Student Success Story: Rachel and Her Savage Corsets

Rachel Savage’s fascination with corsets started at an early age.  Her Mother suffered with a curvature of the spine, so from the age of 3 she would help her into her corset and put her stockings on every morning. Of course that corset was an orthopaedic one, but she already understood how it helped shape her posture and ease some of the discomfort she was in.

After finishing school she qualified in Fashion Design at the Grafton Academy Institute in Dublin majoring in Separates, Bridal and Evening Wear. Her collections and tailoring projects always included corsets, taking inspiration from the likes of Vivienne Westwood, John Galliano & Dolce & Gabbana. She then worked as an assistant to a well known couturier in Dublin during which time she got itchy feet to move to London and pursue another passion; theatre.

Galliano's couture work that inspires Rachel

So, with a post graduate in Musical Theatre, a year or two as a jobbing actor and a yearning for the finer things in life, she took up a position in the City. Although it was pretty alien she left the creative stuff behind for a while to develop the right side of her brain. Project-managing her way through large schemes, her fashion background kept jostling for poll-position in her imagination and, inevitably, won. Rachel eventually took the corsetry courses at Prescott & Mackay – the Beginners Corsetry at the end of November 2010 and the Advanced Corsetry in March 2011 and found her niche back behind the sewing machine again.

“I learned that to make corsets you need to have a good amount of sewing experience – I managed to get back into it quickly. It is a lot to cram into two days but the teacher Andrea Moon is extremely supportive, kind and patient so with her help it’s great,” says Rachel.

Beginners Corsetry Course at P&M

It just so happened she had a surname to coincide with the plan, and that’s when Savage Corsets began. She created Savage Corsets from her home and studio in North London, specialising in made to measure bespoke Corsets.  Based on historical corsetry through the ages, Rachel has incorporated a modern edgy twist with an influence on Fashion today. Each design is unique, combining innovative creativity, luxurious fabrics and quality workmanship.  According to Rachel, a woman in a bespoke corset will feel feminine, confident and above all comfortable as the body naturally takes on the corsets shape.  “A Savage Corset is an investment piece that will last the owner for many years. Savage means beauty and the mission for Savage Corsets is that they will always live up to their name, so that the wearer of one will be Savage too, ” says Rachel.

Savage Corsets - from left to right: Galaxy Mistress, The Joanie, Catholic Guilt

 Savage Corsets recently exhibited at the Vintage Fair at London’s South Bank and proved a firm favourite with Vintage lovers. Rachel works with clients individually to create a distinctive and personal corset. 

Savage Corsets at the Vintage Festival on the Southbank, July 2011

So far most of her business has started via word of mouth and she is meeting people who are willing to help and guide her all the time.

“So being open to stuff around you is vital. I also know that people buy people, I have always retained a good network of people in my life and worked well with others. My first proper commission came from a consultant I worked with on a project. It was a birthday present for his wife and she loved it. Another interesting thing is I have a big family in San Francisco which is where the other Prescott and Mackay is based. There is a big family of Savages over there and I dream that one day my corsets will be in shops in San Francisco and London. “

Rachel would very much like to connect with others who have done the courses or other milliners, photographers, shoes or bag designers. Please feel free to contact Rachel via her website or Facebook page in terms of collaboration, photo shoots and links sharing.

Visit Rachel’s website:
http://www.savagecorsets.com/

Savage Corset’s Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Savage-Corsets/146260082120893

Want to take a corsetry class? Check out P&M’s website here:

Beginners Corsetry – Two Days
Advanced Corsetry – Two Days

ANDREA MOON

 

 

INTERVIEW: Andrea Moon

Over the past fifteen years Andrea Moon has built up an impressive CV. Making costumes for stage and screen, she has worked for clients such as The Royal Ballet and the English National Opera, as well as on blockbuster films such as ‘Shakespeare In Love’ and ‘Elizabeth: The Golden Age’.  Here she talks about her life in costume, teaching corsetry at Prescott & Mackay and her journey so far

 

 

 

How have you learnt your craft?

After I gained a first class BA Hons in Costume Interpretation from Wimbledon School of Art in 1990 I spent five years working as an assistant to several established costume makers before starting out on my own. Costume making is not the kind of job where you ever feel like you’ve learnt all there is to know. Often there’ll be something I’ve never done before, which is great and terrifying at the same time!

What led you to working in costume making?

I’d always known I wanted to do something that involved making things, so I feel fortunate that I discovered there was such a thing as costume making by the time I left school.

If you had not discovered costume making, what do you think you might have become?

I’m fairly sure I’d have found another way to earn a living that involved making things, but I’m glad I did discover costume as it has been a very supportive industry to work in. I’ve made some great friends and I received a lot of help when I was getting started.

In what ways does teaching influence your work?

Since I’ve been teaching I’ve had to think about the things that have become second nature to me, asking myself why I do them in certain ways so I can describe these processes to students. Teaching also energises and excites me about my industry work- when students are enthusiastic about the job I do, it reminds me how lucky I am to be doing what I love.

What are the most important things you’re trying to impart to your students?

The most important thing I would like to get across is the sense that once you know the basics, there is so much you can go on to do. A lot of the techniques taught over the two days can be applied to many different kinds of corsets- I’m always particularly happy when students start picking my brains about their next project.

What piece of equipment do you find indispensable in your work as a costume maker, and what do you recommend an aspiring costume maker might invest in first?

One thing you can’t do without in corset making is a pair of wire cutters that will cut spiral boning. There’s also a brilliant book called ‘Corsets and Crinolines’ by Norah Waugh that has a lot of basic patterns for all sorts of corsets.

What is the most satisfying aspect of making costume?

Working in costume, there is always a new challenge. The process often starts with a two-dimensional design, which can be rather vague, and it’s down to you to turn that idea into reality. I also love that the work I do, which is in partnership with another costume maker Ingrid Pryer, is quite varied. In the last few weeks alone we’ve made a set of Roman dresses for the Boston Early Music Festival, as well as a number of tailored school uniforms for the ‘Peter Grimes’ production at the English National Opera. Right now we’re in the middle of making costumes for the mice in the English National Ballet’s production of ‘Angelina Ballerina’.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

There have been many highlights. I’ve been lucky enough to work abroad a lot and meet some amazing people. One experience that stands out however, was working on the first of the new Star Wars films, Episode I: The Phantom Menace. I was a huge fan as a kid and so I couldn’t quite get over being involved with one of the new ones. Most of my time was spent in the decoration of Queen Amidala’s costumes, which was great as I’m particularly passionate about costume decoration and it’s rare to get to focus on just that rather than the whole costume. Naturally it was a huge kick to get a screen credit too!

 

Two Day Beginners Corsetry

Two Day Advanced Corsetry