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Talents: Guðbjörg Þóra – Icelandic Fashion & Textile designer
Guðbjörg Þóra Stefánsdóttir
Capturing memories & emotions
Find me: @gudbjorgthora
Secret talent: I am a decent flute player!
Tell us about your work in a few words.
My full name is Guðbjörg Þóra Stefánsdóttir and I am an Icelandic fashion/costume and textile designer. I moved to London in 2014 and just finished my undergraduate degree in Fashion Print at Central Saint Martins. During my course I interned in different fields such as print and graphic design at Versace Jeans Couture, developing embroidery samples for RTW and Couture at Chanel Metier D’arts and RTW at Marc Jacobs. Textiles have always been a part of me, because I grew up surrounded by textile artists and I have a deep appreciation for making material from scratch, therefore the creative process often becomes personal and obsessive
What makes your brand unique and important?
As I have only just started building my brand, I am still figuring out many aspects of it, but I believe that what makes it important is the process of making the prints and the shapes because it has been a healing process for me. During lockdown I was forced to use my own body to drape on and develop the shapes. I was used to using other people to model and had never had to look at myself in my designs before.
Looking at pictures of myself and my body constantly throughout the project, became very therapeutic and taught me to accept myself. Like many other women, and unfortunately young girls, I have dealt with a dysmorphic views of my body and disordered eating for a long time and I dealt with those issues by not really looking at myself, I felt like if I ignored my body I would get better. Throughout the making of my first collection, I had no choice but to deal with those issues and eventually I saw myself in a different light and stopped worrying so much about my appearance. I documented this development as the prints for my collection.
“During lockdown I was forced to use my own body to drape on and develop the shapes. I was used to using other people to model and had never had to look at myself in my designs before. Looking at pictures of myself and my body constantly throughout the project, became very therapeutic and taught me to accept myself.”
What inspires you?
Everything around me inspires me, I usually take inspiration from items and experiences in my own life so my work often becomes personal and emotional. Every project is in some way connected to a person or a place in my life that has a significant meaning to me. Women also inspire me and the strong role models I have around me always give me inspiration.
What materials are your favourite to work with?
I love working with found objects and materials, my favourite is the material that I create by myself, for example making my own fabric by weaving it. The more from scratch and hands-on my designs are the more exited and passionate I am about them.
“The message that I want my brand to stand for is body positivity and how important it is to feel comfortable in your own skin, I want people to find that comfort and confidence while wearing my designs.”
Who is someone you’ve always wanted to dress?
I would love to dress Grimes but it is always inspiring to see my friends and family wearing my designs, it makes me so happy to see that the people around me support me and want to wear what I create.
Last time you laughed?
I am always laughing.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I want to be able to support myself through my brand and by doing what I enjoy, I am proud of where I am right now and the fact that I have always followed my instinct and dreams, I believe I am moving into the right direction. I am preparing for my first made to order collection which I am planning to release in November. Even though it has been difficult at times I hope I keep staying true to myself, continuing to do what makes me happy. I want to have my own brand and collaborate with people that inspire me. Hopefully I will still be fearless and having fun doing what fulfills me!