Nicola Inman, independent queer designer of Lord Violet, empowers alternative femmes through self expression. Seeking visibility as an invisible femme, and frustrated with the limited options for glamorous and edgy, yet good quality handmade goods in her hometown, inspired to pursue her lifelong dream of a career in fashion design. In 2016, she began offering her designs to the local market in Edmonton, AB and extending her reach to an international audience opening an Etsy shop.

Her line features brass paired with recycled leather, vinyl and vintage metal mesh to create designs that are luxurious, yet eco-responsible. Upcycling and repurposing materials not only offers the opportunity to take part in responsible luxury, but satisfies her politics as an environmentally conscious person.

“I grew up in a household where DIY was the norm, and crafting was the main form of entertainment. When I began designing, I took those values forward, and they aligned perfectly with a love I discovered for underground subcultures. Sheltered from mainstream pop culture allowed me to develop my own aesthetic driven by queer feminist politics, and a fascination and celebration of sexuality.”
- Designer, Nicola Inman

Taking inspiration from counterculture, you will see subtle nods to body modification, a sly celebration of her love for BDSM and the DIY ethics of the punk movements. A consistent theme of black and gold creates a dark, provocative and edgy collection that pushes boundaries.


Bolo Ties

“I never thought I would wear a bolo, but that all changed when I accidentally designed one. I put it on, and slid it up under my collar. I felt handsome, yet feminine at the same time. It was an androgynous accessory that felt more like jewelry.

Suddenly, I felt the ultimate freedom. It allowed me to accessorize and was associated with a queer identity. As an invisible femme, I was desperate for visibility. Paired with a button up shirt or dress, nothing says prairie queer like an adjustable bolo tie necklace.

I found my best seller product as a queer designer when I put a modern spin on the traditional western accessory!”
- Designer Nicola Inman

Metal Mesh

The metal mesh jewelry all started with a trip to Chicago. Thrift store shopping in Pilsen, a small piece of gold metal mesh under the collar of a brown vintage dress caught her eye. She couldn't stop thinking about it, wanting to incorporate it into her clothing designs. Keeping it simple, she decided to make jewelry with it instead. Why not create an affordable, versatile accessory that takes an outfit to the next level!

Now to find the mesh! It wasn't easy at first, having no idea where to start. After scouring Etsy for days, she realized vintage Whiting and Davis purses might be the only solution. Scoring her first purse to see how the mesh worked, she was ready to make her first piece of jewelry. Deconstructing a beautiful blue grey mesh purse off Etsy, the result was a triangular mesh necklace adorned with a small brass diamond. She didn't know how the style would be received, but it was a total success at her first market.

Thrift shopping is now an essential part of each new city she visits, to fulfill her metal mesh obsession. The thrill is in the hunt, looking for new colours and good quality purses. After the mesh is cut away from the lining of the bag and cut into specific shapes, the fun is in the addition of brass charms or beads to make many one-of-a-kind pieces.

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Operated out of Nicola’s home studio in Montréal, Lord Violet seeks to playfully challenge the status quo. In line with her sustainability goals, fabric and other garment supplies are Canadian sourced. While jewelry supplies are sourced internationally, a large majority are repurposed vintage materials, sourced from thrift stores locally or on Nicola’s travels. She is a primarily self taught seamstress, and recently took up silversmithing. Her previous projects include FEMININ MASCULIN clothing line, which explored androgyny within an invisible femme identity, and Je Suis Une Femme (high-waisted belts).