Katharine

Female

London

United Kingdom

Profile Information:

Profession / role:

Designer/Owner

Company / organisation:

KSE Dressmaking

Website (if you have one):

www.ksedressmaking.co.uk, www.katharineharrison.com

My primary role in relation to fashion is:

Designer

I am looking to discover or buy

Studio premises, staff, funds, organic fabric suppliers and advice on UK-based supply chains, an industrial machine and overlocker!

About me / About business or organisation:

My name is Katharine Harrison, trading as KSE Dressmaking. I have been working towards setting up my own company since June 2010. I design high-end fashion womenswear under the label of Katharine Harrison, with plans to release a preliminary pre-collection of woven cotton separates in September this year. I will be launching the brand officially in February 2011 with a full womenswear colection. I combine around 60% up-cycled cotton, linen and wool, with 30% organic cottons/linens/hemp/bamboo/wool and around 10% conventional where necessary. (These vary from season to season). The focus of the company is the making and the finishing, employing the use of traditional handcraft techniques, the company has all garments made within the UK and hand-finished in-house at the KSE Dressmaking studio. We hope at some point to stock Liberty and Egg in South Kensington but for now the focus is on completing the pre-collection for promotion.

Career history / Company history:

I graduated from the University of Brighton in 2006 where i completed work experience at Katharine Hamnett as well as couture company Marchesa. I went on to work with Katharine on her new line Katharine E Hamnett in 2007.

I then began work on upgrading my skills base as I felt I lacked the skills necessary to execute my design work in full.

I began a tailoring apprenticeship course with a group of Savile Row tailors in conjunction with Newham College of FE.

At the same time I took a job at period costume-makers SANDS FILMS, where all costumes are made according to the period, by hand where appropriate. I made key pieces for Jane Campion's latest film Bright Star, along with Young Victoria, Creation, Belle ami among others.

These both lasted for 2.5 years leading me up to June this year when I felt it was time to start my own label.

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