Preston designer Rebecca Scott has taken inspiration from her own family tree for her latest bridal jewellery collection
When Rebecca Scott was given her first button box from her Great Aunt Vera, she had no idea it would spawn a successful career
When she was just five-years-old, Rebecca loved nothing more than indulging her creative side with her aunt and spending time appreciating her beautiful gardens. This time has paid off. Today, Rebecca is a successful jewellery designer with her own business, Eclectic-Mix.
She said: ‘They were really special times and she was a really special lady. She was very creative.
‘I used to spend my whole summer holidays with her and she taught me a lot of what I know.’
Eclectic-Mix was launched in 2010 shortly after the 34-year-old moved back to Preston from London. She had been working as a designer for prestigious labels including Garrards, Links of London, Boodles and Laura Ashley. She also designed clasps for Louis Vuitton and worked on a wedding gift for Marilyn Manson and Dita von Teese.
She had always wanted to try jewellery design but it was when she had a small workspace in Catforth that she got the confidence to pursue her dream. Locals encouraged her to do more and she moved into her Preston city centre studio in Market Street West. Jewellery design not only fuels her creative side, it is also therapeutic.
She explained: ‘It sounds a little bit sad but my dad died in a motorbike accident when I was 11. I think art and creating things would give me a few hours to wander off into my own world. It’s very therapeutic.
‘Working with the materials I use, I am creating fine jewellery and it feels very worthwhile too.’
Rebecca, who also has sewing assistance from sister Ruth Hoare, has already launched one collection, Tresse, which has coastal influences and uses Swarovski crystals. But she is about to release her next collection which is rooted in her family’s history.
The For Vera collection, named after her treasured great aunt, has three ranges the Ida, Vera and Renee. Each one is named after one of Rebecca’s aunts who all married in different decades. Each part of the collection focuses on a different time period while being given a touch of 21st century glamour.
Ida uses soft and pure silk tulle in its headwear pieces as well as small, delicate freshwater pearls and tiny silk-covered buttons with designs that reflect life before the First World War.
Vera married in 1940, just as Britain was heading to war again. Her range embodies her personality and interests, which included gardening and creating havens for butterflies and other beautiful insects. Rebecca has used silk fabric silhouettes of butterflies, ruched together to create the impression of alluring, over-sized hydrangea heads with some of the designs.
Renee married in 1950. Her collection embodies the joy and feeling of rebirth that arrived in that post-war decade. The jewellery designs are more embellished and tactile and feature richly decorated and embroidered collars and cuffs with pearls, silk and gold work. Rebecca has also sourced the finest silks for this range’s capes and sashes, which are again heavily hand embellished.
Rebecca, who will soon be moving her studio into a converted room in her home in Preston city centre, said: ‘I feel very proud that I have created a collection based on my upbringing. It feels really nice to honour these incredible women from my family.
‘I love the materials I work with too. My pieces are all about luxury but relaxed glamour. I’m really lucky that brides like them. I have done pieces for bridesmaids too and I can do bespoke detailing. I get a lot of enjoyment from it.’
The talented designer is trained in goldsmithing, silversmithing and floristry and she combines these skills with natural and floral influences to create her beautiful collections. Everything is hand sewn and hand embellished.
Buttons also still influence her a lot and feature in her work. She also has a vast collection of glass buttons dating back to the Victorian and Edwardian periods. The ones she can bear to part with have been made into coat and hat pins. She is also expanding her range to include other accessories including beautiful bridal capes and boleros.
Rebecca, who has won awards and commendations from The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and The Worshipful Company of Pewterers, has also done a recent collaboration with luxury lingerie brand, MYLA of London, which was sold in Harrods and Selfridges. She is now hoping to attract attention from other big stores and would love to have a collection in London’s renowned Liberty store.
She said: ‘T0o have a one-off collection in a shop like Liberty would be fantastic. I would love it.
‘I really enjoy what I do and I love being able to work with brides to create items they love.’
