| Of Mice and Menswear |
 At the tender age of 26, British born designer Katie Eary has an impressive celebrity following including Kate Moss, Kelis, Lady GaGa and Roisin Murphy and has graced the pages of top fashion magazines like Vogue and Dazed. Her military inspired menswear collection was showcased at Topman and Fashion East’s ‘MAN’ installation as part of the closing show at London Fashion Week. Our resident fashionista Buzzy Bee caught up with Katie to find out her inspirations, passions and plans for the future. When and how did your interest in fashion begin? I
always had a relationship with fashion I guess... I think it came from
never being able to afford nice things, and always yearning to escape
the confines of my council estate shackles... It was never a case of
'you’re not allowed', it was just simply understood; this is the way it
is. But I didn’t want that... from the age of 7 I started to express my
frustration and individuality using myself as a continual sketch book.
I knew I was a different, I didn’t really know why – which is something
that haunted me right up until I was 17, and then I did and I was
free............... Your clothes have a very edgy feel
about them, do you worry only a tiny segment of the fashion conscious
public might understand your designs? If I thought that then I wouldn’t be doing what I’ve been doing now for the past 7 years. I aim to please me as I trust my own judgement... if you haven’t got that... then why bother? Life is one big risk! I have done everything by the skin of my teeth. If I stopped and thought, oh what if they don’t like it then it would delay and poison my process, so I just go with what feels right. It’s a natural thing for me. Anything people don’t understand they tend to ask... the most common question is 'Where did it come from?' which I oblige in telling them. It’s always a good skill to able to communicate! If people don’t understand after I have explained then I’m not doing a good job but so far I have had no problems.  Apart from the military, what other inspirations influence your design? Shape and silhouette are very important to me. The inspiration behind that comes from whatever book I just so happen to be reading at the time...like my recent collection was inspired by George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’. Do you have any plans to make a more commercial ready to wear line? Eventually it would be the right thing to do. But I would still like to continue with my outlandish line as well as a commercial line. This way I will survive as a designer... Survival is about being a successful business person as well as being a fab designer... there has to be a balance in order to survive. Do have any plans to diversify, perhaps starting a women's line, shoes etc? If I told you that I’d have to kill you. It’s a secret. In the future, how would you like your work to be remembered? Couture menswear! Even in the recession! Even when the designer is living in hay she is producing such beautiful articles! What advice would you give to new designers who are just starting out? I would say: if you are prepared to live on a shoe string for 5 years after you graduate... then go for it. It’s all about how much you love it really? For me, I just about survive. But I’m really happy. Happiness is the key. This industry really sorts the mice from the men! haha |
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