Always hot on the heels of the latest up and coming designers, Lady M Presents were recently lucky enough to get an interview with innovative textiles and accessories designer Kate Hasted. Kate recently held an exhibition of her work at Craft Central in London and also showcased her work at this years Pantiles Fashion Festival in her home town of Tunbridge Wells.
Kate Hasted Designs
Kate Hasted’s prints have been picked up by designers such as Donna Karan, Calvin Klein and Armani, and she is now producing her own collections. Drawing inspiration from her extensive world travels, and using a combination of classic and modern techniques, Kate represents a truly exciting new chapter in British design. Check out her stunning designs at www.katehasted.co.uk and follow her on twitter @KateHasted.
We took some time at her recent exhibition to interview Kate and get a taste of what inspires her designs:
Q. How long have you been designing for?
A. I feel I have been designing since about the age of 14! But professionally since 2002 when I graduated and started designing my own products for interiors and collections for the New York fashion market.
Q. What kind of pieces are you producing now?
A. This year I launched my first fashion accessories collection of scarves and jewellery which feature five of my striking print designs. I am also creating fashion print collections for New York twice a year and I am just about to start a new collection that will be represented to fashion studios in Australia. Alongside this I take on commissions and try to create bespoke pieces to exhibit.
Piccadilly Fabric & Pink Necklace, by Kate Hasted
Q. How does the production process work?
A. The fabrics for my current accessories collection were first hand created by me using my marbled techniques onto fabric, I then used the computer to digitally put them into repeat and they are then digitally printed. The digital printing enables me to create larger pieces of fabric from my designs so that I can make them into scarves and fashion items.
Q. You previously have taken some time out to seek inspiration around the world. What inspires you?
A. I am inspired by other designers such as Matthew Williamson and Modern Love who use bold striking prints in their collections, Japanese fabric designers such as NUNO always inspire me with their new fabrics that are usually quite futuristic looking, they also combine old and new printing/surface manipulation techniques of which I like to do with my work. I see my work method as experimental because I like to try new techniques and to combine them with my existing ones so I am often inspired by trying out a new ink or dye or method of printing.
Kate Hasted, scarves and accessories
Q. Your beautiful current collection, ‘London’, is named after famous places around the capital. Why did you choose those particular places?
A. The collection is called ‘London’ and features the prints ‘Mayfair’, ‘Regent’, ‘Sloane’, ‘Piccadilly’ and ‘Knightsbridge’. I named the prints after some of my favourite parts of London. I feel these places are exciting and fashionable and show quality, style and innovation – I wanted to represent this in my first accessories collection
Mayfair, by Kate Hasted
Q. Tough question, but where do you think British design is heading?
A. Okay this is a hard question because when talking about British Design we are covering a HUGE area! I would say that good British design is about high quality, innovation and something that will stand the test of time – usually becoming iconic. In terms of the design/brand etc: across the board I am thinking Rolls Royce, Designers Guild, Vivienne Westwood etc. Over recent years it has become harder for the creators of products as the production costs here are much higher in the UK compared to overseas. I do however think that there are many people here in the UK and overseas that value British designed and produced products and will still want to purchase or commission work in the future. I feel that the challenge is getting the right support and exposure for what I do so that people will understand my work and will want to purchase items or commission pieces. I am hearing more and more that people in the UK are wanting to source items that are more unique and not mass produced overseas, if this is true then the future is looking good for British design!
To view and purchase items from across the range check out the London Collection on her website or visit Kate’s Etsy shop.
