You might wonder why designer Hannah Weiland decided to name her brand of furry creations Shrimps. Well, Hannah is Shrimps—or at least, it was her childhood nickname. And right now, all we OC girls want is one of Hannah's colorful faux-fur clutches or coats.
The best part about Shrimps is its furry factor without the guilt––every garment is made from faux fur so soft, you almost wouldn't believe it's not real. I recently stopped by Hannah's studio in London's Soho neighborhood to snack on shrimp-shaped candy and talk shop.
Eloise Moran: Tell me about your line's name, Shrimps.
Hannah Weiland: It was a childhood nickname because I was pink and small! I didn't want the brand to be my own name because "Hannah Weiland" is not that interesting. I also thought Shrimps was a good contrast with the faux fur. A lot of people found the name quite weird but I'm glad I went for it. I wanted a good logo, and I drew a pair of shrimps while doodling one day, and that was it—"Shrimps!"
Were there ethical reasons for using only faux fur?
Not really. I don't wear real fur, but I do wear leather. I wouldn't work with real fur but I also don't preach against it. I love working with faux fur because it doesn't molt and it feels just as soft. If the faux kind feels as good, why use the real kind?
I don't think I've ever felt faux fur as soft the kind you use! How did you go about sourcing the material?
My idea came from when I found a really amazing swatch at a fabric fair. I know a childrenswear designer who uses the same fur and she helped me get in touch with the factory. This kind of faux fur holds its color so well, and my brand is a lot about color. I will definitely move on from faux fur though. I'm introducing mohair into my next collection, which takes dye really well too.
It also reacts like real fur when you blow on it and moves really easily!
It's crazy! My boyfriend teased me and said "Can you imagine if you found out it was made from puppies!" [Laughs] Oh my gosh––I would be very upset. Faux fur is changing now; synthetic materials are getting so much better. It used to be fully polyester, which most people are used to. But the new kind that I use is about 89% mode acrylic, which makes it feel so much nicer.
What were your inspirations behind your first collection?
It was all about playing with simple shapes, simple stripes, and simple colors. I'm always going to keep that ethos. I like putting things together that you normally wouldn't. Like the stripe in the fur, that was something I hadn't seen done before.
If your collection was a TV character, who would it be?
Definitely a cartoon character. I love Pebbles from The Flintstones––I love ginger hair! It's my favorite color and I've tried to dye my hair ginger so many times. It's probably why I made an orange coat. It's funny because I hate the fruit but I love the color!
I love the artwork on your website! Can you tell me about Tegan Williams, the artist who created it?
She's really talented and still at Camberwell College of Arts. I met her on my first shoot for the lookbook. At one point, she started creating collages on her iPad. I am really obsessed by collaging, my favorite artist is Eduardo Paolozzi. I told her I'd love if she sent me some work, and she did. So it all started from there! We're planning to show a film at London Fashion Week, and Tegan is going to help with art direction.
Can you describe Shrimps in three w
The best part about Shrimps is its furry factor without the guilt––every garment is made from faux fur so soft, you almost wouldn't believe it's not real. I recently stopped by Hannah's studio in London's Soho neighborhood to snack on shrimp-shaped candy and talk shop.
Eloise Moran: Tell me about your line's name, Shrimps.
Hannah Weiland: It was a childhood nickname because I was pink and small! I didn't want the brand to be my own name because "Hannah Weiland" is not that interesting. I also thought Shrimps was a good contrast with the faux fur. A lot of people found the name quite weird but I'm glad I went for it. I wanted a good logo, and I drew a pair of shrimps while doodling one day, and that was it—"Shrimps!"
Were there ethical reasons for using only faux fur?
Not really. I don't wear real fur, but I do wear leather. I wouldn't work with real fur but I also don't preach against it. I love working with faux fur because it doesn't molt and it feels just as soft. If the faux kind feels as good, why use the real kind?
I don't think I've ever felt faux fur as soft the kind you use! How did you go about sourcing the material?
My idea came from when I found a really amazing swatch at a fabric fair. I know a childrenswear designer who uses the same fur and she helped me get in touch with the factory. This kind of faux fur holds its color so well, and my brand is a lot about color. I will definitely move on from faux fur though. I'm introducing mohair into my next collection, which takes dye really well too.
It also reacts like real fur when you blow on it and moves really easily!
It's crazy! My boyfriend teased me and said "Can you imagine if you found out it was made from puppies!" [Laughs] Oh my gosh––I would be very upset. Faux fur is changing now; synthetic materials are getting so much better. It used to be fully polyester, which most people are used to. But the new kind that I use is about 89% mode acrylic, which makes it feel so much nicer.
What were your inspirations behind your first collection?
It was all about playing with simple shapes, simple stripes, and simple colors. I'm always going to keep that ethos. I like putting things together that you normally wouldn't. Like the stripe in the fur, that was something I hadn't seen done before.
If your collection was a TV character, who would it be?
Definitely a cartoon character. I love Pebbles from The Flintstones––I love ginger hair! It's my favorite color and I've tried to dye my hair ginger so many times. It's probably why I made an orange coat. It's funny because I hate the fruit but I love the color!
I love the artwork on your website! Can you tell me about Tegan Williams, the artist who created it?
She's really talented and still at Camberwell College of Arts. I met her on my first shoot for the lookbook. At one point, she started creating collages on her iPad. I am really obsessed by collaging, my favorite artist is Eduardo Paolozzi. I told her I'd love if she sent me some work, and she did. So it all started from there! We're planning to show a film at London Fashion Week, and Tegan is going to help with art direction.
Can you describe Shrimps in three w