Sass + Bide and Felder Felder are two of our favourite female design duos. Australian friends Sarah- Jane Clarke (sass) and Heidi Middleton (bide) design modern and distinction collections dedicated to the strong, obscure and beautiful.

Resort 2011

Identical sisters Annette and Daniela Felder (Felder Felder) carry a signature feminine rock and roll aesthetic in their collections. Worn by the likes of Rihanna and Florence and the Machine their designs are intrigued by opposites and combined contrast in a bid to achieve the perfect balance in each design.

AW 2011/2012

SS 2012

London Fashion Week 17-21st February

Name: Stephanie Telemaque
Age: 19
Place of Birth: Trinidad & Tobago
Current Residence: Savannah, Georgia

My mother was born in Grenada and has British family and my dad was born in Trinidad. Our family is generally a mix up of everything, which is usually common in the Caribbean, especially Trinidad. My upbringing was fairly normal other than having a beauty queen for a mother.

My aunty Jen (Jennifer Hosten), my grandmother’s younger sister became the first and only woman from Grenada to win Miss World in the 1970s. She inspires me a lot; she made a difference and gave Grenadians and other smaller islands confidence. I’ve always been inspired by her amazing aura and all the things she has done as an individual.

 I am currently a student in my sophomore year at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), majoring in Advertising and Photography. I have always been influenced and intrigued by the beauty of culture. I started taking pictures from a very young age and just enjoyed capturing beautiful things. After my studies I intend to open my own print creative advertising agency in Trinidad and other Caribbean islands.

Portrait by Clemen Matos 

I cannot explain my style. I tend to wear clothes that are sophisticated, but comfortable. I love wearing black and white, but I do have some hints of colour in my closet somewhere.

I have been fortunate enough to travel to many exotic places such as Grenada, Barbados, Aruba, Curacao, Venezuela and Puerto Rico. I have also travelled to Paris, London and the USA. On my hit list is Spain, Rome and Greece.

I love being a woman because it gives me the opportunity to change the mindset of those who believe certain things can’t be done by women. It is rewarding to be the underdog. There are things that women do that couldn’t even be attempted by men, and things men can’t do well without the presence of a woman.

I am Complexd because of cultural background, beliefs and strong opinions. All these things allow me to be open-minded as an artist and individual.  My strong minded ways get me into trouble sometimes, but it has the strength to avoid people and things in life that leach to negativity.

View Stephanie’s photographs here 

Name: Efe Ezekiel

Age: 32

Place of birth: Hackney, London

Current residence: London, UK

I am very proud of my Nigerian roots, but I am glad I was brought up in a multicultural environment like East London.  My mother was a single parent who taught me how to survive and persevere. Because of her I can get through the hard times and enjoy the good times. I had a fun and creative childhood so from an early age I knew I wanted to work with children and in TV and film. I got involved in a voluntary project training young people about the Media which helped me discover my passion for inspiring young people.

I wanted to continue to contribute to the personal development of young people in the UK so I launched Ushine Ishine, a youth mentoring service and production company. It was challenging at first, I had to make many financial sacrifices while staying positive about my goals and aspirations. I had very long nights and early mornings, but I was truly passionate about my business so I found the motivation from within to make it a success. The most positive aspect about running my own business is the freedom to express my ideas. The most fulfilling part of my job is witnessing the advancement of the young people I mentor. I believe that young people lack confidence and self-esteem because we live in a society that continuously tells us that only a certain type of person can succeed in life. A lot of the young people I have spoken to feel faceless, insignificant and believe they have no future. I open their minds to a new way of thinking and a new state of mind.

The most common issue I encounter is body woes among young women. Many young women are in a battle with themselves and sadly each other. They are preoccupied with the way they look because they are trying to achieve what they see in the media, but it’s never going to be good enough. They feel pressured to look like the superstars thus go through extreme stages of self –loathing, leading to dieting and weight loss. On the flip-side there is also the issue of lack of knowledge about health, diet and nourishment. I battled with obesity as a teenager so I teach the young women I meet about health and fitness.

I love being a woman because I am representing the women that made great achievements before me, so that I could have the opportunity to get an education, have a career and live a free and adventurous life. I want to contribute to that limitless human pyramid by inspiring young women and men. I also love being a woman because it means that one day I can be a mother. I want to be a great mother to my children and all the young people I meet and mentor.

I am Complexd because I know that my individuality is a divine gift from God and I make sure that I live every day with gratitude, creativity and love. Ushine Ishine forever!

www.ushineishine.com