A portrait of a young designer:
Imogen Belfield
By
Sina Luehmann
The first thing you think when looking into Imogen’s young face is: “There is no way that girl is already successful, let alone old enough to have her collection in Harrods.
Imogen may only be 26 years old but she started fighting for what she wanted ten years ago and has not stopped since.
The problem with handling this was that she was always torn between two worlds.
However after having been made head chorister she regularly got pulled away from her art projects to attend rehearsals and functions and she “did not appreciate it”, so it soon became clear that art was her real passion.
She said: “It all started with a weekend silversmithing course with my dad.
“Whilst my dad followed the instructions and made a cup, I got carried away and made a bracelet, which is still one of my favourites and I’m wearing it almost every day to remind me of the roots and that great weekend where we had so much fun.”
Afterwards she first attended an art foundation course in Falmouth to then go on to the Sir John Cass School of Art, Media & Design at The London Metropolitan University.
She graduated in summer 2008 and a year later she started her jewellery career and her collections have been veritable shooting stars ever since.
Felicities PR wrote in October 2010: “Imogen Belfield has already established herself as one of the hottest jewellery talents in London with her highly acclaimed main line, the delicate metal, porcelain and gem stones she uses result in a collection of desirable statement pieces.”
'Equinox' necklace by Imogen Belfield
Available at Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge & Manchester stores
She has so far won awards from the British Jewellery Association, The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and South Square Trust, and most recently was awarded New Designer of the Year One Year On in 2010.
Her work was exhibited at the Islington Design Centre, the Structure and Function Gallery in Soho, Coutts London Jewellery week and at London Fashion Week.
Kabiri at Selfridges, Marylebone High Street and Covent Garden, as well as Harvey Nichols stock her collections in London, including online at ASOS and Young British Designers.
They are also available in Dubai and New York and since the beginning of December a special selection of 16 different designs are stocked in Harrods in their Designer Studio.
We think it is pretty impressive after only a year and a half on the market, and Imogen said: “Well, my mum cried when I told her the good news about Harrods, that’s when I realised how big this was for me.
“My parents have both done so much for me and I am so grateful, I have had great support from them, as well as from my teachers, Felicities PR, friends and a little portion of luck.
“To be honest it is a lot of work and there is barely any time to sit back and enjoy it but I am really happy about how everything has worked out.”
Imogen’s previous collection, ‘Rockoco’, was launched in September to great acclaim, with critics saying: “This is an impressive success for a young brand and we are excited about the launch of her striking new collection.”
It seems like Imogen’s success will not fade in the future as the Society of Designer Craftsmen has invited her to participate in their annual event at the Mall Galleries, next to Trafalgar Square this Friday and she has also been invited to participate in London Fashion Week in 2011.
We are looking forward to another extraordinary collection for Autumn-Winter ‘11 and are sure the young, extremely motivated and quirky designer will not let us down.
For more information check: http://www.imogenbelfield.com/
