Are you based in Barnsley? Does your hobby, job or business relate to the fashion industry? And are you creative? Answered yes to these? Great! You're in the right place. This group of people called the 'Barnsley Fashion Creatives' is a collection of others that also said yes to those questions.

But did you know that you can leverage this group of people to help you out? Maybe you have a photoshoot coming up, or you're needing some help out with your brand, or you simply just want some opinions and help on a dilemma. Here's a few ways you can use the group.

• Join our Facebook Group

Our Facebook group is slowly building up and has plenty of designers, crafters, make-up artists, photographers and more. You can chat with them, connect with them and even work with them. Join the group here.

• Post on the Facebook Group 

If you have an upcoming project and you need a photographer, or a model, you can post in the group saying what you're looking for or what help you need. The group can help you find what you're looking for. Maybe you have a dilemma on something and just need some advice and opinions on, get posting about it!

• Direct Message Someone from the Group

If you've already seen someone on the group that you'd like to connect with, you can always send them a direct message on facebook. If you're already friends with them then they'll see your message straight away. If you aren't, it might be an idea to tag them on one of the posts to let them know you've sent a message and to check their 'other messages' inbox.

• Get a Blogpost Made About Your Project

Have you got a project coming up and requires a team of people? Get in touch with us to have a blogpost made all about it. The post can be read by hundreds and shared numerous times by plenty of people. We can help you shine a light on what you're planning and what kind of help you'd like. Use the contact page to get in touch.

• Check Our Instagram

Yes we have an Instgram! We post pictures of our creative's work as well as photographs of Barnsley. We always tag the people in the photos, so feel free to check who we're tagging and you may just find who you're looking for to help you in your project. Search our instagram name @barnsleyfashioncreatives or follow this link.

• Want to be more discrete?

Maybe you want to be more hush about it and keep things on the down low, get in touch and we can do the leg work for you. We can message people direct on your behalf and find who you want whilst keeping it more quiet. Let us know what you're trying to do and we can sort it all out for you. Use the contact page, email us directly or message directly on Facebook.

We've been looking through all the runway shows for Autumn/Winter 2016 and grabbed some popular trends for you. There's a lot of different trends this year including others such as winter florals, statement chokers, military, shades of tan and more, but as always, choose the trends that fit with your brand if you want to insert some current topics. Here's some of our favourites.

Colourful Furs

Statement furs are always a classic, but they are coming back this year not just in the blacks and browns, but a whole array of colours. However we suggest the cheaper and more ethical alternative of faux furs. You can still get a great selection and qualities in these and is far easier to work with!

[caption id="attachment_918" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Gucci, Fendi, Rodarte, Salvatore Ferragamo A/W 16[/caption]

Sequins

Sequins are always a hit in the colder seasons and in particular on Christmas party dresses. But you know what?? Sequins can be put anywhere and everywhere, they can easily translate to fashion accessories, jewellery, bags & purses and even into homewares like on cushions and bunting. Yes they can be fiddly to hand sew on, but you can create wonderful effects, also try glue-gunning them on if it's going to be non-wearable or buying pre-sequined fabric on the roll.

[caption id="attachment_927" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Christian Dior, Valentino, Versace, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi A/W 16[/caption]

Velvets

Velvet has already been creeping back in and is already in the vintage shops. Keep away from the tacky velvet though and look at better qualities. If your budget can stretch, silk velvet is a beautiful soft fabric and comes in lovely colours. These can also be translated to bags and accessories in luxurious velvets.

[caption id="attachment_972" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Valentino, 3.1 Philip Lim, Dolece & Gabbana, Fendi A/W 16[/caption]

Ruffles

Ruffles galore are set to be on this autumn and not your over-the-top obvious ruffles, use them more as a trim or along the hem and necklines and even on sleeves. Try making ruffles in different fabrics to get different boyances and even layering them up can create lovely effects.

[caption id="attachment_963" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Roksanda, Elie Saab, Alexander McQueen & Fendi A/W 16[/caption]

Leopard Print

You could have guessed that leopard and similar animal prints would be back in fashion. They've been seen on the runways in the forms of coats, dresses, laces, trousers and more. This can also be done in a make-up form, using those tones of colours in a pattern and even a leopard print purse will always go down well.

[caption id="attachment_950" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Christian Dior, Mugler, Alexandre Vauthier, Calvin Klein A/W 16[/caption]

 

Want to follow trends and research yourself? Have a look at these places WWD, Vogue, Elle, StyleCaster and WhoWhatWear.

