From pre-date creations to silver-leafed nipples, meet the designer redefining sustainable style one stitch at a time.

Designer, poet and curator Celeste Burgoyne is quietly reshaping the way we think about fashion. Their eponymous clothing brand, along with its upcycling offshoot Slowpoke, embodies the ethos of sustainability, personal connection, and timeless style. Rather than chasing trends, Burgoyne creates pieces that feel like old friends - garments designed to be worn, reworn, and cherished for years.

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Image credit: Celeste wearing the Bubble dress

Burgoyne’s journey into fashion was anything but conventional. After dropping out of Central Saint Martins in 2014, they found themselves at a crossroads. “I didn’t know what the hell to do with my life,” they laugh. Retail jobs in vintage stores followed, along with sewing gigs for a small Brighton-based brand. Slowly, they began making clothes for themselves, then for friends, until the practice grew into a full-time pursuit.

At the core of Burgoyne’s design philosophy is a simple but powerful concept: classic silhouettes with a twist. Each piece carries a small but deliberate detail - something that sets it apart from the ordinary. “I want to make things that I’ll still love in five, ten years,” they explain. This approach rejects the fleeting nature of fast fashion in favour of longevity. Made-to-order production is an essential part of this philosophy. Each order is created specifically for the person who purchased it, requiring patience and intention. “It means people have to ask themselves if they really want something,” Burgoyne says. “And when they do, they know it’s been made just for them.”

Image credit: Riya Hamid wears the Bra Tee. Photographed by Isabel Spantzel

Their upcycling-focused project, Slowpoke, also follows this mindful ethos. By repurposing found and discarded garments, Burgoyne transforms forgotten pieces into something fresh and desirable. “There’s so much clothing waste,” they say. “I love the idea of taking something that’s been cast aside and giving it a new life.” A staple piece, the Ribbon Vests, exemplifies this ability to elevate the overlooked. “I find these old men’s vests in the weirdest sections of charity shops - nobody wants them,” they say. By altering and reimagining them, they turn these forgotten pieces into something entirely new and desirable. Their work proves that good design doesn’t have to be complicated - it just has to be honest.

Image: Celeste wearing Wiggle trousers paired with Ribbon tank top and Luna choker.

Burgoyne’s approach to fashion is deeply rooted in a DIY mentality. One of their most beloved designs, the Wiggle Trousers, originated from a spontaneous pre-date sewing session. “I made them in half an hour,” they recall. Initially unimpressed, they abandoned them on the floor, only to realise the next day - when they spotted them inside out- that they were actually perfect. That happy accident led to their most enduring design, a staple they have worn (and re-worn) countless times.

This DIY spirit extends beyond fashion into all aspects of Burgoyne's creative life. In London, they transformed an empty office space in Hackney into a makeshift gallery, stapling bedsheets to floors and walls to create an unconventional exhibition space. "You can simply do your own version of things," they reflect, describing the raw energy of those shows. Now based at Berlin's ORi studio, Burgoyne continues this accessible approach to creativity. "When the work is good, it doesn't matter that the walls aren't perfect and the floor is a bit scuffed," they say. "It's about creating a feeling of community, somewhere that's accessible and limitless." This philosophy of imperfect beauty and community-driven creativity perfectly mirrors their approach to fashion.

Image credit: Yulia Pavlen wears Bubble sport tee. Photographed by Julia Lee Goodwin.

These days spending time in the studio takes precedence over nights out, but they sure know how to pull a look. “Clubbing’s about feeling cute, feeling sexy, wearing something you wouldn’t wear to the shop,” they say. “One of my favourite looks was just Billabong board shorts, big black boots, and silver leaf on my nipples.” Their designs reflect this balance between ease and allure. The ruched nature of their tops allows for a subtly flirty aesthetic without veering into hyper-femininity. “I like feeling sexy, but I don’t always want to feel girly,” Burgoyne explains. Their pieces offer a middle ground, fitted but comfortable, designed for movement, for dancing, for feeling good in your own skin.

If Burgoyne’s brand had a theme song, it would be Tomorrow We Get Healthy by Spike Fuck. “The title just says it all. You’re always trying to do better, even if you don’t quite get there in the timeframe you expect.” Burgoyne's creations celebrate that spirit of perseverance, the beautiful mess of figuring things out as you go. In a fashion world obsessed with perfection, their approach feels like a breath of fresh air.