When you think of Liverpool and Merseyside, what comes to mind? The Beatles, The Cavern Club, Stephen Graham, Jimmy McGovern? Liverpool and Merseyside’s culture is so entrenched in our brains with writers such as Carla Lane, who wrote the comedies The Liver Birds, Bread, and Butterflies, focusing on strong female characters. Then there is a host of actors including David Morrisey, Alison Steadman, and Jodie Comer.
More obviously, there is the huge legacy The Beatles left behind. The four lads from Liverpool who took the world by storm with their music, image, and cheeky personalities preserved in time forever in the film A Hard Day’s Night, which celebrated its 60th anniversary this year, and the psychedelic animated film, Yellow Submarine, a huge explosion of colour and music.
Mag North’s Sandra Blemster wanted to find out how this has enthused people who are young there today. She spoke with two fashion designers who have taken inspiration from this huge melting pot of culture.
Caitlin Hare owns an online clothes shop (and sells at festivals too), The Octopus Garden. The logo being a pink octopus surrounded by a swirl of colour. She sells vintage, but also designs her own colourful collections too, such as Harvest Hill and Magic Meadow. One collection Love Street is very Beatles-inspired with Love logos and recalls the Yellow Submarine film.
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We asked her to tell us about her designs, and what her work involves:
“My designs are all about creating a colourful nostalgia, almost like stepping into the Yellow Submarine film! The 1960s and 70s were full of all these iconic, showstopping prints and silhouettes—but really only the rich and famous were wearing the really crazy pieces, and this means that they’re not only like hen’s teeth to find, but they are all usually super tiny (if they have even survived this long).
The Octopus Garden is all about making those pieces accessible—to be authentic in paying homage to the groovy eras of fashion, while creating wearable, lasting garments that will always be a joy to wear (and not pollute the planet)!”
How has Liverpool/Merseyside played a part in inspiring you?
“I grew up here and became aware of The Beatles from about 4 or 5 years old, so obviously that’s part of our identity as a brand! But being part of a city that has always been loud and encouraged the most extravagant self-expression has had a huge impact on me. When I was really finding my style as a kid, Liverpool had a Vivienne Westwood and flagship Topshop that was amazing for assessing trends, and Quiggins for all the weird and wonderful!”
Why do you think Liverpool is so important, culturally? Why is it still a hotbed of creativity?
“Liverpool is so proud of its cultural history and everything it’s put out into the world—from its artists, musicians, designers, and sports; and when a city is really proud of its outputs, it shouts about them all the time. So when creatives are looking for somewhere to build a life, it’s the perfect place to choose! Music and art is so accessible, and there’s stuff going on all the time. Plus it’s so friendly, and small enough that it’s really easy to find your community.”
Sustainability is a strong focus for Caitlin, and she has had a craft event in Liverpool using offcuts from her designs.
Charlie Ann Buxton, makes vintage-inspired scarves and cushions. She is also inspired by 1960s art, and her intricate work has been described as “a visual narrative of Merseyside.” Her collections include, amongst others, The Misty Rose Silk Skinny Scarf, the dayglo Sunday Morning Long Brim Hat and Saturday Morning Shoppers scarf.
She describes her work as:
“A surreal, dreamlike, vintage style through an exploration of Merseyside's forgotten seaside towns and unique fashion identity and culture.”
We also asked the same questions.
Could you tell MN about your designs and the work involved?
“When designing a new scarf, I always find inspiration or a theme that I want to work on. Often this is something to do with my immediate surroundings. For example, in the past, I have created scarves that are inspired by Hilbre Island (West Kirby) and Crosby Beach. As well as collaborating with local poet Daniel Astles on poems about Merseyside, and drawing from these poems as inspiration.
I start sketching away at ideas, always thinking about a design that would flow well on fabric. One of my aims as a designer is to create scarves that are as suited to being hung in a gallery as they are being worn for a special occasion. Once I have finished the drawing, I will work on it digitally to make any amendments and work on the colours. I get all my fabric printed locally in England on 100% natural fibres, & I sew all the scarves myself, taking care with each individual order. So much time and love goes into every scarf, from the designing to the making.”
How has Merseyside inspired you?
“I grew up and live in Merseyside, I currently have a studio in The Bluecoat in Liverpool City Centre. A lot of my work has been inspired by the area. For example, my graduate collection at Central Saint Martins was titled Under the Mersey Wall and was directly influenced by the culture in Merseyside, particularly in the 1960s.
For this, I did a lot of research on the 1960s and Liverpool, illustrating from descriptions I found, getting inspiration. I remember finding one line about ladies in the 1960s shopping on Myrtle Street with a scarf over their hair rollers. I really loved this as not only am I designing scarves but also how proud Liverpool is still 60 years later to go out shopping with hair rollers in. Liverpool has such an amazing and unique fashion identity, the history is so interesting. The collection I did before that was named Pleasureland, and was inspired by Southport, the town in which I grew up, and its fading seaside glamour.”
Why do you think Liverpool is so important, culturally?
“Clearly Liverpool has had such a big effect on global culture and you can still really tell that today. There is always a gig on every night and art previews every week. The city centre is small, so you can't walk far without bumping into someone you know. The art and music community is very supportive of each other, turning up to each other's events and always lending a hand when needed. This is what makes Liverpool so great!”
Sustainability
“Every design is timeless, transcending fleeting trends and seasons, to be cherished for generations to come. Committed to sustainability, I exclusively use 100% natural fibres. Every scarf is printed and handcrafted locally in England, a decision that not only ensures quality but also supports fellow small businesses and reduces air miles. There is minimal waste fabric; any offcuts are saved and made to create other small products.”
For more information, visit:
The Octopus Garden
Charlie Ann Buxton
