A Moment With Audrey Ang of Auds Jewellery

Occupation: accessories designer + it seems I've become regular st martins fashion design tutor

What does style mean to you?  
About expressing who you truely are innit?
In terms of clothes?.... dressing up to suit yrself.  Beautiful craftmanship, women in Alaia, a thick huge fisherman's jumper, a Yohji white shirt, and men in good suits is always a turn on.

Describe yourself in one sentence? 

Im midnite black  with hidden shots of multi coloured accents.  My St Martins students call me Dragon lady until they get to know me. 

What first inspired you to want to work within the fashion industry? 
Lotsa influences all to do with music and fashion mixed up.
Watching Bob Fosse musicals in film- I love SHirley McClaine.  ALL those Hollywood movies incl film noirs.
Monsieur Christian Dior.... I loved his elegant cutting.  All the tailoried suits and gowns for women, gorgeous shapes. Growing up in London during the 80's and buying loads of records from Beggars Banquet and listening to lotsa pop, The New Romantics: Steve Strange, Bow wow wow, Adam and the ants, Duran Duran, Soft Cell and of course Souxie + The Banshees, The Specials, Gary Numan, Blondie dressed in Stephen Sprouse. New magasines like The Face + i-D with innovative styling by Judy Blame.  Plus me mum always made me wear what she chose for the day and I used to imagine and draw what I'd actually like to wear.  Loved that documentry by Clive James at the Paris fashion shows in beg 80's..... I watched it over and over on me betamax video....Thierry Mugler was hot!  Thierry Mugler's Devil collection made me scream when I saw it in Paris on the catwalk.  He'd mixed music tracks - Prince's "foxy Lady" with "the omen" and the models were wearing flame-columned dresses with their hair worn as devil's horns. So powerful and inspiring in those few minutes.

How do you want people to feel when they wear your clothes?  

Happier, more confident..... more stylish.

Who do you design for? 

Men and women.... any age.  That's why after designing clothes at Yohji Yamamoto for several years it was so lovely to design accessories.....accessories are less elitist and less seasonal. They are also bought very often as gifts which is a special sentiment.

What other designers do you admire? 

Yep, It's an 80's influence again!  Azzedine Alaia because he sculpts a woman's body with perfect seductive knits in the most sumptous colours, Yohji Yamamoto is so beautifully elegant and quietly strong....... can make you shiver.  Vivienne Westwood is unique. 

Where do you see your label in five years time?
Dunno. It started in Nov 08 as a little project for editorial, NOT for shops as a money making label. I think it's nice kept small for now.  It interests me to work with other artists. I'd like to do more collaborations... as I'm an ideas person.  I like other medias to express my ideas, I like my work to be carried away on a journey.  When someone chooses something I've designed, it evolves with the wearer's style.  I'm makin guitar straps for The Brute Chorus band at the mo. They're a great live band that I love...they've just recorded their album live at the Roundhouse.

What has been the proudest moment in your career to date?  
Can I have two? 
Firstly In, Paris, city of dreams, when i saw my designs walk out onto the catwalk, in the finale pret a porter collection for Yohji Yamamoto Femme.  I didn't know til that moment that Yohji was gonna use the ideas I had worked on.  I felt really honored to see them realised so beautifully. 
Secondly when the extremely stylish Christy Turlington + Kate Moss bought my handbags from my first handbag collection.

Are you all work no play?
Nah.......tho this summer it's felt like it, non stop work to the point of utter exhaustion.  But I feel older this year, quieter and calmer - not as immature as I usually am!  Maybe I'm finally starting to grow up!

Now I'm gonna look very sad!........cuppa tea in Victoria Park by the lake and walkin along the canal,  dancin around the room to records cheers me up, hand-writing letters to me best mate Aidan and lately smokin ( too much ) in my garden.

What is your must-have item for the season?    

If only one thing I'd say Shu Uemura lipstick.....the best colours.  I have lotsa clothes in my wardrobe already so for me it's accessories.......AUDS BITCH knuckle duster ring worn with attitude, Falke colour tights worn with thigh high socks from Tokyo.

Whats next? 

Take more time for myself!  As my dapper intern Charlie said..... Time to be a BITCH and cut out the crap!  As for me collection I've gotta start researchin again but will collaborate from the half way point, more closely with Billa ( photographer ) and Richard Tucker ( graphics ).  I'd also like to work again with Liz Martins the amazing make up artist ( La roux, Girls aloud ).

by Milly McMahon