Introducing: Sarah Hollebon

written by oliver squirrell

Sarah Hollebon is a rising British fashion designer who we first met in 2019 via our charity partner The Perspective Project. Immediately we were struck by the depth of thoughtfulness and attention to detail that goes into her work together with her dedication towards social change.

Sarah has a mission to normalise conversations on social issues, and each collection she produces highlights people’s real stories and experiences, where some are extremely deep rooted.

Photographer: Xinjia ZhouModels: Alvina Malvina, Chloé Doherty, Jean John-EdoHair and Make-Up Artist: Beth McKendrick — Photographer: Xinjia Zhou
Models: Alvina Malvina, Chloé Doherty, Jean John-Edo
Hair and Make-Up Artist: Beth McKendrick

Located on Kingly Street in Carnaby London, each garment is handmade in-house, constructed to the client’s individual shape, using 18 body measurements.

With a background in traditional bespoke tailoring and trained by a Savile Row waistcoat tailor, Sarah understands the craft of quality and precision. She is a keen advocate for mental health by creating a positive dialogue and by opening up the conversation, on what can be challenging topics.

She campaigns and volunteers for Time to Change, a leader in campaigning to end stigma and discrimination in mental health. Also, Sarah is a public speaker, giving talks on a broad range of topics around mental health at events including Creative Voices Mind and What’s Going on in Your Head.

Visiting her Carnaby studio is always a delight, and asking Sarah to describe a specific piece makes for a captivating experience. During UK lockdown we caught up with Sarah to dive further into her practice and latest projects.

OS: Hi Sarah, thank you for taking the time to chat with us. Could you firstly introduce us to your creative practice in terms of what you create and why you create?

SH: My creative practise is twofold, to create handmade bespoke garments, using traditional tailoring techniques, and to use this as a conversation starter for important issues. I wish to create collections that will explore a social issue in society today. This collection will highlight and raise awareness of real issues that people are enduring daily. I chose this route as I believe fashion is a fantastic platform to create positive change in this world. Also, mental health is an extremely close and personal subject for me, I have been affected by mental health since the age of 11, and I know from talking openly about mental health, this would be a very sensitive subject to the wider audience.

OS: That’s very powerful. Could you talk us further through your mental health collection?

SH: Presently, my mental health collection has 7 conditions and I am working on the 8th. My research process is primary, where I conduct interviews and in-depth understanding of people going through their mental health conditions. I then took their experiences, and my experiences and turned them into pieces of art work, that can be both wearable or displayed.

OS: What is your longer term vision for your practice and the impact the work will have on society?

SH: In the UK, I would like my exhibitions to travel around the country to, highlight and raise awareness on social issues so they create a positive impact within society. I would like my garments to be used as a visual in an educational environment. I feel my garments speak volumes and present a visual that will resonant with people to convey an important message rather than just a pretty piece of clothing on a rail to buy.

I’ve seen it first hand already, in my various exhibitions people were discussing and learning about mental health. It opens up the conversation for people to start talking about their experience. Equally it plants seeds in peoples minds who may not know what it’s like for people who struggle with mental health. In addition, I would like to explore and raise awareness of social issues in other countries. By travelling to these countries, I can learn firsthand their culture, their way of life and the struggles they face. What I learn, I can then combine and create designs to open the conversation in that country and then raise it in the UK.

OS: What can we do as a society to further challenge mental health stigma and inspire more empathy?

SH: As a society we can continue to learn and speak more openly about mental health, moving that one step closer to abolishing the stigmas and the misconceptions. I think Covid-19 will naturally inspire more empathy within so many of us. People all around the world are either in lockdown or partial lockdown, some people are battling with their own mental health conditions, and some people are experiencing mental health symptoms for the first time. I truly believe there will be a day when there is nothing but positive conversation on mental health, I wish to push this for all challenging and uncomfortable subjects.

OS: What’s the process for someone buying one of your pieces or commissioning you?

SH: The process to buy or to commission a garment will be a very personal and exclusive experience for the client. To arrange a consultation, Clients can book via email, website, or phone. The consultation will take place in my London studio in Carnaby, just off of Regents Street. During the consultation, we will discuss designs, fabrics and trimmings. 18 measurements will be taken from the clients body, this insures a perfect fit for them. Customisation of any design is available. Also, it is a good opportunity to learn more about my Client in terms of their lifestyle, culture, and preferences in clothing.

OS: How can people find out more and engage with you and your collections during lockdown and beyond?

SH: I have recently taken part in a few Conversational Zoom chats, these are open to the public to watch now on YouTube [embedded below]. I am active on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook with my business [links available at the foot of this page].

Since chatting with Sarah she has additionally launched a stunning collection of handmade miniature-scale versions from the mental health collection, which work well as display pieces for the home and for opening up the conversation on mental health. They are approximately 30cm in height (from head to toe) and 10cm in width.

Miniature Garments_Sarah Hollebon_Anorexia_low red.jpg

The below video provides a closer look at what goes into the process.

Contact Sarah via the channels below for further information and to make an enquiry. We hope you enjoy exploring her work and we look forward to following her progress further over the coming months!

Visit Sarah’s website: sarahhollebon.co.uk

Follow on Instagram: @sarah_hollebon

Facebook: facebook.com/sarah.hollebon2

Linked In: linkedin.com/company/42149978

Oliver SquirrellJune 12, 2020

Introducing: Sarah Hollebon

written by oliver squirrell

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