Signature Style
The founder of sula clothing, Alison Tayler, has an enviable life. She travels the world in search of beautiful textiles and talented artisans and cherishes the irregularity of hand-woven cloth and stitching. Taught to sew by her mother at a very young age, she learned to make her own clothes as a child. While dressmaking was originally a way for Alison to avoid having to wear unfashionable hand-me-downs from her older sister, it eventually developed into a lifelong passion.
Each year, sula presents two collections of beautiful handmade clothing, made by small family-businesses in Vietnam and India. The garments are predominantly made from dyed silk and many are reversible and combine striking juxtapositions. Alison's favourite part of the process is picking out the colours for a new collection, which are often vibrant and rich hues. Signature styles are bias cut, layered and tiered: the intention is to wear layers according to the climate and occasion. Silk camisoles; hand-quilted silk skirts; smocked blouses and crinkly ballet wraps; 1930s style 'wash' frocks and glamorous, belted dresses are supplemented each season with directional pieces. Many items are embellished with hand-crafted detailing such as understated, yet ornate, hand stitching.
One item of clothing can take a craftsperson more than a day to make, as both sula and its artisans take great pride in the detail and quality of a piece. Many of the details and finishes are made by hand, creating a lived in already loved looking garment that sula customers have come to appreciate. Hand worked button holes and old fashioned hand stitched facings provide further character to a label that is already distinctive. Close working relationships are established with craftspeople, and ethical practices are ensured.
Blog post by Jessica Edney