Name: Anna Butler
Age: 35
Location: Oxford
Background: I did a Degree in Fashion Design and then worked as a menswear designer in London for 5 years. I got totally sick of menswear so decided to do something on my own. I have now been doing Custom Made for 4 years.
Where do you get your inspiration from? I get my inspiration from all over the place! I love cute Japanese trinkets, cool graphics; I am obsessed with fonts and downloading new fonts to my computer. I love buttons, lovely prints, embroidery & animals dressed in clothes.
Is this your full time job? Yes hurray! It's taken a while but I now do Custom Made full time.
Where can I find you in real life? As well as having an online shop and various stockists you can find Custom Made at Sunday Up Market in London every week. Sunday Up Market is on Brick Lane in London and has loads of designers and crafty people selling their wares.
Any tips for someone who wants to start making their own stuff? Perseverance!!! It's taken a while for me to get to the point I am at with Custom Made. You are very lucky if your business is a success over night. I know lots of people who have given up cos it didn't happen overnight. You have just got to stick at it and tell yourself it's going to work!
What music do you listen to whilst you work? I listen to music all day long in my workshop. I really love Podcasts. I listen to a couple of music podcasts PinkBeltRage which is my favourite and KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic.
Any interesting/famous customers? I sold a bag to the actress Neve Campbell a couple of months ago.
What is the nicest comment you've ever received about your work? That my hair grips made a girls hair happy!
What is your favourite item that you have made? My favorite item is a ring I made a couple of weeks ago. It's a sterling silver band with a big red heart button on. I love it! I made it for myself but I will add it to the range too.
Can you recommend another designer? I recently discovered Apak. They are a design duo Aaron and Ayumi Piland who do fantastic painting and prints. I bought this beautiful print from them called Making friends from a series called Happy Hermits. It has these little animals in the series which are so cute. I am a total sucker for cute little animals. Check out their work it's amazing!
Anything else that you're interested in? You can read my silly chatter if you like on the Custom Made blog. It's called Custom Made Chitter Chatter