Student and Graduates: Be Featured

Calling all third years of fashion and textiles!

It's that time of year. You're Easter Break was barely even a break and you probably ate so many chocolate eggs just for the sugar to keep you going on those long all-nighters. You're not really sleeping so well (when you do get to go to bed!) because you're constantly thinking about what needs to be done next, when the next deadline is, when will it be too late to start ordering fabrics, etc etc.

I know! I've been there. It's stressful, it's painful, it makes you laugh, it makes you cry, it also makes you fat. But don't worry! It'll all be over soon, and you'll see your work at your graduate exhibition, or at New Designers, or Tent. You'll stand back and feel so proud because you did all that work.

At the end of it all, when you've got time to calm down, then I'll be here awaiting your request for a Graduate Profile! You need to get your workout there. The more websites you're on the better.

I'm here to showcase your talents to the world. I am so excited to see what amazing prints/garments/products have come out of the creative minds of young designers.

Please take a look at some of last years Graduate Profiles by clicking here and scrolling down until you hit around September/July.


If you would like to be featured on this blog, please contact Kate at klynch@hotmail.co.uk.

Time to introduce you...

I've been deliberating whether to plug my new business on my blog or not, as it may seem a little self indulgent, however I've come to the conclusion that I just want to share my story and show my designs that I love and care about so much to the rest of the world.

So last month, I started up my digitally printed scarf business: miel / b. It all came about as I came across some of my Grandads old things he had collected over the years such as old books, matchbox cards, postcards and other little titbits. They had that raw, beautiful vintage aura to them and I was immediately inspired.

At the time I was unemployed, just out of University, and needed something to do, so I set out to design a collection of scarves. I ended up with my 'Nostalgia' collection: 4 scarves each with a very nostalgic theme to it. There's King George, Rations, Household Tips and Postcards.

It never even occured to me to sell them at first, I just thought I might print one for myself! But as time went on, I started thinking a lot more about starting up a business with my designs and so, I decided to start research and find out prices of printing, websites etc.

Five months down the line, and a small amount of savings later, I decided to finally launch miel / b.

I made a conscious decision to make sure that everything about the business was made or sourced from the UK. I was inspired after watching Mary Portas' The Bottom Line and figured it would also be a fantastic selling point. All the scarves are designed (obviously), printed and finished in the UK and all other products used eg gift boxes and custom stamps are sourced from UK companies too.

As well as selling my designs as scarves, I also have a custom design service so if anybody wanted something very particular on a scarf for themselves or a loved one, I can do that for them.

I am so happy with how everything has turned out, and I've had so much support from everyone I know.

Please take a look at my website to see my vintage inspired scarves, follow me on twitter and like me on facebook.

My Love: Mary Katrantzou

I am a digital textile designer through and through. I love the technology that goes with it. I love learning about new technologies that are created to make printed textiles even more spectacular (e.g. 3D printing - I'll do a post on that at some point.). I love how almost any print is made possible with digital. You can imagine it, get on Photoshop or Illustrator and design it. Done. 

I'm a messy printer in the workshop, which is probably a fair reason why I love digital so much. During my last year of University, an entire chapter of my dissertation was dedicated to new technologies found in the textiles industry, and in this chapter was a small mention of Mary Katrantzou. 

To say that I was writing and researching my dissertation around October/November time in 2012 and had never heard of Mary Katrantzou is weird. I still can't believe it to this day! I happened to just come across her work whilst doing some extensive research into digital print in fashion and she popped up.

So it was here that I fell in love with her work. I look back at her first collection and can't help but think how 'Basso and Brooke' it is. So space-age and random. But since then, she has grown substantially into a truly amazing and original designer. I like how the prints are blatantly something. Sounds like a strange thing to say, but a lot of prints are just a flurry of colour and you can't really tell what they are (unless they are a floral or an animal print), but in Mary Katrantzou's designs, you can tell that that's a maze, or that's a type writer, or that's a city scape. I love it! It's like a t-shirt design on a beautiful dress. 

Images from Mary Katrantzou's first catwalk show in 2009

I also really love the fact, and this is said in the least offensive way possible, that she is a bit of a plain Jane. She looks like a lovely, regular girl. She doesn't look like a super skinny, super bossy, harsh fashionista. She just looks normal, and I like that.

I follow Mary Katrantzou on Instagram and am constantly in awe with all the photos she takes! You can definitely tell she's got a great creative touch, and sometimes some of the pictures she takes could easily become part of her next collection! To follow Mary Katrantzou on Instragram just search 'marykatrantzou' in the explore search box.

