Just a quick note from the A.O. team -
We have been out of the game for short while due to a myriad of "life" problems that we have presented themselves. We are now happy to announce that all has settled in the lives of the A.O team and we are looking forward to a new year, plus a ton of great things to come for A.O. as a website and a new company. We are fully devoted to our cause and hope that you join us on the journey. Anyway; enough of my blabbering and on to the wonderful world of Caitlin She!
We have been out of the game for short while due to a myriad of "life" problems that we have presented themselves. We are now happy to announce that all has settled in the lives of the A.O team and we are looking forward to a new year, plus a ton of great things to come for A.O. as a website and a new company. We are fully devoted to our cause and hope that you join us on the journey. Anyway; enough of my blabbering and on to the wonderful world of Caitlin She!
While trawling the internet looking at artists, designers, makers and writers I stumbled upon the designs of Caitlin She. Fashion is often a fickle mistress when you find to new and independent designers, as you want to invest in independent clothing but it is hard looking around to find what “fits your style”, it is equivalent to sifting for gold.
What really caught our eye is timeless quality of Caitlin's designs, everything is subtle about the style, whoever you are reading this could see yourself or one of your friends in her clothes.
What really caught our eye is timeless quality of Caitlin's designs, everything is subtle about the style, whoever you are reading this could see yourself or one of your friends in her clothes.
What really stands out for us is the surface patterns used, it is like wearing a canvas
There is something to be said about a designer that can make you feel like you are wearing a beautiful and flattering painting. It would be the equivalent of wearing your favourite item of clothing with Monet's Water Lilies as the surface pattern.
There is something to be said about a designer that can make you feel like you are wearing a beautiful and flattering painting. It would be the equivalent of wearing your favourite item of clothing with Monet's Water Lilies as the surface pattern.
On the note of surface pattern here are some examples of Caitlin's wonderful artwork
We had a chat with Caitlin about her work and here is what we found out -
1. At what point did you start making clothes and why?
About five years ago i began to dabble in sewing. I'd wanted to make some dresses to hang in an exhibition i was putting on and had been interested in fabric design at that point, so decided to merge my two loves - clothing and illustration. I designed some fabrics and then set to work sewing them into a set of dresses. The results were not exactly wearable, but after a few years of training i'm now good friends with my sewing machine and can confidently do what i'd imagined all those years ago.
2. What inspires your patterns/ illustrations?
Cy Twombly, Kate Bush, Alexander Calder, the flowers in my garden, early andy warhol, mark rothko, man ray, martha graham. Thick oil paint textures, feminine wiles, romance.
3.What inspires your garments
walking through the garden at dusk, perching oneself in the corner of the art gallery to admire people and paintings, raw silk, nipped in waists, touching fabrics with the fingers, matching the shoes with the dress, linen wrinkles.
4. Could you describe/ explain your creative process?
Everything starts as a scribble, or as a drawing. I mull things over in my head, more like in a dream than as a solid plan, for a long time before setting them down on paper. After getting the designs that i'm happy with printed onto fabric i've then got to visualise the next step which is how it'll look as a garment. I tend to draw on a lot of intuition. My friends do good favours for me by trying on samples so i can see what does and doesn't work. They are my muses and give me a good view of whether a garment is ready to go out into the world or whether it needs a tweak or two.
5. Any advice for creative people who would like to try their hand at garment making/fashion?
Sewing is a very handy skill to have, but it takes time and practice to master. don't be afraid of breaking a few needles or accidentally sewing in a dodgy zipper at first - learn because you love it.
We also asked what come next for her and “Caitlin She”
I'll be releasing an array of new designs within the next month or so, upon the release of a lookbook i'm shooting with my friend Georgia Blackie. I've been sitting on some new designs for a while now and i'm excited to set them free into the sky!
I think we can all get excited about designers as talented as Caitlin making their mark, see links below to follow and see more of her work
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caitlinshe
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caitlin_she/
Website: http://www.caitlinshe.com/
1. At what point did you start making clothes and why?
About five years ago i began to dabble in sewing. I'd wanted to make some dresses to hang in an exhibition i was putting on and had been interested in fabric design at that point, so decided to merge my two loves - clothing and illustration. I designed some fabrics and then set to work sewing them into a set of dresses. The results were not exactly wearable, but after a few years of training i'm now good friends with my sewing machine and can confidently do what i'd imagined all those years ago.
2. What inspires your patterns/ illustrations?
Cy Twombly, Kate Bush, Alexander Calder, the flowers in my garden, early andy warhol, mark rothko, man ray, martha graham. Thick oil paint textures, feminine wiles, romance.
3.What inspires your garments
walking through the garden at dusk, perching oneself in the corner of the art gallery to admire people and paintings, raw silk, nipped in waists, touching fabrics with the fingers, matching the shoes with the dress, linen wrinkles.
4. Could you describe/ explain your creative process?
Everything starts as a scribble, or as a drawing. I mull things over in my head, more like in a dream than as a solid plan, for a long time before setting them down on paper. After getting the designs that i'm happy with printed onto fabric i've then got to visualise the next step which is how it'll look as a garment. I tend to draw on a lot of intuition. My friends do good favours for me by trying on samples so i can see what does and doesn't work. They are my muses and give me a good view of whether a garment is ready to go out into the world or whether it needs a tweak or two.
5. Any advice for creative people who would like to try their hand at garment making/fashion?
Sewing is a very handy skill to have, but it takes time and practice to master. don't be afraid of breaking a few needles or accidentally sewing in a dodgy zipper at first - learn because you love it.
We also asked what come next for her and “Caitlin She”
I'll be releasing an array of new designs within the next month or so, upon the release of a lookbook i'm shooting with my friend Georgia Blackie. I've been sitting on some new designs for a while now and i'm excited to set them free into the sky!
I think we can all get excited about designers as talented as Caitlin making their mark, see links below to follow and see more of her work
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caitlinshe
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caitlin_she/
Website: http://www.caitlinshe.com/