Katy Clark

Grey Sheep

Location

london / United Kingdom

University

northumbria university

Graduation year

2012

Contact

The brand has a conceptual outlook, focused on deconstruction and experimentation to challenge normalised traits in everyday clothing and to find new ideas. The look is asymmetrical, loose fitting and has a natural, effortless feel.

An interest in geometric shapes and menswear, and influences from music, films and photography are translated into intricately cut, draped silhouettes through working on the stand and creative pattern cutting.

Katy Clark is a contemporary fashion designer from Glasgow, Scotland where she is currently based. She has an HND in Fashion Design and Manufacture from Cardonald College and went on to study a BA(Hons) in Fashion at Northumbria University. During her studies Katy worked for cult designer Pam Hogg in London working closely on the S/S11 collection for release at London Fashion Week and more recently worked for award winning Scottish designer Judy R Clark.

In May 2013 she was chosen as one of 5 designers throughout Europe to participate in the fashion talent competition 'Designer For Tomorrow' by the current patron Stella McCartney and the judging panel. The designers received personal mentoring from Stella McCartney and in July showed their collections as part of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Berlin.

Latest Collection

Sunday Desperados

This collection was first inspired by 'Heartattack and Vine' by singer-songwriter Tom Waits. The mood of the song is gritty and apathetic and inspired images of wandering people, and ideas of vagabonds and ramblers.

Tom Waits himself, described by the New York Times as "the poet of outcasts" served as inspiration for the overall mood of the collection, in his raw vocal style to his bluesy, experimental ballads of nighthawks and lost souls.

“Baudrillard once said every possible art form has already been explored and all that’s left is to deconstruct and play with the pieces”

- Chenowith, B. (2004) Six Feet Under. HBO, July 11

Post modernism states that ideas, products or designs cannot be completely new as past experiences or pre-existing concepts we have encountered will influence our intentions. It is near impossible to have an idea completely independent in itself, with no ties whatsoever to something already existing.

The experimental aesthetic of the collection came from deconstructing and reassembling men's outerwear pieces bought from charity shops which resulted in unusual cuts, tucks and pleats and seam placement. Unfinished hems, unstructured drapes and the quirky details play off the fabric choice of wool, crepe, silk, cupro and silk cotton yarn.