Meet Claire Burman. You might not know her name, but you’ve definitely seen her work. As a producer extraordinaire, Claire is the person that - in short - makes cool stuff happen. In 2014, Claire co-founded the creative agency Babyface, a collective of women who pioneered feminism in fashion way ahead of the Millenial pink chokehold. After shuttering in 2019, Claire founded her own production agency, CEBE studio. Her roster of clients reads like a who’s who of the fashion industry. From Bottega Veneta to Martine Rose to artists like Shygirl, CEBE produces parties, fashion shows, store openings, music videos, photo shoots and more. What’s more, in 2022 Claire also produced a baby. Here we discuss Claire’s impressive career journey, what makes a great party, modern motherhood and why her friends call her “Lil’ Bag”.
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The piece that reminds Claire of her childhood: “I had my little Caterpillar boots on with everything!”
Claire on the job in the piece that reminds her of her career - The Blazer. “For me it’s a bit of a security blanket. I’m definitely always one of the smallest in the room. I look younger than I am, and I think having a blazer on makes people take me more seriously.” The trick didn’t always work, however: “My first blazer was from Mango, and I was convinced it would make me look so old that I’d get into Oceana. It didn’t!”
The piece that reminds Claire of a high: her Conner Ives T-shirt dress. “I’ve worn it for so many different things. I wore it loads when I was pregnant, and it’s really great for all holidays and dancefloors.”
The piece that reminds Claire of a great party - a green tulle Molly Goddard skirt. Seen here at a few different parties over the years. “It’s so silly that you just have fun in it!”
Claire at one of the infamous PDA parties, a Dalston night which became a tentpole of East London’s creative scene, run by DJ/ casting director Mischa Notcutt, filmmaker Akinola Davies and musician Ms. Carrie Stacks. “They’d always just put out a flyer the night before or the morning of the night. That was the energy. Naturally they pulled such an amazing creative community of people. Mischa and Akin and Carrie cared so deeply about everyone there. They made sure that it was a really safe space for anyone that wanted to come, and you could really feel that.”
For the piece that makes her feel a part of something, Claire chose her Martine Rose shirt. “I was recently in Florence doing Martine’s show [pictured above at the rehearsal], and I was looking around at all the other people there. It’s a predominantly female team, and most of them are mothers. Everyone had their own Martine Rose shirt on from various different seasons. It felt like a way of being able to identify this Martine Rose family. She is someone that cares so deeply about everyone she’s working with.”
Claire with her son, wearing her Martine Rose shirt.
Claire on her birthday in the piece that makes her feel sexy, a long 16Arlington cardigan. “My style definitely changed when I was pregnant. With it came this new type of confidence that I hadn’t felt before when getting dressed. I think it’s because I had a hard belly!”
The one that got away: “I chose this little orange bag that I got from Deptford market for £2. I did’t lose it, it just fell to pieces because I wore it so much. It was so cheap but so fab. I took it everywhere. It’s in photos with me out and about, at a friend’s wedding, in Jamaica… People just knew me for that little bag - some of my friends even call me ‘Lil’ Bag’.”
Threads of the week
Feeling over the moon at the Marine Serre launch party at The Selfridges Corner Shop. Wearing vintage leather pants, a secondhand Weekday singlet from Depop and my beloved Ann Demeulemeester boots. The red lip is c/o Ruby Woo by MAC.
Loose Threads
On the above, really enjoyed this video essay on Marine Serre by YouTuber understitch.
Went to the Sprezza meet-up in London where I met fellow newsletter gal Fashion Tingz.
Can’t stop listening to Tygapaw and Sherelle’s B2B NTS show. Same goes for Lady Shaka’s Boiler Room mix.
Trying to do more TikToks.
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