So really, the basic gist of this post is that I love Mary Katrantzou, and I hope that if you stumble across this blog and have never heard of her before that I have now introduced you to your new favourite designer.

I've picked out a couple of my favourite Mary Katrantzou garments for you to browse.

Fashion and Textiles Graduates - Be Featured

Calling all third years of fashion and textiles!

It's that time of year. You're Easter Break was barely even a break and you probably ate so many chocolate eggs just for the sugar to keep you going on those long all-nighters. You're not really sleeping so well (when you do get to go to bed!) because you're constantly thinking about what needs to be done next, when the next deadline is, when will it be too late to start ordering fabrics, etc etc.

I know! I've been there. It's stressful, it's painful, it makes you laugh, it makes you cry, it also makes you fat. But don't worry! It'll all be over soon, and you'll see your work at your graduate exhibition, or at New Designers, or Tent. You'll stand back and feel so proud because you did all that work.

At the end of it all, when you've got time to calm down, then I'll be here awaiting your request for a Graduate Profile! You need to get your work out there. The more websites you're on the better.

I'm here to showcase your talents to the world. I am so excited to see what amazing prints/garments/products have come out of the creative minds of young designers.

Please take a look at some of last years Graduate Profiles by clicking here and scrolling down until you hit around September/July.


If you would like to be featured on this blog, please contact Kate at klynch@hotmail.co.uk.

New online portfolio with brushd

Just thought I'd quickly mention I've just set up my new online portfolio with brushd. 

If you'd like to have a look at some of my work, please visit it here: http://katelynch.brushd.com/

BetaFasion: Epic Journey Project

Brief: Many of life's most vivid memories and powerful day dreams often come from travels we've been on, or the journey's we've had, or wish to have. Exciting destinations, adventures along the way, once in a life time experiences, culture shock, childhood nostalgia, or just escaping the day to day, there are so many ways that travel can play an important part in our lives. For this project we want you to encapsulate these ideas, whether real or fantasy, for use on our range of square scarves.

Prize: 4 winners will be selected, each receiving £300 and seeing their design go onto be sold in our online store, Topshop and more.

My Design:

My Inspiration: A new and accurate map of the world. An old treasure of my Grandma's that I saved from going to a carboot sale was an old map of the world on a mirror.It's been in my room ever since, joining my general theme of 'around the world'.

Please rate my design here: https://www.betafashion.com/competitionratedesign.aspx?SubmissionID=6961

Floral Friday: Kathryn Pledger

A long awaited Floral Friday has arrived as I introduce you to Kathryn Pledger.

Kathryn is a Graphic designer with a BA (Hons) in Graphic Communication. She has worked in Design Studios in Sydney, Dublin and London. Originally from Australia she is now based in London and pursuing her recent rediscovered love of surface pattern design, and freelancing in graphic design. 

"Creating surface pattern designs is a new and exciting venture for me. I have recently graduated from the online course The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design, and I am developing my portfolio and style."

Kathryn's ditsy florals are cute, beautiful and up-lifting. A great juxtaposition of using lovely light, refreshing colours, to dark and moody paintily designs. 

Kathryn talks about her inspiration for her florals:

"Having only recently followed my pent up desire to create patterns florals, it seems to be what my creative streak wants to make. I find inspiration in all the wonderful public gardens London has. One of my favourites is Myatt's Fields Park in Camberwell, it has really beautiful and colourful planting and all the patterns you see (apart from the yellow ditzy print) are directly inspired from that garden over the course of a few month. The yellow ditzy print has a special place in my heart; its the first pattern I made since I was a teenager and its based on flowers I saw on my honeymoon."

Visit Kathryn's website here and follow her on Twitter @KathrynPledger.

Do it like Onions do...

...and layer up!

Not only is it incredibly cold out here in the UK, but layering is a great new trend. Being warm and stylish at the same time? Couldn't be better.

Here's some of my favourite Phillip Lim layered pieces from his Fall 2013 RTW collection.

 

 

 

No Grey Area

One of the most current trends at the moment is Monochrome: and I love it.

Not only have I been admiring the trend and ripping out pages in magazines with monochrome images and looks I like, I have spent a fair amount of money on black and white items of clothing I really didn't need nor afford just to re-create the style.

I've picked out one favourite item from a couple of designers who have embraced the monochrome trend. It's not just the great contrast of colours that pleases me, it's how elegant and casual this look can be at the same time. I adore the use of different materials between the black and white garments - the different textures create a beautiful visual.

