Who is the Carrie Parry woman?

I’d say someone that’s confident and really wants to wear something that they love and also feel proud of it and where it’s coming from. Someone that goes for classics but also likes a little bit of whimsy in their wardrobe. Something they can really play with and make their own.

You worked for a number of really excellent designers. Were there any that particularly influenced your designs?

Jonathan Saunders. He taught me how to print. We used to all the silk-screening by hand. He’s amazing and an extremely talented designer. I learned how to print there and from that I started teaching printing at a studio in London, and I think that really inspires the textiles that I do.

What’s the aesthetic for next Spring?

Next season I’m looking at bringing in more color and some casual pieces. I’d say my circus influence is always going to come through, especially in the spring with the sun and everything. That’s the direction it’s going to be going in in, but also keeping with the sophistication and wearability, of course.

Circus? What was the circus like??

It was amazing. I was there for two years, two seasons. It was the Gifford Circus in England. It toured the Cotswold, which is the English countryside. I did the costumes, and I also maintained the costumes throughout the season, so it was a lot of work, but it was an experience that I’m so happy I had.

What was the craziest piece you designed for the circus?

Oh, [laughs], a foam cockerel. It was a piece that someone stepped into to become a cockerel bird. It was pretty intense. I dressed up as a frog there as well. I had lots of hats at the circus; I did the costumes, but we also had a travelling organic restaurant that my husband actually ran, and I was a dishwasher there in the evening. I dressed up as a frog before the shows to entertain the kids. So it was a fascinating experience. And I often think about going back there for a season.

How did you ever get into the circus?

At Central St. Martin’s I took a year out to get some experience. And I’d always been fascinated with the circus; I did gymnastics and dance, and I’ve kind of always wanted to be a performer in the circus. That’s not where my path led me. So my professor at St. Martins told me of this great circus where she’s from. I went down and helped with the horses for a while then got hired to help with the costumes. But being from L.A., I had never been in a field or lived in a caravan. It was just such a different type of experience that I really loved.

At Central Saint Martins, was there any focus on sustainability and social responsibility?

Unfortunately not when I graduated in 2006. Now, however, the University of the Arts, London College of Fashion and St. Martins are really ahead on teaching sustainability throughout schools, but I just missed it.

When did sustainability become important to you?

I moved out to NY and was working at an accessory design company and witnessed firsthand the environmental impact that the industry had. So we were starting to build in a socially responsible handbag line. I started doing the sourcing of the materials for it, and got really obsessed, and decided that I couldn’t work in design under [not sustainable] circumstances. So I went to work for Earth Pledge and built their textile library, and signed up for classes at the University of Delaware in their Socially Responsible Business graduate program. And then I was working with designers helping them to source their fabrics at Earth Pledge and decided that I could combine my background in fashion, and my passion and drive to promote sustainability.

On a serious note, how many times in a day does someone Freudian slip you a “Katy Perry”?

My married name is Carrie Parry. I met my husband at the circus. Everyone made fun of me. When I was trying to figure out what to name the line, it was right there: Carrie Parry.

A Central St. Martins grad, Craig Lawrence made knitwear for Gareth Pugh for 6 seasons before he launched his own solo label.  Check out an interview with him on Dazed.

LINK LOVE: Cyana TrendLand

1. Michael Lewis: Lewis is footwear’s best kept secret and has impressed the likes of Marc Jacobs at Louis Vuitton, Christopher Bailey at Burberry and Tom Ford at Gucci with his shoe-shaped talents – before recently stepping into the role of creative consultant at Kurt Geiger. He brings his own label collection to LFW for the first time this season.

Has an eye for: What women really want – fun yet luxurious, affordable shoes.

Is inspired by: “Early Kenzo and Russian fairytales.”

Shop it: Exclusively at Dover Street Market for autumn/winter 2009.

2. Michael van der Ham: The Dutch born designer’s Warhol art-inspired dresses caught the attention of more than one fashion insider during his autumn/winter 2009 Central St Martins show – for which he also scooped the L’Oreal Professional Award. Prior to this, the young impresario honed his talents with stints at Alexander McQueen and Sophia Kokosalaki.

