As you know, Pipes & Sneakers loves featuring those brands; designers; artists; photographers: and musicians we believe will become
the next big thing. Well, we had the pleasure of meeting up and interviewing the ambitious and beautiful Claudia Lambeth - founder and owner of the lingerie brand
Luna Mae London.
Proudly hand-crafted in the UK, Luna Mae London uses only the finest silks in its creation, ensuring the most luxurious feel whilst offering undeniable comfort and functionality. Enticing the senses with unique cutting-edge designs, Luna Mae London lingerie is designed to be seen not only in the boudoir but also admired in public.
Why
did you decide to create a luxury lingerie brand like Luna Mae London?
"For as long as I can remember, I have
always had an incredible obsession with lingerie. I used to dream of creating
beautiful lingerie which was made of the softest silks and all handcrafted in
England. I believe that lingerie is a very powerful tool since it can
automatically transform a woman's confidence if she knows she is wearing a very
special set underneath her clothes. I always feel that since it is the most
intimate thing a woman can possibly wear, every woman deserves to celebrate her
body and wear beautiful fabrics which feel great against her skin. My vision
was create incredibly sexy pieces by interpreting new ideas and shapes on the
female form which are both striking and eye-catching. My designs enhance and
embrace a woman's curves by sculpting the figure, drawing attention to her most
special assets. I want every woman who wears Luna Mae London lingerie to feel
empowered and confident."
What
is your inspiration for your designs?
"My designs are heavily influenced by
structural symmetry so I am always looking for new and interesting ways to
architecturally frame the body. As a designer, I am naturally inspired by
everything surrounding me; be it a façade of a building or the back of a dress
I see on a woman walking down the street. Photography by
Helmut Newton and
Ellen Von Unwerth are big inspirations for me; I find the erotic undertones in
their work fascinating. The celebration of intimacy also plays an important
role since I want to make a woman feel daring and desirable in the bedroom so I
try to create pieces which
will enhance this experience.
"
What
have been your hardest struggles since you founded your company, and how did
you overcome them?
"As a young designer it can sometimes be
frustrating not to be taken seriously and you run the risk of being overlooked
simply because of your age. It then becomes a challenge to convince people that
you are truly passionate about what you are doing and you try your best to make
them realise this. It is easy to feel intimidated by bigger and more
established brands but you have to remember that they all started out in just
the same way as you. Competition can make a designer feel uneasy but it is
healthy because it spurs you on to create exciting pieces yourself. I studied
Law at university and took a big leap to start my own brand last year even
though I was aware that there are so many risks involved but as long as your
are passionate about something, you shouldn't be prevented you from achieving
what you want."
What
have been your highlights?
"The best thing has to be when I am feeling
particularly inspired in the designing process and being able to translate the
image in my head onto my sketch book. When a set of lingerie comes together and
you can understand the construction of it, it is such a great feeling. It can
be difficult working with lots of different fabrics and learning that some
designs may not work as well as you originally planned and you have to go back
to the drawing board and adapt them in order to have a finished product. It is
easy to get carried away and design pieces which are striking and unique (and
usually quite complex!) but you have to be realistic and decide whether these
designs can actually be worn as lingerie. Receiving all my silks in the post
was also a great feeling because it made the whole process much more real and
easier to envisage my designs as finished pieces. Our first collection is in production
now so I cannot wait to hold the garments in my hands for the first time!"
Confidence
can be an issue for some women that would otherwise love to wear lingerie, both
for themselves and their man. What is your advice to these women for gaining
confidence about their bodies?
"Wearing great lingerie underneath a woman's
clothing should give them confidence even if it is only they themselves who
will see it. I believe a woman should wear lingerie for herself, just as much
as for her man. I wanted to make the most luxurious lingerie possible for a
woman which is why Luna Mae London pieces are all silk lined so they feel just
as good on the inside as they do on the outside. I wanted this to translate
into a woman's opinion of herself; it is so important that every woman, no
matter who she is, deserves to feel beautiful inside and out. "
Luna Mae London's first collection will be launching in July 2014. To find out more please visit the
Luna Mae London website.