Sandra hill is a local multi-skilled artist with multiple businesses, all of the creative persuasion. Her main business is creating dog-clothing and accessories, but also has knowledge is crafts such as jewellery making, glass-work, textiles and more.  we asked her about some of her favourite pieces she's made in fashion accessories.

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BFC: Hi Sandra, so how do you make these?

Sandra: These were during a more intricate phase, placing items, inclusions and stringers. The green is my favourite ever! The glass can be a bit fiddly. Its a clear and green piece of glass with a cut copper inclusion and strips of coordinating glass sandwiched between them. This is then fused in the kiln & usually cross toes, fingers and any thing else that it fused ok without oxidizing the copper inclusion, or slipping off deforming the shape. It's like christmas day opening the kiln after a firing, as glass can have a life of its own.

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Sandra: But you sometimes just find a lovely piece of glass, that just needs rounding or softening as these. Some glass pieces are just pretty on their own so I just need to cut the required size, then fuse together, just take sharp edges off, or fuse to a full rounded fused shape.

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Sandra: I really enjoy the freedom wire wrapping gives you, a bead or gemstone & silver or plated wire and let your imagination loose. I use beads for wire wrapping, usually coloured glass or semi precious stones, even just nice pebbles I find on the beach!

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Sandra: This I love! Having a break from the glass and wire work, with a textile, touchy, feely moment. It reminds me of a muppet from my childhood!

BFC: What are they made from and how do you do them?

Sandra: They're made from wool/yarn and they're made using a flower loom. I also make flower hair bands and brooches, etc.

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BFC: Ooh interesting! What is a flower loom?

Sandra: A flower loom is a circle with pins stuck up at even spacings that you can wrap threads, wool etc around. Easy really, but then you need to push the designs and play with it and the materials.

You can contact Sandra through her main business facebook page: A Pawfect Fit.

Whilst at the Barnsley Archives the other day, I found out about this wonderful event called the Barnsley Shopping Carnival. In the archives they had the booklets from 1910 and 1922 and found them so fascinating to look at and read through. These booklets were actually more like an entire book and properly bound. Inside were drawings, photographs, advertisements, all about Barnsley, shops, competitions and more.

The 1910 booklet was less illustrious and more text based, as you'd expect. This was the first year Barnsley held this week-long event and it wrote how other towns had also done in and Barnsley wanted to join in. The carnival meant gathering all the shops throughout the town and to work together to create a massive attraction to all customers new and old, they would host special offers to get them into their shops and also import some special products that could only be bought during this week. The main part of the carnival was the window dressing competitions, they had different categories such as Ladies goods to wear, Mens goods to wear, Goods to eat, Best outside decoration and Best novelty window exhibition. To entice the shoppers, they urged them also to take part in guessing who would get the awards and also written essays about the carnival.

The 1922 book had far more visuals and even the first page was printed in colour as seen above.It echoed the previous book but had far more pages as it had grown in popularity. This time, the window dressing competitions had simplified down to the categories Things to eat, Things to wear and Things to use, but had extra special prizes given by  companies if they had put any of their products amongst their window displays. The Barnsley British Co-operative Society is featured quite heavily throughout this book, advertising each and every of it's departments, right down to particular products. Here's a selection of images from the 1922 booklet. Can you imagine if Barnsley still did this?

All content from the Barnsley Archives.

Something New - Wedding Specialists is ran by Laura Fletcher and creates beautiful bridesmaid and flower girl dresses, along with venue decorations like chair covers, table top decor and candy carts. We talked to her about her favourite makes, cos who doesn't want to see gorgeous flowy dresses??



Laura: As the wedding season slows down for me, I've started to research bridesmaid trends for 2017 and you can see that having your maids in a mixture of colours is set to continue. The first of my customers to do this in 2015 was Joanne, whose bridesmaids wore our best-seller, Adriana, in shades of pinks and purples.



Laura: One of my favourites from 2016 was Faith's lovely ladies in their custom made Renée gowns in purple hues, beautiful for a June wedding.



Laura: Also from this year was Alexa's girls in their various vintage pink shades. And still to come next month, a wonderful array of blue, silver and mint! And my top tip for 2017... pastels!



BFC: Where do you go to look for inspiration on your styles, designs and colours?

Laura: Pinterest... I'm totally obsessed! Most of what is on there are American weddings, which are always one step ahead. We tend to follow 1-2 years on, so whatever is happening there, we're sure to follow.

