Rent Lydia Jackson on the LOANHOOD App

This International Women’s Day, we're excited to shine a light on Lydia Jackson. With her grandmother's wise words echoing in her mind to "stand out," Lydia's designs are bold, playful, and uniquely her own. Her path in fashion has been paved with a love for oversized garments and the fond memories of dressing dolls. In the fashion industry's ever-changing landscape, Lydia emphasises on the importance of women uplifting each other.

What inspired you to become a designer?

My nana was a massive inspiration growing up, she was a little lady but always wore the brightest of colours, she always used to say to me ‘we were made to stand out.’ She gave me the confidence to be different, to wear what I want and design what I love. Everything I do know I do with her in mind thinking about how proud she would be seeing all these amazing people wearing and renting my designs.

What's the story behind the name of your brand?

Growing up I was obsessed with dolls, dressing dolls, creating outfits and thrifting around charity shops with my mum to buy second hand doll dresses. Looking back at pictures of when I was little with long golden hair and smock dresses paired with bright colour tights even the way my mum used to dress made me look like a doll. Ever since then I have been in love with how oversized garments sit on the body. Naming the brand after myself is keeping true to what inspired me to start.

Describe your design style in three words.

Bold, Bright, Playful

What's one piece of advice you wish you had received when you were starting out that you would want to pass onto someone else?

Be patient and trust the process.

How do you stay creative and inspired in your work?

I am constantly gathering inspiration from all sorts of things in my life, I spend a lot of time thrifting, travelling, and experiencing different environments and cultures. Staying creative to me is about constantly using this inspiration to change myself to create something different.

Share a memorable moment from your journey.

Walking into a shop and seeing my dress front cover of Wonderland was a pretty cool moment!

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Tell us about your favourite fashion era and why.

I actually don’t have a favourite fashion era, I’ve never really been a person who massively follows trends, I usually just go for what I like the look of.

Why do you use LOANHOOD to loan your designs?

LOANHOOD have been amazing since day one, I trust them with all my rentals. I find the app extremely easy to use which is important factor when you are busy designer. The people are always happy to help with any questions and give me a lot of support through socials.

What can LOANHOOD users expect from your rental collection?

An experience! My dresses are very different to what people usually have in their wardrobe, I think when renting a garment especially for an occasion you should be renting something different to what you already have.

How do you navigate challenges specific to being a woman in the fashion industry, and what advice would you give to other women facing similar obstacles?

I think in the fashion industry women need to support each other, anyone coming from a fashion background knows and should understand the challenges, I think working together and supporting each other is so much more inspiring for the younger generation.

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