Liam designer looks for inspiration for upcoming collection

Miller-Sharma shares two of many Liam folders, where she keeps sketches, ideas and designs. Photo: Jess Meek

Get out of your workspace and take inspiration from everyday objects.

That’s the approach Auckland designer Emily Miller-Sharma’s uses to create her looks for New Zealand fashion label, Liam.

Liam released its Spring Collection on July 29 and Miller-Sharma is already searching for her inspiration for the next collection.

“I’ve been wondering what it’s going to be! I don’t necessarily use street style blogs as inspiration because it becomes like a washing machine cycle, so it’s good for me to get out of the office this week,” Miller-Sharma said.

At Miller-Sharma’s presentation during the Spark media arts festival, she spoke of inspirations outside of fashion including water running through pipes and the album Caramel by musician Connor Mockasin.

Sharma asked attendees of her workshop the following day to use the same process, getting them to sketch quick designs of clothing that reminded them of the properties of golden syrup.

Miller-Sharma begins timing in a special exercise created by her for the hour workshop. Photo: Jess Meek

The fast-paced exercise run by Miller-Sharma was to show attendees the importance of working fast and clearing their minds.

“If I could give any advice it would be work fast and don’t worry,” Miller-Sharma said.

At the end of the workshop Wintec fashion students and other attendees were able to share and talk about their designs with Miller-Sharma.

Of the newly released collection, her favourite pieces include the Jones short sleeve top she wore during her presentation at Spark and a few special others.

The Rainier dress in particular is something Miller-Sharma is excited to release, hopefully within the next two weeks.

The Rainier dress, one of Miller-Sharma's favourites from the Liam Spring lookbook 2016. Photo: James K Lowe — The Rainier dress, one of Miller-Sharma’s picks from the Liam Spring lookbook 2016. Photo: James K Lowe

“I like everything from the new collection! I like the trench, and the dress that will be arriving in the next couple of weeks is really cool. When it comes into store you should go have a look at it,” she said.

Miller-Sharma used a bias grain to create the natural stretch of the dress, meaning it has no zip and no split, although it is tight and woven.

“Bias stretches to the parts it needs to stretch to, the hips and the bust. Sometimes it can sag in the bits that are in the recesses, the waist. But I’ve cut this different back panel so it doesn’t do that. It’s a really cool pattern,” Miller-Sharma said.

Liam brings out new collections in Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, but they deliver weekly into stores.