BFC: And what fabrics do you mostly use and which is your favourite to work with?

Laura: Definitely chiffon. It's flattering and looks so pretty. Also corded lace! Its great for the classic, vintage look.

You can see more of her work on her website and also give her facebook page a like!

The other day I got invited to go visit the Barnsley Archives and I got so excited seeing what they'd found for me, I got a bit lost in the reason why I was originally there and ended up just reading through old booklets and staring at photographs a bit too long. However there was some more gorgeous old photos of the Barnsley Co-operative Society that I had already done some delving into and it was because of this that I got invited to go and see more. So here is a few of the photos they had found for me.







These three photos above are from the 60's in it's ladies wear department. I love how happy the women in them are and that the styles of clothing in them can still be found in high street stores today. Something that stands out to me in all the photographs though, is that carpet!

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This was one of the make-up areas, featuring some brands that have obviously stood the test of time! You can also see the hair dyes, hair products and then for some reason...umbrellas at the back?





The Haberdashery department! If I had been around then, this would be where I'd spend all my time! All those rolls of fabric, mannequins, buttons, ribbons and so, so much more!

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The lingerie department looks typical of the 60's, full length nighties and under-slips. And there is that wonderful carpet again, it's growing on me!







The three photos above were taken in 1959, so a little earlier than the others and are of the Menswear departments. Here you could buy off the rack and have things made-to-measure. They also have all the school uniforms, shirts and accessories.

I find all these so fascinating and learning more about our town of Barnsley and it's history can still inspire you today. Massive thanks to the Barnsley Archives for your help, I'll definitely be coming back.

All photos from the Barnsley Archives.

Yesterday I got invited to go and look at the Barnsley Archives which are based inside the Town Hall. The Archives are open to the public to view anytime, however if you are looking for something in particular, it's best to email in advanced and see what they have on the subject.

I went there to find out more about the Barnsley Co-Operative building and found some beautiful old photographs of it from the 50's and 60's, featuring some of their departments and shoppers.

However I also found out about a wonderful event that used to be held called the Barnsley Shopping Carnival. This type of event had already been held elsewhere and Barnsley wanted to join in too. It gathered all the independent shops throughout the town to make a week long carnival, featuring special deals, window display competitions and public competitions. Everyone worked together to attract new customers to the town and they produced a 'booklet', which was actually an entire book detailing all of the events, history of the town, advertisements and stories about certain shops.

I've got lots of pictures to share, keep an eye out on the blog!

Spirit Original Designs owned by Trish Evans is one of our local handmade designers and her skills range from bag making, to jewellery, clothing and homewares. The business currently resides inside the Oh Sew Sweet Shop at Wombwell and we had a bit of a chat to her about how it all began. Visit Spirit's Facebook page here.

 BFC: Hi Trish, as a local Barnsley creative, what was it that got into doing your business originally?

Trish: I have loved sewing and being creative from when I was at school. I had a very stressful job and needed to chill and take a step back for health reasons. This is wear my creative and sewing skills made another appearance in my life and now i'm not stressed at all!

BFC: That's great that you almost use it as a relaxation method. Which creative skills did you start out with first? And is that what you still do now or have they evolved to other things?

Trish: I could sew at school so I would say that. I was also good with art at school too, then came making bridal head-wear in the early 80's. Initially this business began with jewellery making and we still do that.

BFC: So that's already a few skills you had under your belt early on. You now also do clothing as part of your business don't you? Could you tell us how that came about?

Trish: I would say from about the second year when we had already progressed into bag making and neck wraps, customers were asking us for clothes. They kept asking "when are you going to start making clothes?". To be honest I was happy with the business as it was but I gave in! I thought, give the customers what they want. That's how our clothes range started.

BFC: It's always good to listen to what your customers want. How would you describe the style of you clothing?

Trish: Individual. We only make one of everything so u wont be wearing the same dress as someone else! Individual with a twist.

BFC: And how would you describe your customer base that wanted you to make these clothes?



Trish: The same customers that keep coming back and new ones too. The age group that initially requested clothes were around 18-35 year old. I tend to get a lot of requests for races and weddings. I love creating something unusual.

BFC: Having returning customers are so valuable to any business. Do they still come to see you in your new home at the Oh sew Sweet Shop? Could you tell us a bit about the new place?

Trish: Oh yes. Since moving here it has gone from strength to strength! New customers all the time! Its a hub of life! A fabric shop, cafe and our boutique all in one!

