fashionUK

After leaving college five months ago, Lena Kamber decided to take a huge chance and set-up her own design label. 'Breathe' is her personal mission to produce womenswear for the next millennium. "The idea came from 'breath-taking' originally," she explains from her stall at Alternative Fashion Week's Fashion Market. "I wanted to create breath-taking clothes which were also about life and movement." From her Bristol base, she decided to approach a local hot air balloon manufacturer, Cameron Balloons. "They gave me some samples of their fabric and I started working with it. I showed them what I'd done and they loved it! Then they gave me £100 worth of hot air balloon fabric - when you see it in sheets it's amazing how it moves. It made me think of air and the sky." Lena is a strong supporter of modern fabrics but dislikes the way plastics and pvc are usually associated with fetish fashion. "I love modern fabrics, but that doesn't mean I want to show every part of my body - especially my bottom!" The Breathe collection includes a lined and tailored PVC raincoat, a strappy silver cropped top with matching long skirt made from hot air balloon fabric and several dresses.The colour palette and the fabrics are futuristic, but all the pieces are wearable and feminine. "I hate fuss," she confesses. "All my pieces are simple. I hate over-the-top stuff because what's the point in producing something that no-one is going to wear?" Breathe is available made-to-order only. Contact 0117 962 6047 for more details.