The ‘it’ List: UniqueDeluxeRocks

If it was allowed, I’d totes marry this website.

www.uniquedeluxerocks.co.uk is the perfect combination of trash-fab trinkets and total affordability - tell me exactly, what’s not to love?

Describe Anna - the girl behind UDR, in 5 words…
Creative, excitable, organised, driven, passionate.

Pink-world hearts you Anna we especially heart your UDR products.Tell us all about it…
I started the Unique Deluxe Rocks brand in 2005 after studying fashion design technology at the London College of fashion for three years. Unique Deluxe was something I’d had in mind for ages and then one of my friends had a look and said, ‘wow they rock.. ‘and it kind of stuck!

The idea was to create totally unique products for quirky and funky individuals. I’m always working on new stuff all the time to produce the unique-ist of snazziest of rocking deluxe products ever!!

When and how did you realise you were a creative girl able to make fabulous-o treats that people would buy?
I would always be the one that wore the new hair clip in to school or have the new bag. Others would always make comments until a week later they realised it was cool and bought the exact same one… I have a sense of fashion. I think you are just born with it. And when you love something so much it becomes you. I remember when I made my first dress at school and followed the pattern for days… I’ve never had the patience to do something for so long but fashion just seemed to be my thing!

What was the first product you ever made?
Ouhh I don’t know knowing me I made five different things at the same time!! I think the first thing I made was when I was really little and made an elasticated bracelet from melon seeds with my mum! I don’t think I took it off for a year as I was so proud of it… being able to make something out of nothing was great!
The first thing I actually sold was a plastic charm bracelet on eBay, I put a whole load of things on ‘buy it now’s’ and within 2 days everything had sold out!

Tell us about your product range, what you got to offer? What are your current favourite items? What inspires your too-cute designs?
We offer loads of different things and have lots of things in the pipeline…
We mainly do bracelets. Necklaces. Earrings. Rings. Brooches at the moment… but hope to add lots of customised t-shirts mainly screen printed design for both men and ladies. I get inspired by literally anything from a feeling to a marking on the road… been individual is my ultimate goal but its also a business and I have to make money too… my personal favourites are the gold I LOVE YOU ring and the MEGA TRASH bracelet… they are also my best sellers too!

What’s the secret to your success miss Anna?
I really really love what I do. And I really enjoy it. It’s all really new and the company is expanding daily - so it’s all great fun… I know its something I’ve always wanted to and I’m at a perfect time in my life to dedicate most of my time to it!

Do you have to be all business-y too?
Not really.. but I did study business studies at school and it was always something I loved.. but art and fashion were my real passion - now I can work between the both and love working the two together.. you just have to keep focused and right now I can just about keep track of everything…

What’s a typical day in the life of Anna?
I work in the fashion industry for other companies during the day, doing freelance fashion design, photography and styling - so I’m always really busy I try to keep my days as random as possible that when I find myself more inspired - eventually id like to concentrate all my efforts on the UDR brand but its early days and combining the two for now seeing the industry as a whole and just makes me more aware of the industry to push on the UDR brand in the direction I want it to go!

How do you pimp your prods?
I’m always on myspace, its been great! It really has given me a lot of opportunities for my company - the only thing is it becomes addictive! I also have an account on eBay to sell off my one off samples mainly and to generate the awareness of the UDR brand. As I work doing freelance fashion and styling, I try and promote Unique Deluxe Rocks in that way working with make up artists and models - the results so far have been great!

What’s been the best experience since setting up?
Compliments and requests are the best thing!
Seeing people wearing your stuff is also great! I was in my hometown recently and saw a girl at the bar wear one of my brooches I was like, ‘arrrah I made that!’ It was a really strange feeling… but great! I must have sounded mad because she said ‘no, I got it from this company called Unique Deluxe Rocks…’ and I was like, ‘yeah that’s me!!!’

As an official style-ista, what’s your ‘must-have’ accessory?
A really big bag I think is a must …I’m one of them who carries everything around with me… the usual contents of my bag…flat pumps…diary, I-pod, camera, mobile, work mobile, peoples orders to post, lip gloss, blusher, can of coke, haribo, chewing gum and very large sunglasses so people don’t know how late I stayed up the night before usually working!

What’s your favourite brand and why?
I love everyone in fashion…. I love going to big shows at London fashion week and love the likes of John Galliano… I also love smaller independent companies like Preen and Jonathan Saunders.

What would your UDR soundtrack sound like?
Really mixed and really varied.. my music reflects the mood I’m in and what I’m up to, if I put shuffle on my I-pod it goes from one extreme to the other! I love a lot of the old stuff, but currently I’m listening to anything from Damien Rice, The View, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Arctic Monkeys, Kings of Leon, Amy Winehouse… but I like a lot of chart stuff too!

Do you have a style bible – a magazine, book that you completely dig?
I have a huge collection of books and magazines. I have been collecting them for over 10 years now and love to buy vintage magazines… such as vogue and never throw them out! I also love books on art and graphic design- I love books that inspire me… I love ID magazine and the Elle fashion collection magazine that has pages and pages of all the latest fashion shows!

What makes you jump-in-the-air-happy, fashion girl?
My friends- going on holidays - laughing my head off - learning something new – staying up late - getting stuff for free – shopping- dancing- getting my passport stamped- road trips, flip flops - good music- fake tan- junk - oversized sunglasses - going to festivals. - Plastic jewellery! - getting a great haircut - feeling organised - the beach - Leather jackets - Being happy

What’s next in the world of UDR?
Now the website is all up and running and the shop is finally open for business - I am now working on a whole load of new and exciting collections and I’m hoping to launch ladies wear and menswear collections of customised and screen printed t-shirts. Hopefully then get some shops to stock my products to get the UDR brand really out there!! And if I have anytime left try and get myself to some craft events this year and see what people actually think of the products I’m selling - feedback is the best it give you ideas of how to move products forward.

What advice would you have for would-be design girls – any words of wisdom would be fabulous-o lovely lady!
Never give up.. there can be lots of negative people out there… keep doing what you want to because you love it.. not because some one wants you to.. or you think you should. Explore your creativity to the fullest and take time in making things look nice….be as individual as you can and always have lots of fun!
www.uniquedeluxerocks.co.uk