You can hardly go a city block in London without bumping into an It girl in a bright faux fur. That phenomenon is undoubtedly thanks to Hannah Weiland, the founder of Shrimps. Weiland is sticking with her statement coat bread and butter for Fall but expanding for the first time into ready-to-wear. In a swirling pink bathroom set, models showed off sheer black dresses, pvc leathers and a shoe collaboration with Rupert Sanderson.
Harper's BAZAAR: So it looks like you've expanded your line?
Hannah Weiland: Yes, this is my first real go at ready-to-wear, which is really exciting. I wanted to sort of create a darker, older, wiser Shrimps girl with it. It's kind of like the brand has grown up with me I suppose. I started with one coat, now I've got many coats, handbags and suits.
HB: Tell me about those fantastic furry shoes?
HW: The shoes are a collaboration with Rupert Sanderson. We may produce the shoes.
HB: What's the story behind the faces and drawings on some of the pieces?
HW: So I've just drawn these little characters my whole life and I started off by making them as badges and putting them inside the clothes and then I made them into jacquards on the fur and then into an organza dress there, sort of a Shrimps bride. They're just little characters, I name them. The girl on the white coat is called Dory, she's got little pigtails.
HB: Your coats have blown up like crazy, what has it been like for you to watch that happen?
HW: Well it's really exciting, this whole thing is really exciting.
HB: Why faux fur? Why was that your initial starting point?
HW: It feels like a long time ago now but I basically never wore real fur and I felt like I needed to source a good faux fur and I did and I could dye it any color I wanted to. I just felt there was a sort of opening in the market at the time, obviously most people are doing it now so I'm expanding it into different things like textured PVC that's like a gothic velvet, that leopard I actually hand drew that myself. I love it as a fabric, it's very versatile.
