A sprinkling of fairy dust inspires young designer’s new range

Almost a century has passed since Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths fooled Arthur Conan Doyle and plenty of others with their now infamous Cottingley Fairies photographs.

While the images may have been faked, 100 years on the story has inspired one up-and-coming fashion designer.

Lotte Willis, who is studying at Kingston University, used the story as the basis for her final year range and thanks to sponsorship from Swarovski Elements, the result was a knitwear collection with added sparkle.

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The 22-year-old’s use of bold crimson, orange and red, coupled with gold panels, might not be instantly associated with fairies at the bottom of the garden, but Lotte, who comes from Guildford, says it was the two West Yorkshire cousins and the endless speculation which surrounded their photographs which directly inspired her designs.

“Adults are just big children, which is why so many people were willing to believe the fairy photographs,” she said. “Every so often our imaginations break free from the routine of everyday life and it is in these moments that we capture a little of that youthful magic again.

“That’s what I hope when people see my collection – a glimpse of something colourful and fun. I’ve experimented with different weights of fabric, from light ruffled underskirts to the heavier knitwear, which really dominates the collection. The crystals completed the look, giving it that magical fairy-dust haze.”

Sadly, Lotte’s graduation range isn’t on sale, but we suspect it’s only a matter of time before her talents are snapped up.

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