preserve our world, so we source locally whenever possible, and we only use fabrics that are rapidly renewable and pesticide-free.” A member of the Ethical Fashion Forum, the Eco Designers Network, the Conscious Designers Collective, London Apparel, the Federation of Small Businesses and Craft Central, Elena is also the designer behind the “upcycling” label Sew Last Season, a hip, cool menswear collection made from upcycled items to create limited edition pieces. Additionally working with Ilya Fisher on the design and manufacture of eco clothing for London retailer Love, Life Stories. With coverage in WGSN, Vogue, Selvedge and Tree Hugger, to name just a few, Elena’s work has come to notice of the likes of Suzy Menkes, who featured her work in an article. The collection is available online through the website as well as through high-end boutiques across the UK and the US.
Website: www.elenagarciastudio.com