Celine - Spring RTW 2013

Chanel - Spring 2013 Couture Collection

Balmain Spring 2013 RTW

Louis Vuitton Spring 2013 RTW

Floral Friday: Rosie Simons

This weeks Floral Friday is Rosie Simons, a University of the Arts London graduate. Despite having a degree in Graphic Design, Rosie warmed towards surface design and has created some really gorgeous prints. 

When I first saw her designs, I immediately thought how cute they were! Sweet, ditsy florals with bright and bold colour ways. 

Rosie talks me through her design career and her plans for the future:

"I am a graphic and surface designer naturally inspired by things around me, from day to day items to nature. I automatically visualise how imagery and objects will translate into designs, motifs and patterns. Graphic and surface design have always run parallel in my interests and I have developed my style to incorporate both these passions, a simple and clean but colourful aesthetic; combining simple graphic illustrations and typography. My passions lie in making something eye catching, whether that be a great logo for a company or a surface design used on products from wrapping paper, to clothing and homeware.

I am a keen and proactive designer, I love to go out and find new inspiration, taking photos of flowers, forms, shapes, textures and typography, reading blogs, collecting printed and tactile matter, wrapping paper, labels, to inspire motifs and creation of new work. I love to explore, see and experience new things. Colour, texture and shape are some of the most important aspects of both my personal life and my life as a designer. I generally work using my Wacom tablet, hand drawing motifs from photos or my imagination. I love the freedom and organic lines this creates and then develop the designs in illustrator.

I graduated in 2012 from University of the Arts London with a degree in graphic design and have previously worked for Dorling Kindersley and Croudace Homes among another places. I recently graduated from 'The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design' with Rachael Taylor and Beth Nicholls. The course has helped me learn the business side to Surface Pattern Design and develop my style and confidence as a freelance designer. I am currently looking for representation, commissions, licensing so please contact me via my website for more information. My dream is to have my designs licensed across many different surfaces all over the world!"

Rosie is just about to start selling her designs in an Etsy shop, rosiesimonsdesign.etsy.com. She'll be selling greetings cards and christmas cards, so check back on the shop this weekend to be the first to buy her stock!

Rosie's links:

Blog: http://rosiesimons.blogspot.com/

Website: http://rosiesimons.co.uk/

Twitter: @rosie_simons

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RosieSimonsDesign

Rosie also sells on Society6: http://society6.com/rosiesimons

You can now buy Kate Lynch designs at Ooh Deer.com!

​Hello all!

​After entering myself into the Ooh Deer Pillowfight Competition a while back, I finally heard more news concerning the next round of the competition. 

Ooh Deer have decided that the best way to decide on the winning designs is to put every design entered onto the competition shop. The design that sells the most amount of pillows wins! ​

​Please take a look at my designs here http://ohhdeer.com/blossom-deer and here http://ohhdeer.com/vintage-radio and if you feel like they would fit perfectly in your home, please buy them!

Despite it being very unlikely that I'll win, it is still very exciting to say that my designs are actually on sale somewhere. Nothing like this has ever happened before and it's enthralling!​

I would really like to get more of my designs on sale elsewhere too.​

​That's all for now, folks!

Floral Friday: Zoe Barker

This weeks Floral Friday is Zoe Barker, who runs her own design studio and online shop. Focusing on her 'Beautifully British' tag line, Zoe's print designs are just that. Her hand-drawn and painted prints are incredibly gorgeous, with a fantastic array of warm, bright colours in many of her florals.

I especially love Zoe's 'Liberty View' collection; a stunning collection of prints that show off her illustration skills with a great mixture of florals and wild British animals such as fox's, rabbits and many breeds of bird. The colours are beautifully understated, bringing a hint of vintage to the collection.

Here, Zoe talks about her work:

"I embarked on a fashion and textiles adventure in 2004, having spent 5 years in the digital design industry. Successfully combining my love of drawing and painting with my expert digital design skills, I developed a unique digital textile design style that relies on traditional painting and drawing techniques which are so often lost in the fast world of digital textile design.

I now have a BA and an MA in Fashion and Digital Textile Design and after studying in London at the prestigious Chelsea College of Art and Design, University of the Arts London, I have returned to my Hampshire roots from where I’m most inspired.

In my Hampshire design studio, near Winchester, I am surrounded by traditional villages, gorgeous woodland and an abundance of beautiful, English countryside and coastline, all of which feature regularly in my textile designs. I’m also very lucky to be close enough to London to visit regularly.

My experiences have honed my textile design skills and confirmed my passion. I hope this is reflected throughout my collections, which take time, love and skill to produce."

You can visit Zoe's website here and follow her on twitter here.