Sssilk666 is an independent fashion brand that uses deadstock and upcycled materials to create pieces largely inspired by antique garments and 18th-century paintings. Founder Alice Stephenson currently creates all of her pieces by hand with dying techniques that result in a one-off, unique garment. She also helps to support overexploited and underpaid garment workers globally by donating 5% of item prices to Labour Behind the Label charity.

We had a conversation with Alice about why she started Sssilk666, where she sources the deadstock materials, and what changes she would like to see in the fashion industry…

For those who are unfamiliar with your work, tell us about yourself and why you decided to start Sssilk666.

I always had an interest in fashion design stretching back from my early teens, but I never really thought I could be a technically capable person in terms of sewing garments from scratch. I took up sewing in the year I graduated from university, and lockdown plus furlough from my job gave me a lot of time to kickstart my brand, although I didn't envisage it as a brand when I started. I made a few things that got traction on Depop and Instagram and then decided to give it a go.

What sets Sssilk666 apart from other brands?

I only use deadstock and upcycled materials in my work, and pretty much every piece I make is a one-off in some way or another due to design variations and unrepeatable hand-dying techniques.

Can you tell us about your designs? Where do you draw inspiration from?

I'm very interested in a lot of antique garments, and also recently 18th-century paintings which I'm feeling quite inspired by at the moment. 

You make all of your pieces yourself, how long do they typically take to make?

The process for creating my safety pin pieces is quite time-consuming, I hammer the eyelets in and then I usually attach the safety pins while I'm volunteering at Bleaq store on Brick Lane. It's hard to say exactly how long it takes to produce one piece as I split the work into different sections. I can make three silk dresses in a day if I'm concentrating.

How do you go about sourcing your materials?

I visit flea markets as often as I can to source trimmings, beads, and fabrics/ leathers. I source my silk from a deadstock fabric company in Spain and I source used bedsheets from a fabric recycling plant in Shoreditch. Leather usually comes from Gumtree or eBay.

As a young designer, are there any challenges you have had to face?

Most young people are affected by the lack of affordable housing and artists also usually need studio space. I feel blessed that my parents let me live with them and that they live within a commutable distance of London, but it would be cool if rent was more affordable and I could move out.

If there was one change you’d like to see in the fashion industry, what would that be?

I think fashion needs to ditch the concept of seasons, and I also think fashion would be a lot more interesting and ethical if the wealth in the industry wasn't as monopolised by Kering and LVMH as it currently is. Brands owned by those companies have set alarming precedents for small designers in terms of the amount they produce and that has a knock-on effect on how small brands feel they need to behave. I don't understand the need for brands to come up with 150-piece collections twice a year and it makes me sad that so much of the fashion industry is geared towards participating in this notion.

What’s next for Sssilk666?

I'm just excited to continue experimenting with the techniques I've developed over the last few years. I love incorporating metal into my designs and I want to experiment with more outerwear like jackets and trousers. The more pieces I sell through my online store the more time I have to create, so I need to grow my online following to help me do this. 

You can find Sssilk666 at sssilk666.com or on Instagram @sssilk666