Amma Gyan

When I first realised I wanted to be a designer I was 9 years old. My mother at the time worked for some of the leading fashion houses in the country, often bringing home an inspiring assortment of fabrics and clothes from established designers, that at the time I was too young to appreciate but loved all the same. However, like most parents my mother wanted more for me and insisted that I try my hand at something more conventional.

Many years passed of trying this conventional life, all the while knowing that I would have to ditch it at some point. Since then I’ve been on a creative journey in more ways than one. After training at the London College of fashion as a pattern cutter for women’s wear I turned my skills to bags, naturally.

Making bags commercially does not always allow for the expression and creativity that I desired, so I turned my attention to alternative forms of leather and their application. Molding leather is a skill that I gained after training with Neil Mcgregor of ‘Mcgregor and Michael’. The method allows me to combine my two loves, Craft and fashion, as well as offering me the opportunity to move into a new field, jewellery.

The technique I use is one that combines the traditional method of wet molding with the construction and application of beading. Each piece that I make is individually hand cut, dyed and finished to create shapes and forms that are often not associated with leather in the fashion industry. My aim is to bring awareness to the value of craft skills, their application and to bring it to a wider audience.

My work is heavily inspired by nature in its form, colour and construction. My ‘Ivy’ designs are constructed to illustrate movement and freedom, which is something that is very personal to me. Most of my work is available online however I also take commissions and enjoy working in collaboration with other artists.

Special occasions and weddings are also catered for. Please do contact me if you have any questions or if you would like to discuss a project.