In her East London creative studio, Fashion designer Ellie Misner reflects on shaping a demi-couture collection that weaves in childhood influences and growing confidence in her design voice.

There has been huge momentum gathering around fashion designer Ellie Misner and her distinctive practice. Known for dressing artists such as Shygirl, Julia Fox and SZA, her demi-couture designs have been celebrated for their sculptural silhouettes, irreverent inspirations and commitment to body inclusivity. In Ellie’s fashion studio at Netil House, she is turning her gaze inward, using nostalgia to shape a new phase in her practice.

Preparing her fourth demi-couture collection, it is a body of work shaped by memory, transition and the quiet clarity that comes with entering a new decade. “Turning 30 feels like a pivotal moment,” she says. “This collection is a tribute to a new chapter and what feels like leaving childhood behind.”

Known for weaving unexpected references into her practice, Ellie is returning to her earliest influences, tracing threads of childhood into something modern and unmistakably her own. “I’ve gone back into my childhood, rewatching the films I adored and collecting fabrics and beads that feel nostalgic. It’s a powerful feeling, but I want the final pieces to be fun, modern and sexy, like being 30, with just enough of the past still present.” This fusion of past and present gives the collection a fresh yet familiar feeling.

Her work has always carried a personal charge. Friends and family are woven into every stage of the process, from her earliest muse to the small objects scattered across Ellie’s creative studio in London Fields. “Each collection tells its own story, but with every release I feel I know myself more, my best friend was my first muse, and my studio is filled with fragments from them all.” 

While her past inspirations have often been playful, such as lamps, interiors or found objects, this collection is more introspective, reaching backwards to move forward. It is also informed by her recent focus on bridal, a discipline that demands precision and restraint. “It feels more professional and serious,” she notes. “Having a studio at Netil has helped with that. It definitely feels like my most grown-up space, one that’s grounded me.”

Surrounding her is the restless energy of East London, where fashion, art and design are in constant motion. “There’s something special about being in the hub of art and design here,” she says. “Everything in life shapes us as artists. I love being surrounded by so many creatives and so much life.”

As her next collection takes form, Ellie reflects with quiet certainty on where her work is heading. Netil House has offered a grounding backdrop for this period of growth, as her instinct and imagination continue to lead the way.