It’s just 10 years since fashion designer Bella Singleton finished secondary school studies in Suffolk.
Now, at the age of 26, the former Framlingham College pupil has an exclusive contract with one of the art world’s biggest names, after talent scouts spotted her accessories at a London trade show.
Despite still developing a brand, the Leeds College of Art graduate secured a deal to sell 700 scarves with Tate Modern.
“The product developer for the Tate discovered my work at Top Drawer trade show,” said Bella, from Sibton, near Saxmundham.
“From then, we had monthly meetings at their office in Pimlico – next to the Tate Britain. They wanted a capsule collection based around the theme of abstract art from the mid-20th century.
“I began to take inspiration from the artists Patrick Heron and Terry Frost, whose work was entirely different from my own. It has been great to design something really quite different from my own collections.
“Designing for the Tate has been a huge boost as a 26-year-old designer, as I’m still in the early stages of growing a brand. To have such a huge institution commission the scarf collection – let alone then order 700 of them – has been amazing.”
Two years ago, Bella was featured in this paper for designing a scarf inspired by her great, great, great, great-grandfather, Henry Paget, Earl of Uxbridge, who was made 1st Marquess of Anglesey for his courage as commander of the British cavalry. Profits from the sale of her Waterloo Scarf, based on the flamboyant helmet worn by officers of the 1st Regiment of Life Guards, were donated to the Household Cavalry Foundation.
Bella recently returned from Central America, where she found inspiration for a new collection, to be designed early this year. From next month, she will be working with other designers from a studio in Norwich.
Her most recent SS17 collection can be viewed at bellasingleton.com. It will also be available at London Fashion Week and from online stockist Young British Designers.
The Tate collection can be found at shop.tate.org.uk or in London’s Tate Modern.
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