I am so inspired by the drama of historic costumes and whenever I travel anywhere I always try and track down exhibits of the fabulous fashions of the past.
Having visited Turkey on numerous occasions, out of the museums in Istanbul, Topkapi palace is my favourite. It has incredible collections of the formal costumes from the Ottoman Empire and along with all sorts of amazing jewellery and accessories, the tunics and silk robes are breathtaking.
I love the idea that these garments have been treasured as artworks in a collection and preserved for centuries.
The magic blooms collection is partly inspired by the silken fabrics I saw at this exhibition and I've tried to capture the mood of the design and the elaborate detailing whilst giving it a modern twist.