Desert influence in Stroud streets (From Stroud News and Journal)

Desert influence in Stroud streets

STROUD has received another fashion boost to it's thriving independent label following the recent addition of the Sahara store.

Based in the High Street on the corner of Church Street, Sahara is renowned for its soft layered styling, fluid silhouettes which combine fabrics from crepes, georgettes, chenilles and satins to linens, natural rayons and velours.

The key factor of Sahara is it's appeal to a wide range of women both in age and size.

Sahara combines eastern creativity with western design giving it a very vintage feel, using luxurious brocade, velour, textured chenille and weighty satins combined with natural rayon, crepe and georgette.

Each style is cleverly created using unstructured designs and bias cuts to flatter even the fuller figure with many styles fitting up to a size 22.

The unique fabric combinations make very versatile outfits which are also ideal for travelling.

With autumn in full swing, colour features strongly in the autumn palette containing rich jewel shades of purple, amber, fuchsia and sapphire through to subtle, natural tones of loden, spruce and almond.

And for colder evenings extravagant details of shaggy faux fur collars and cuffs adorn textured velour jackets and coats.

Morocan fringed shawls, plaited leather belts with beaten brass buckles plus a stunning collection of jewellery from the East Indies in wood, horn and grass giving a truly authentic touch.

With 120 independent wholesale accounts in the United Kingdom and abroad, six Sahara retail stores and a team of 35 employees, Sahara has developed into a thriving independent fashion business which has created its own niche in the marketplace.

Now in it's tenth year the company was formed by Suzy Copper-Smith- Heavan.

Suzy developed her talents in the late 1970's after being inspired by traditional gypsy costume.

The range was an instant success in London and was stocked by eminent fashion stores such as Joseph, Harrods, Fiorucci and Selfridges.

The Sahara label was born during her creative trip North Africa.

Weaving through the Moroccan Souks on the back of a bicycle, Suzy discovered the traditional fabrics and textiles of the Berber People and once again a new collaboration was evolved.

The ensuing partnership with a Berber family of traditional tailors proved a great success, and nearly 11 years on the exchange between Western contemporary design and local North-African craftsmanship inspires seven Sahara collections a year.