Making a big impression in the Big Apple

It’s said that New Yorkers have seen it all, but Inverness designer Sandra Murray knows otherwise. When she used Central Park as a catwalk, it almost brought the city to a halt as residents rushed to get a glimpse of fashions they’d never seen before. Susan Welsh chats to the woman who stormed the city that never sleeps

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Photographer: Lloyd Bishop

FROM exclusive Skibo Castle in the Highlands to the Metropolitan Club in New York – Inverness-based designer Sandra Murray certainly gets around.

The couture designer recently returned from a trip to New York, where her high-fashion outfits literally stopped the traffic.

Sandra, of the city’s Kinmylies area, said: “I was showcasing my Roots Collection, which features Scottish textiles, to a National Trust of Scotland Patron’s Club event at the club.

“Before it got under way, the photographer suggested we take the models, who were all about six foot tall, across the road into Central Park for a photo shoot.

“People in New York love tartan, and if you are wearing it, it always draws attention, but the sight of these very tall, glamorous models wearing outfits with a clear Scottish theme created quite a stir.

“The traffic came to a halt as people stopped to watch them pass by, then in Central Park itself, we were surrounded by people who were all very interested in the Scottish theme of the fashions.”

The models all came from Trump Model Management, a company founded by real-estate mogul Donald Trump in 1999 and regarded as one of the world’s leading model agencies.

They wore five of Sandra’s bespoke design outfits, which use the finest of Scottish fabrics, such as Harris tweed and Lochcarron tartan juxtaposed with heaps of delicate tulle and embellished with sequins and pearls.

“I took along two long dresses, one featuring Inverness tartan and the other with Harris tweed and dress Stuart tartan; a one-off white piece I had designed for last year’s VisitScotland’s winter campaign; a coat made with fabric from Timorous Beasties toile fabric, and a full-length kilt made with red silk and topped with a bodice made using the Highland 2007 tartan designed by pupils from Mulbuie Primary School on the Black Isle.”

The blend of Scottish fabrics mixed with delicate tulle, sequins and pearls went down a storm at the star-studded affair.

“After having cocktails and a Scottish-themed dinner, I was interviewed by compere Robert Lovie, of Fyvie Castle, about the different materials used, where I get my ideas from, and so on,” said Sandra, 56.

“There was also an opportunity to talk to some of the guests who, judging from feedback, loved it.”

Sandra’s feminine outfits are the kind that most of us can only dream of owning, and Sandra readily admits that they won’t suit everyone.

“They are one-offs, and each is created with one person in mind. They are unusual and draw a lot of attention, therefore you need to be a fairly confident person to feel comfortable wearing them.

“But buying a couture outfit is not just about buying clothes; you are really buying a piece of art.”

And it is as an artist, first and foremost, that Sandra thinks of herself.

The eldest of four children, she was born on the island of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides. Her father is a retired boatbuilder and former lecturer at Lews Castle College, while her mother, now retired, had a knitwear business.

Sandra studied drawing and painting at Glasgow School of Art and her early career was as an art teacher.

A self-taught couturier, who has lived in Inverness for 30 years, she is driven by a passion for hand-stitching and an eye for beautiful colours and wonderful fabrics.

Her first brush with fame came in 1999 when she was commissioned to design an outfit for the Queen to wear to the opening of the Scottish Parliament.

“As an artist, I have a tremendous freedom to be creative. Every artist wants liberty and I am lucky enough to have it.

“I thoroughly enjoy working with a client to create a one-off outfit. I always tell clients that they should take full advantage of a designer’s skills because they can give them the chance to create something they will never see anyone else wearing.”

Those interested in commissioning a statement piece can either visit Sandra in her studio or have her call on them. For further information, visit www.sandramurray.co.uk, or phone 01463 220091.