10 Questions with Talia Byre

For designer Talia Byre, an active engagement with her heritage forms the foundation of her creative processes. Heralding from sartorial beginnings, Talia’s Great Uncle owned one of the jewels in Liverpool’s stylish crown, clothes shop Lucinda Byre, a space which was about the community it fostered as much as the fashions it sold. Embodying a hands-on approach to both her craft and her heritage, Talia places herself spiritually and physically at the heart of her brand. Draping fabric swatches across fit models or embracing tactile textures, there’s a sense that a piece of Talia lives in the garments she designs, furthering her heritage while also manoeuvering independence as she stitches and constructs her own brand identity. Girlish fancies are expressed with meticulous refinement, as candy-coloured stripes and pastel polka dots are elevated with distinctive shaping, manifesting as a homage to the prints and fabrics of our youth but reconfigured for grown-up wardrobes. Despite the matured approach to nostalgic details, Talia Byre perpetuates a truly joyous spirit. Despite honouring her heritage and working across a community of skilled collaborators, Talia Byre doesn’t take itself too seriously, offering an inviting engagement with their beautifully charming collections. 

Describe your AW25 collection in three words. 

Can I do three characters? Christine in Variety (1983), Ace in Casino (1996) and Mona Lisa Vito in My Cousin Vinny (1992). 

Why do you do what you do? What keeps you motivated to keep creating fashion collections?

Originally it was the history of my family working in the rag trade, and then creating these aspirational store spaces for very real women that I grew up with. Though now it is to continue what we have built with our new community of collaborators. For all of us, the collections and the world is a version of our every day, yet aspirational, that aspirational realness is really missing I feel in womenswear at the moment. 

Have you found a technique, or a supplier, or a contributing craftsperson that has excited you to incorporate into your new AW25 collection?

This season we are working with videographer Indre Srebaliute who is filming behind the scenes of the collection process. I'm excited to share the incredibly special process of bringing together a variety of creative minds to create a singular outcome. 

What’s one element of your design process that might surprise people? 

We still print out all our research and create boards that are used across the different creative teams. I struggle to digest and really see the imagery through a screen constantly. We hold all of the old seasons research in archives that we go through each season to build upon the last. 

ChatGPT. Yes or no? 

Ha - no. 

Over the past few challenging years - with Brexit, post-Covid, with the retail landscape a bit of a mess - how have you thought about what you make and how to make it connect with your customer and community? 

For us it has to be real, what we want, what is aspirational to us. Theres a huge gap for that in London right now. 

What is it about London that continues to energize your creativity? 

The pace and the people that we work with - London still has that sense of community, with people wanting to be part of something and have a creative outlet, its exciting. 

How will you celebrate when the show / presentation / showroom is over?

A team dinner at Le Cheval d'Or - It came recommended and I've been wanting to go for a long time. 

What's the one product that is NOT your own, that you can't live without, or has stayed in your wardrobe for constant use, and why?

A gold bangle that was my Grandmothers - it never comes off and when it hits certain surfaces it sounds like her. 

What has been your strangest source of inspiration?

Conversations with the team behind the Lucinda Byre store.