The Luxury of Wearable Art with Bianca Elgar

September 6, 2016

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by Doris Hobbs[/x_text][/x_column][x_column bg_color=”” type=”3/4″ style=”padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_text]Bianca Elgar, a British designer and entrepreneur with a passion for creating luxury pieces that are versatile, shared how she transformed countless failures in life to success and timeless elegance.

As a designer, you’re obliged to capture a special essence that will speak to a demographic of potential clients, with these individual pieces forming a label of love. Bianca Elgar, a British designer and the creative director of her namesake brand, has learned much during four years in her trade through many moments some she describes as “rubbish”, but all fundamental. As a result of countless hours and passion, Bianca has created a complete collection specializing in luxury fashion and accessories exuding the highest quality.

For the mother of two sons, a previous silk-screen printer, chef, and catering manager, she made the decision to establish an artful, yet versatile capsule wardrobe consisting of the highest quality silk and Modal, creating a style that embodies classic elegance with modern art. She started with a strong determination to follow her passion of silkscreen-printing. While Bianca relocated for a period of six months to Belgium with her (at the time) teenage sons, she found her wardrobe becoming quite reduced. Exercising the opportunities to expand her wardrobe with available accessories, she found the addition of bright-colored scarves to instantly provide versatility to her limited selection of clothing. “What clothes I did take were almost all black and I found that in order to add my own personality and style I ended up stretching what was possible with a few colorful silk scarves.” Bianca said. She wasn’t surprised when faced with the adversity during her travels that she would return to the UK and establish a business of her own. “It was really this experience that made me realize how versatile and lovely accessories silk scarves could be,” Bianca stated.

In order to bring a sought-after vision of screen-printed art scarves to life, Bianca’s designs required a dose of innovative elements unseen from any other platform. “My passion has always been in silk-screen print art,” Bianca said. “I wanted to merge this form of art and high quality manufacturing with luxury, so that the Arty statement pieces will be treasured, just like how I treasured the scarves I took with me to pep up my basic black attire.” You get a sense of this with her current SS 2016 collection, The Ashmolean. The line artistically mimics her personal message providing art that is wearable, which in return can be both luxurious and versatile, from her Crayon Flower scarf to Sploshes Summer and the effortless Ava black tunic dress which is now redefined by Bianca Elgar.

Years before the initial launch, you would find Bianca hosting clientele as she served as a catering manager and always finding new ways to create a unique ambiance for each dining experience. “As a catering manager, the one thing I always enjoyed was the interior design and table setting in the hotel and restaurant business,” stated Bianca. With a connection that was made from her previous years as a chef and screen printer, the two roles aligned through a passion for interior and fashion design, which in turn, played a role in her setting up her own brand. “I believe we are all put on earth to make a difference and this is my way in which to make a difference,” she explained with great desire.

Shifting her focus back to screen-printing was a natural way for Bianca to continue her creative pursuit while sorting out the next step. Utilizing many years of research within the fashion industry and marketplace, she began to form a collection that was later showcased at Oxford Fashion Week. It was a moment Bianca described as when, “My heart sang, it was a confirmation of why I love doing what I am doing. I especially enjoyed seeing the different ways in which people style my outfits, to see their interpretation and styling ideas, inspires me!”

Looking ahead, Bianca has advanced her designs with the launch of ‘Out of Africa’ consisting of textiles and prints that celebrates the circle of life and embraces exuberant colors. This vibrant collection is inspired by African shields and masks from Bianca’s recent trip to Marrakesh and the stunning Majorelle Garden. The colors showcased are exuberant, energetic and exciting and can be seen throughout the pieces in dynamic shades of burgundy, mustard and turquoise. Bianca explained her inspiration by stating, “There’s something magical and exotic about Marrakesh. The colorful fabrics and the smell of spices in the markets – I was taken straight back to my time in Africa in my twenties.” This premier selection of silk scarves, in addition to a men’s collection, will be available online and in-stores and September 2016.

Just like most aspiring designers, Bianca, 55, has proven that at any age or stage of life, fulfilling your life’s goals is both “empowering and scary” but rewarding beyond a doubt. “You’re worth it, as in, you only live once; you owe it to yourself to pursue your dreams,” stated Bianca.