BOL$HIE

ABOUT

[Started in 92, Yorkshire girl, eyes blue

Life of struggle, 14 left school to hustle

Went of to the big city of bustle..

Head bursting with knowledge,

No college,

Waiting for someone to acknowledge..

More talent then you ever can imagine,

Dedication outstanding,

Expanding, commanding..

Yep you guessed

Miles ahead of the rest]

She was thrown out of school for dressing badly, but now a teenager from Beverley is being hailed by some as fashion's next big thing. Rhiannon Jones is designing outlandish outfits that are hard to ignore and are being bought by some very famous popstars. She can boast Lady GaGa and X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke among her customers. Three years ago the 18-year-old designer, known as Bolshie, was excluded from school in Beverley for not conforming. She would tear up her uniform and make alterations to suit her gregarious sense of style. So she left the historic market town for the bright lights of London and, from a small East End studio in Shoreditch, launched herself as a fashion designer. "I didn't really like the way they [school] spoke to me about my uniform and they didn't support me creatively," said the designer. "I don't really like to be disciplined. I think I'm quite a free spirit and I like to make my own rules; I like to be my own person. "Since I came down here [to London] everything's totally changed: environment, people, opportunities you get. It's been the best decision ever made." Bolshie by name, bolshie by nature With a striking self-inspired fashion sense, her designs scream outrageous, from a leopard print bodysuit with dismembered miniature plastic dolls adorning oversized shoulder pads to a huge gold Big Ben head piece. "My designs are for people who share my creative mind, I guess. I really like to use everyday objects like a Barbie doll or anything like this. "I don't get inspired by a particular person or thing. It's just whatever's going on in my life like my surroundings and experiences really. Subconsciously I just come up with things." It's no wonder her label is already attracting the attention of Lady Gaga. The queen of outrageous outfits is snapping up her new collection and recently an avant-garde boutique has become her first stockist. "Because most of them are one-off show pieces, they have attracted quite a lot of interest from these celebrities and this is absolutely great. She's building a great portfolio," explained Stavros Karelis, director of independent boutique Machine A. Determined to succeed, the young designer is aiming to cause a stir at the major fashion catwalks in London, Paris and New York with the ambition of a solo show. And now she is taking another step towards her dream this week with an exhibit at London's Fashion Scout, which showcases innovative designs and upcoming talent, where her eccentric and bold sartorial has caught the eye of one of the scouts: "She's very avant-garde, unique, a very special designer and a really fun character," said Emma Crosby of Fashion Scout. "She listens to all the advice that's given in terms of a commercial perspective and also not losing a sense of who she is," she added. But the exuberant designer knows she's in a cut-throat industry: "I think it's very difficult because there's a lot of competition out there… You've got to be very determined, strong-willed and not take knocks because you get so many people saying 'no' and you just have to keep focused. "There's always going to be people that don't really understand what you're doing but I probably don't like what they're wearing either, so you just have to be grown up about it." She admits not all the attention she attracts is positive. The Times labelled her a Fashion Week "wannabee". But it will take more than negative comments to stop her from meeting buyers in Paris next week.

[first collection 2010]

[latest 2013 collection]

[barbie shoot]

[worn in Jessie J's nobody's perfect video]

[Jones]

[2010 shoot]

This article from the BBC was written about Rhiannon Jones in 2010, just two years ago, she had just created some designs now two years on she has done four collections, her own catwalk show in London fashion week and has a stand alone flag ship BOLSHIE store in London.

I have done a post about heras I see her as an inspiration not only what she has achieved but her work is extravagant, fresh and new. Its original, maybe not to everyone’s tastes but even if you just look at her designs and the photo-shoot she creates for the campaigns are just amazing things that have never been done before her use of locations, props and models all unique and the hair and make-up tops off all the dramatic looks and just appeals to so many whether or not the clothes are to their taste the creativity is exclusive.