There are a hundred reasons why an individual decides to start designing. Often it is because they are either frustrated by the lack of current options available or they see a ripe business opportunity. For Melissa Del Bono, the founder and designer of meli melo, it appears to have been a bit of both. She was working in fashion PR at the time and, among other clients, was looking after Tanner Krolle (the bespoke leather goods company). It was this proximity to the world of handbags that caused Del Bono to spot a niche in the market she was keen to fill herself. Meli melo is characterised by simple design in the finest leather. Del Bono's desire to create elegant bags that are quietly but clearly luxurious is evident in the nude tones of her glamourous seventies-inspired spring/summer 2012 collection - certain to be a hit with her many celebrity fans as well as her faithful customers.

To get to accessories designer Oliver Ruuger's studio we had to venture across the river to an old biscuit factory, through endless rabbit warren corridors of this curious warehouse space, till we reached a nondescript door.

On entering we stepped into a little studio, sparsely furnished, humming with the sound of machinery. It's here that the designer, together with his assistant are making the kind of accessories that you'd imagine eccentric characters of a Dickens novel brandishing or the most avant-garde fashionista carrying. His twisting umbrellas with hair tails and rubber spiked, studded briefcases blur the boundaries of art and fashion, sculpture and product.

The Kingston University and London College of Fashion graduate landed the 'Accessories Collection of the Year' in July 2011 from ITS#10 and has been heralded by Selfridges as one of their 'Bright Young Things'.

We met Ruuger to find out more about his fascinating work.

Rupert Sanderson's story is the the sort of tale that makes you want to pack in everything you're doing and learn a life changing craft.

The story goes that Sanderson, bored with a career in the city as a hard nosed ad man, decided to try his hand at shoe design. And so he bagged a place at the prestigious Cordwainers College, took a trip on a motorbike to Italy to study under Sergio Rossi during the summers and launched his own label in 2001.

That career u-turn turned out to be one good decision. Not just for Sanderson but for the feet of the shoe obsessed. He's since been awarded the British Fashion Council's Accessory Designer of the Year in 2008, the 2009 Accessory Designer at the Elle Style Awards and opened stores in London and Paris.

Now with his label celebrating it's 10^th birthday we caught up with the designer sitting in his studio tucked down the backstreets in Mayfair. Surrounded by a decade of design the studio is packed with sumptuous velvet shoes, towering cut out booties, and simple shapes in sherbert hues. We chat to the designer about his special 10/10 collection, how he begins to create and whether there's any other talents up his sleeve...and of course ogle at the shoes in the process.