Perspex bracelets as beautiful as crystal or ice buildings, small hats sitting naturally on greedy heads and messy hair accessories… Inspired by architecture and experimenting new materials and technologies, the House of Flora gives birth to numerous hats, creative, forever fresh and chic discoveries.
Indian ornaments, Elvis banana does… Flora McLean has collaborated for the last three years with the hairdresser Neil Moodie. Together, they review the iconic does of the 20th century. Flora endlessly flirts with the sharp London and chic Tokyo fashion editors, creators like Matthew Williamson and great French houses like Givenchy.

 - Caroline Cornu - translate C.Denis -

www.houseofflora.net

Flora McLean interview.

Sabine Morandini : When did you discover you wanted to do fashion?
Flora McLean : I wanted to design clothes like Claude Montana and early Pierre Cardin when I was 14 /15. I made lots of sketches and planned costumes in books and made my collages clothes. The first collection that I was proud of was at Middlesex University in 1993.
SM : Where did you find your inspiration for the last collection?
FML : For the “Bamboo Queen” I was looking at Japanese gardens and materials. I looked at combs and hairstyles from ancient Japanese paintings and architecture.
SM : What are your influences - artistic movements, muses, and icons?
FML : I love looking at surrealism. Also I love the Russian constructivists and German Bauhaus movement. I am a big fan of Oskar Schlemmer and Moholy Nagy.
SM : What monument?
FML : I really like the British Telecom tower in central London and the Westway in West London.
SM : What fascinates you?
FML : I love music all kinds - from disco to Brahms. I also try to speak other languages. I love going to the ballet and seeing what people can do with their bodies. So many things fascinate me; it’s hard to list them all.
SM : Are there any new materials you will work with or would like to experiment with in the future?
FML : I would like to work with enamel.

SM : I give you 5 keywords. Could you comment each word?
Light?          FML : mirror.
Geometry?   FML : constructivism.
Fairy?          FML : fantasy.
Fashion?      FML :sharp.
Tradition?     FML : be aware.
Religion?      FML : I like the music but I don’t bother with religion as                    it always causes trouble/wars.

    - Sabine Morandini - interview january 2008 –