Curated By You: Nyheke Lambert Makes A Three- Piece Linen Ensemble

Nyheke wearing a three-piece ensemble of her own design made out of FS Black Softened Linen

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do. 

Nyheke Lambert LTD is a one stop shop for clothing manufacturing, Specialising in Start-ups and bespoke attire. I pride myself on the commitment to provide a professional, educational and speedy service at all times. My ultimate goal is to meet and exceed the expectations of every client. I take on all types of jobs from small domestic work, commercial projects or high-profile clients. My One stop shop includes the following services: Consulting, CADs, pattern cutting, toiling, sampling, alterations, printing/embroidery, grading, sourcing & small production.

Talk us a little about the creation process- from idea to final product. How big is your team?
When a client initially approaches Nyheke Lambert LTD they must have a clear idea and intention of the product that they are trying to produce. This is usually in the form of sketches, reference images, CADs or spec sheets. It is then my job to discuss the ethical and the most cost effective way to go about their project in bringing it to life. Most of the work is carried out by myself however I work very closely with specialist for specific requirements I.e. printers, embroidery, grading & production.

What do you love most about having your own business?

That I can wake up in the morning and say, Nope! Not today. As I predominantly work solo I am constantly jumping into many roles. I conduct the meetings, I do the pattern cutting, fittings, sewing, shipping, sourcing, admin, marketing etc it can be quite intense and so I really have to listen to my mind, body and soul as this will effect my quality of work and interaction with clients and business partners.

Nyheke wearing a three-piece ensemble of her own design made out of FS Black Softened Linen

As a child, what was your first encounter and memory of beauty?

It would definitely be a photo I took of my mom on the train on the way to London. This was pre-smartphone something like 1998 summertime on a disposable camera. I remember seeing the picture for the first time once my mom had developed it and feeling like WOW that’s my mom! She looks like a star. Better still Whitney Houston. For me it truly personified my mom completely. The image showed her looking out the window whilst the sun shined through giving her almost like a spotlight. Her posture was straight, her hair was relaxed and tonged, her brown eyes were bright and angelic, her smirk was infectious, her suit jacket was impeccably pressed and she oozed confidence.

Can you talk us through a failure or a setback in your business that you learned from or an experience that helped improve your business. 

Ironically I am currently experiencing a failure & setback within the business. This was through a mixture of trying to expand my team and putting responsibility in other people’s hands and them failing to live up to the Nyheke Lambert LTD standard. Then me personally experiencing the struggle that most creatives experience with feeling uninspired which lead me to take the past 6 months off. However, now that 2020 is here I am using this to help refocus on the work that I truly want to do.

Name a book that you’ve recently read which inspired you and why?

I am definitely not a reader however in 2018 a friend of mine recommended that I read a book called Profit first by Mike Michalowicz. With zero knowledge in money management I didn’t hesitate at all to purchase and read. It is a book that teaches business owners how to ‘’transform any business from a cash eating monster to a money making machine’’. It focuses on a cash flow management system that ensures you’ll take a profit and get paid no matter how small that income might be. This book was pivotal for me at the time as I had just taken a leap of faith in running my own studio and had no idea how business worked. Honestly, without this book I don’t think I would have lasted 3 months.

Nyheke wearing a three-piece ensemble of her own design made out of FS Black Softened Linen

What was the first thing you ever remember making on your own? Tell us about this memory.

The first thing I ever (attempted) to make was a shirt and trouser co-ord. I remember having the random urge to create something and I was determined to figure it out without any knowledge of construction. I didn’t have any fabric to hand and so I decided to steal one of my moms bed sheets. The co-ord did not turn out very good or fit well at all. However, It was at this point when I decided that I wanted to drop out of my degree in Audiology and pursue clothing fulltime.

Do you have a mentor or a muse?

I have two muses. Aitor Throup & Thome Browne both menswear designers who embody my creative language. Aitor is a contemporary fashion street wear brand that focuses on technicality, functionality, movement & sculpture. Thom Browne, on the other hand, plays with classic uniform silhouettes with subtle daring moments that will convince you otherwise.

Nyheke wearing a three-piece ensemble of her own design made out of FS Black Softened Linen

How important is social media to your business?

I would have no business without social media more specifically Instagram. This is the platform that found me and is the platform responsible for most of my clients.

Do you have a community of crafters/ makers around you or do you find you are on your own?

I have definitely found my creative tribe however I do not have many around me that are in the clothing construction industry

What is the best and the hardest part about being your own boss?

The best part for me is the client’s reaction once their project is complete. Seeing something through from ideation to 1^st or final piece is what I do. However, bringing my client on the journey via fittings and getting them involved with the selection process makes the relationship between me and my clients very personable. They develop a lot of trust in me and so there is always a lot of pressure at stake which is probably the hardest part.

What does sustainability mean to you?

Sustainability to me means longevity, eco friendly, none compromising, fair, consistency & natural.

What does success mean to you?

Success to me means Love, internal peace & tranquillity, freedom, comfort, determination, risks, journey, experience, money

Nyheke wearing a three-piece ensemble of her own design made out of FS Black Softened Linen

What have you chosen to make out of FS linen and why?

I chose to make a three-piece ensemble. Something that I would typically work in. Comfortable, stylish, representative & uniform. I have always liked the idea of a uniform when I work solely for Psychological reasons. When you have your uniform on it means you are working when you take it off you stop working. But also it saves me from thinking about what to wear everyday (lol).

FS BLACK Softened 100% Linen