Olanic in 2008
Niki Taylor first made news back in 2002 with her patented 'Still' — a sock with a sole that fits over a shoe, transforming the shoe into a boot. After establishing her label Olanic (an anagram of Nicola) at Paris Fashion week in 2004, she's gone on to gain experience and credibility culminating in her latest collection inspired by school uniforms entitled 'The Boys'. The designer trained in traditional pattern cutting at the Scottish College of Textiles and worked as a consultant designer before setting up on her own.
Olanic is set to make her London Fashion Week debut at the Vauxhall Fashion Scout in September and while she has been tipped as 'one to watch' previously, her autumn/winter collection displays her ability to create clothes that mix urban style with understated glamour. There are punkish overtones in Edwardian-style jackets teamed with vertical striped high-waisted trousers, elegance in her mini pink capes over block printed black T-shirts and traditional college scarves worn over draped white long-sleeve dresses. Denim is dip-dyed and geometric-cut leather bibs adorn dresses. Working with Scottish textile companies Locharron of Scotland and Calzeat & Co, Niki has developed her own unique range of fabrics. The forthcoming collection is strictly under wraps but is bound to offer an exciting mix of exquisite tailoring and innovative fabrics with urban fox styling.
Words: Marian Buckley
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