Midlands Designer Living The ‘American Dream’

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 11 October 2016

Michael Wallace is fast becoming a well-known name in the world of fashion.

Michael, 26, from Ilkeston, is set to showcase his House of Micheal Wallace spring/summer 2017 collection at LA Fashion Week, one of the biggest events in the global fashion calendar. Not bad for someone who started out cutting fabric in his garden shed.

                                                                                   Michael Wallace

He will be introducing a new collection of women’s couture designed especially for the occasion and will be the only British designer to hit the catwalk at the Art Hearts Fashion event to be held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Michael’s collection will hit the catwalk on October 10 at the hotel which is home to the Golden Globe awards. The luxury venue is infamous for being where singer Whitney Houston died.

He said:

“I am delighted to be invited to showcase my work at one of the biggest fashion events in the world.  LA is an inspirational city, and I’ve tried to capture that in my work by creating a brand new collection just for the event.

"This spring/summer 2017 womenswear collection is full of texture, embroidery and opulence. It is to date the most delicate and alluring collection I have created. With an oriental influence infused with Hollywood glamour, I have been able to design and construct soft, yet dramatic silhouettes."

The collection has been designed and constructed solely by Michael at his Ilkeston-based studio in Maltby’s Creative Mill, where he has been working on the designs for many months. 

He has been sponsored by Long Eaton based Litmans Lace, famous for being a part of the Nottingham Lace Market, who have donated some lace to the collection.

The show will see between 10-14 models walking the runway in his designs. The aim is to create a visual spectacle at the event with the glamorous woman’s wear collection which will be seen by celebrity stylists, buyers and top-tier press.

He said:

"I prefer to create all of the garments myself. That way I know every centimetre and stitch of the pieces and it also allows for any last minute ideas. You start with an initial design but then it can evolve once you begin making it and handling the fabric. Collection time is always very exciting, sometimes stressful, but I love what I do and I enjoy creating something that is visually satisfying for an audience.  Mixed with the right music and staging you can create something special." 

The young designer is putting the East-Midlands on the fashion map, having previously won the Midlands Fashion Award for Emerging Designer in 2014 and showcasing his work at London Fashion Week 2015.

Michael was also up for an independent designer of the year award at the Midlands Fashion Awards but could not attend due to his commitments in Los Angele. He hopes to be at the awards in 2017.

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