BFC: Sounds like a wonderful little place! So out of all your fashion-y items, which are you favourite to make? Dresses? Bags? Jewellery?

Trish: Mmmmm I think dresses! 😀

BFC: Haha! And lastly, what piece of advice would you give to new business startups?

Trish: Listen to your customers and hang in there!

All pictures belong to Spirit Original Designs.

In recent news, a beautiful Victorian building has gone up in flames in Barnsley. It's recent use was a nightclub and now under renovation to become a restaurant, but all has been wasted away to a large fire destroying it. Originally built in 1862 and was a Grade 2 listed building, it housed many different departments from butchery, pharmaceutical, tailoring and also drapery.

It's with great shame that this building has slowly deteriorated over the years and has now been engulfed in flames. We're going to take a look at it's fashion sided history through these beautiful old photos from the 60's and a memories video from Experience Barnsley. Photo Credit to the left: Yorkshire Post.




The Experience Barnsley Museum have been delving into this topic and created this wonderful video of people who used to be members of the Co-Operative and their memories.

Whether you're doing a photoshoot, an event, or whatever project that requires help from other creatives, the age old question is, to ask my friends? Or to hire professionals? There's pros and cons to both sides and it all depends on the outcomes you want to achieve. If you want to just have some fun, get your friends involved. If you want to boost your business sales, are you better off hiring professionals? Here's some food for thought.

Pros-

• They're your friends!

• They're free.

• You can quite easily say no to them when they have an idea for you that's totally in the wrong direction.

• No awkward meetings.

• You already know their skills and quality levels.

• Talk more freely about your ideas.

Cons-

• Fall outs can happen!

• You may only get up to a certain quality.

• Friends can ditch out on you last minute.

• Could have low experience.

Pros-

• Guaranteed good quality.

• They have the relative experience.

• They can prove they'll get your desired outcome with previous work & testimonials.

• They have high level contacts and networks.

• Reliable, reliable, reliable.

• You can learn things from them.

• You can explain your idea and they immediately understand what you're after.

Cons-

• Costs, they charge what they want for their services (and sometimes rightly so!)

• They may have more experience than you and could use that against you.

• They could run away in their own style that they've built up over their career.

• Could put a time limit on how long they work with you, they're busy people!

After all this, the best position to have yourself in is to make really good friends with professionals and then you can have the best of both worlds. I know we're not all that lucky though, bare in mind these thoughts when you come across this dilemma. Do you have any stories of using friends or professionals? Or other pros & cons to add? Get in touch with your comments.

Photo Credit Here.

Emi B Designs by Emily Roberts creates beautiful handmade bags and accessories. She uses vintage themed fabrics like polka dots and florals whilst keeping a modern touch. All her items can be catered towards your needs, resulting in something that's amazing quality and incredibly useful. We asked her what were her all-time favourite designs and why she loved them.

 Linen Spotted Bag
Emily: "This bag is brilliant for everyday because of all the different coloured spots on the fabric I have used. This is why I love this one. The fabric is linen so feels lovely to touch. I lined this in a bright green cotton and this really makes this bag pop and really stand out."

We think this would make a great day bag, maybe go out shopping with it and would match any outfit with its neutral tones and then pops of different colours. The fabric makes it long-lasting, meaning you can get plenty of use out of it and more value for your money.
Cross-Body Pleated Bag

Emily: "I made this bag as I know lots of people like a decent sized bag that can be worn across the body in order to keep there hands free. This particular bag has 2 pleats in both the front and the back and this is what gives it that lovely shape. This is one of my favourites because of the fabric I love the vintage look of it I even finish most of my bags off with a genuine vintage button."

The vintage print on this fabric is so gorgeous and I'm a strong believer of cross-body bags. The vintage button just finishes off this beautiful bag.
Triple Pocket Bag

Emily: "This Bag was made for someone who doesn't like to cart around a bigger bag but still likes room for everything they need. it contains 3 pockets that are nice and compact when together but expands and opens out when opened. This is my favourite bag to make at the moment and this particular one I love the fabric it has that vintage look to it again which I really like across my designs. The fabric is definitely quirky and something you can't find on the high street."
Triple Pocket Bag

Functionality is something that a lot of mainstream, high street bags lack in. But this one has it all! Perfect for someone who tends to carry everything and the kitchen sink in their bags, hands up if you're one of them. Coupled with a pretty vintage print and a flap opening to complete this beauty.

Emi B Designs can be contacted through her Facebook page and also be sure to check out here blog!

All Pictures belong to Emi B Designs.