“This quirky seaside town with its warm, creative people was the breath of fresh air I needed to get St Leonards accessories up and running.” K Avery-Stallion
© alexleadbeater.com
She explains, “There are so many talented creatives, a network that you can access, photographers, graphic designers etc. They don’t shout about it but it’s here to find. Artists are happy to share and projects can get off the ground. It’s a place where everything works together, to sustain creativity, cafes, galleries, style shops, without the noise and relentless interference of places like London.” Deborah Bowness deborahbowness.com
K AVERYSTALLION, another designer arrival, works from a Georgian house in Burton St Leonards producing a range of high quality bags and leather goods. She was equally attracted to a certain vibe present in St Leonards-on-Sea. She is inspired by big skies, tonal shades on the beach, eclectic shop windows, a different pace and lifestyle that results in creative work that’s neither twee nor too seaside but instead has some urban grit. Turning her back on a career of fast paced fashion and W.A.G. bags, she has named her brand ‘St Leonards’. Exquisitely made, luscious to touch and use, her understated bags are investments, designed and
manufactured to age gracefully and to be enjoyed as part of a life well lived. Her ‘Quarry’ bag, described as “the perfect manbag” by the Daily Telegraph’s men’s fashion editor, is one of a series of bags named after the surrounding Georgian streets. Like Bowness, K’s products have been picked up by Elle Decoration and that’s led to an international following and relationships with stockists in the UK and Sweden. K hopes to develop a local manufacturing workshop, and possibly work with fashion students from Hastings college. “I love the idea of St Leonards taking root here and becoming the home of understated leather accessories.” Her leather goods are currently available online and at selected stockists. K Avery-Stallion stleonardsonline.com
hastings arts forum Over 600 members Artist-run exhibition and events space Open 50 weeks of the year Open Thursday–Tuesday 11am–5pm
36 Marina • TN38 0BU Tel: 01424 201636
www.hastingsartsforum.co.uk 9