Has an eye for: The eclectic – van der Ham’s mismatch approach to design ensures there’s never a dull moment.

Is inspired by: Women who aren’t afraid to be bold.

Will be: Showcasing as part of NEWGEN’s Ready-to-Wear exhibition at Somerset House.

3. Fred Butler: New kid on the block Fred began life as a set designer and prop maker before packing a style punch with her first jewellery collection of bold, bright and sculptural designs for autumn/winter 2009. Since then she has presented workshops at London’s Design Museum, guest lectured at the London College of Fashion and collaborated with Asos.com on their limited edition ‘Hit’ line.

Has an eye for: Creating “wearable sculpture,” by using graphic shapes, clashing colours and tactile forms.

Is inspired by: The unpredictable in the everyday.

Shop it: Online at Kabiri.co.uk this season.

4. Mark Fast: Since the success of the 28 year old Canadian’s Central St Martins graduate collection in 2007 (which was quickly snapped up by Browns Focus) the young designer has gone from strength to strength. His autumn/winter 2009 show featured a bold collection of black knitted body-con dresses, embellished with fringing and dramatic cut-out panels.

Has an eye for: Exquisite pieces that are contoured to the body.

Is inspired by: Finding innovative ways with knitwear.

Will be: Available from Browns Focus.

5. Eun Jeong: 2008′s Fashion Fringe winner, Eun Jeong leapt on the scene with a collection made entirely from white cotton lace. The Korean designer has since been working hard to develop her own label ‘1st element by hong eun jeong’.

Has an eye for: Neat pleats and effortless tailoring.

Is inspired by: Uniqueness in others.

Shop it: at Net-a-porter.com

6. Emilio de la Morena: Having trained as a sculptor in his native Spain before sharpening his fashion skills at Central St Martins in 2002, de la Morena’s designs are inspired by structural shapes and traditional Spanish artisan techniques.

Has an eye for: Fluid and feminine sculptural lines.

Is inspired by: The relationship between organic shapes and defined silhouettes.

Shop it: Online at Browns Focus.

7. Josh Goot: His sleek and monochromatic autumn/winter 2009 collection had London based Goot dubbed the new king of modernism, for his simple yet sophisticated use of black and white on shifts and neatly tailored suits.

Has an eye for: Colour blocking and clean lines.

Is inspired by: Human anatomy and abstract forms for spring/summer 2009.

Shop it: At Liberty.co.uk.

8. Mary Katrantzou: Since her fun graphic print collection for autumn/winter 2009, that featured dresses emblazoned with images of perfume bottles, we have not been able to shake the feeling that Katrantzou is going places. Having worked under fellow Greek, Sophia Kokosalaki and freelanced for Bill Blass, the young print designer also makes jewellery to complement her collections.

Has an eye for: Digital prints and bold, industrial jewellery.

Is inspired by: Antique perfume bottles and 18th century portraits for spring/summer 2010.

Shop it: At Browns Focus and Harvey Nichols.

9: Maria Francesca Pepe: With style insiders dipping into Pepe’s jewellery box for her hand-crafted Italian pieces to adorn their fashion pages – including Harper’s Bazaar – it is little wonder the designer already has a loyal following. You might have seen her designs embellishing the shows of Roksanda Illincic (S/S09 and A/W09), Emilio De La Morena (A/W09) and Louise Grey (A/W09), for which she designed a shoe collection.

Has an eye for: Chunky tubular necklaces made using old, handcrafted Italian techniques.

Is inspired by: Pieces that appeal to all tastes and ages.

Shop it: At Dover Street Market and the label’s own online store that launches this December.

Mfpepe.com.

10. Veryta: Designer and Fashion illustrator Tanya Ling brings her talents to the role of Creative Director of not-for-profit label Veryta, which appears for the first time this season. Launched with the backing of Yves Saint Laurent’s Stefano Pilati and Filippo Binaghi of Italian Silk manufacturer, Lorma, 10 percent of sales from the collection will go direct to children’s charities in India.

Is inspired by: Her native India.

Veryta.com

(Harper’s Bazaar U.K.)