Armed with a master’s degree from Central St Martins, Davina has gone on to win several awards for her stylish, sustainable designs. Despite recently dressing the model/actress, Veronica Webb, on the red carpet, and receiving accolades from Carine Roitfeld (former editor of French Vogue), the ethical fashion designer remains grounded and appreciates the simple things in life. She lives in a sleepy village called Ivinghoe in the UK, with her 14 month-old daughter, Oona and her Norwegian boyfriend, Ulrik. Here, she opens up about her eco chic lifestyle…
How would you describe your label?
It is feminine and fresh yet has a vintage feel to it. I love designing timeless creations that allow women to stand out from the crowd. My label celebrates individuality and embraces feminine sensuality. Every woman has her own body shape and because I design bespoke pieces, it allows you to feel even more confident and beautiful.
What’s been the highlight of your career so far?
I think for me, it was when Katherine Hamnett came up to me and said, “What a great collection!” It’s a real honour when a fashion designer you really respect and who has been in the industry for such a long time, admires your work. It gave me so much encouragement.
Why did you decide to go down the ethical fashion route?
To me it’s important to be conscious about the decisions you make and to reflect upon how they impact our lives as a whole. It is about building a better future and I think this is important to pass on to the future generation. It helps me sleep better at night.
You’re known for upcycling. Can you explain more…
Upcycling is re-using materials to recreate something else, diminishing the need to use original raw material. So therefore you don’t need to cut down more trees or grow more cotton, which saves energy and resources, which in turn reduces throwing away waste into landfills.
From where do you source your materials?
I used to source my materials from charity shops and recycling units but now I use what scraps I have left to create interesting embellishments. So, nothing goes to waste.
And where does your design inspiration come from?
All around me really. I love museums, especially the V&A and the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery. I’m also a fan of the Tate Modern. Recently, I was impressed by Micheal Landy’s exhibition at the National Gallery. Music is also an inspiration. At the moment I’m listening to James Blake, Nile Rodgers, Kate Bush, The Black Keys and Billie Holiday.
When you’ve had a stressful week, how do you like to relax?
Spending time with my daughter always calms me and makes me smile. I also love cooking Caribbean dishes, sharing a nice bottle of French wine with my boyfriend. The simple things really.
What’s been the most challenging time in your life?
Probably, when my younger brother, Barry died. He was just 14 and I was 16 at the time. He ended up taking his own life – it was really devastating.
That must’ve been horrific for you, a really painful time…
It was, but it is in these dark moments that you really appreciate the love from your family and friends, who help you to get through it.
Is designing therapeutic for you?
Absolutely, I love getting absorbed in the creative process, spending time developing ideas. It can sometimes be a solitary activity and yet that brings me a sense of peace and inner happiness. I feel blessed to be able to do what I’m passionate about for a living.
