About the editor
Short creative oddling, no longer considered a young person by national rail.
Alt fashion started it's humble little life as part of my final project at university; spawed by flicking through copies of "Fruits", Livejournal communities, and networking sites whilst researching
a street style photography site.
Seeing the wide range of alternative styles adopted both in the UK and internationally had me trapsing around for UK specific sites to find more designers, and companies; but
alas the closest I could find was Batgear beyond, and Net goth's shop listings. This lack of resources sparked a new spin on my project idea, creating a site dedicated to alternative fashion
within the UK.
With an extensive list of shops, sites, & designers already in my bookmarks from my many years of abusing various styles; with nods to cyber, goth, fruits, & punk diy style already abundant in my wardrobe.
I set about contacting favourite sites and designers to start the project, and put together the initial contacts for Alt fashion.
Soon after I started creating my own alternative fashion hub for the UK, and to cut a long story short Alt fashion was born several months later.
Since then I've been behind the workings of Alt fashion; setting up interviews and features, drafting in new contributors, writing articles, & finding new contacts
for inclusion.
I'm still behind the majority of the site workings these days; working on the design end of the site, writing up occasional content and features, organizing the odd photo shoot, and answering site emails, whilst multi-tasking the many net working profiles that Alt fashion has.
Over the 6 years that I've been running Alt fashion my own personal style has changed as the years have gone by. The plus side of discovering new designers, companies, & shops all the time whilst working on Alt fashion.
From my first humble self stylings back in my teens of safety pinned velour jackets and mini black dresses; a'la nods to local heroes Mansun, with a touch of influence from Brian Molko.
To neon pink & silver robotic cyber skirts, teamed with diy'd clip in hair extensions in my late teens inspired by classic anime; through to the leopard prints and skinny blue jeans with rockabilly nods in my wardrobe today.
My wardrobe and selection of jewellery & accessories could read out a who's, who in alternative and indie fashion.
Having hoarded over the years as the results of dipping my toes into every alt style possible, which of course has helped with running Alt fashion, and was part of that spark that started the site.
Alongside running Alt fashion, & working at my day job, in my spare time I can be found loafing around galleries, northern cities, and the like; crafting, & knitting.
Image: © Leona Turford
The stats
Name: Leona Turford
Residence: North Wales/England border - yes thats right we're Northerners! ;)
Preferred style: Notes of quirky, vintage attire mixed with Rockabilly & a touch of mod.
Favourite designers/companies: In no paticular order; Collectif, Hell bunny, Lady K Loves, Inamagura, Paul Smith, Vivienne Westwood, Red or dead, Urban outfitters, Lime Crime, Barry M, & Lush.
Amongst bits of vintage clothing, & accessories, and a whole heap of diy/indie finds in my wardrobe.
Personal icons: Jacqui & Carrie Shampoo, Nicky Wire, Vivenne Westwood, Karl Lagerfeld, Shiochi Aoki, Wayne Hemmingway, & Paul Smith.
Adores: Bright make up and tights, plastic jewellery, vintage brooches, pencil skirts, notes of tweed, stripes, kitten heels, bows, leopard prints, good skinny jeans,
& vintage cameras.
Favourite quote: "Fashion is ephemeral, dangerous, & cruel" Karl Lagerfeld
Websites: Deevamedia.co.uk / Leonaturfordphotography.co.uk
