After completing a fresh-out-of-university-design-stint at Alberta Ferretti, and an MA in Womenswear at the esteemed Central Saint Martins, designer Kirsty Ward set up her eponymous label in 2010.
Beautifully marrying clothing and jewellery; Kirsty’s creations echo her affection for unconventional structures with a hint of eclecticism – working unexpected materials such as rivets and hinges into her wondrous collections.
Named by Vogue.com as one of their ‘Designer’s to Watch in 2011’ and one of Selfridges’ ‘Bright Young Things of 2011’, My Fashion Life caught up with uber-talented designer to talk about cake, christmas presents and her hotly anticipated Spring 2013 collection.
Your Spring Summer 2013 collection is pitched as ‘sheer sports luxe vs. tea ladies’; Tell us about the creative inspiration behind this?
Each season I like to move on from where I’ve left it the season before, but I will add something new into the mix to keep it fresh.
I’m obsessed by tea ladies and the tabards/aprons that they wear, I also like the challenge of making something ordinary/mundane into something beautiful/luxurious.
What is your favourite cake?
This is a very hard question as it depends on the mood I’m in but it’s a toss up between carrot cake and lemon and poppy seed cake.
Tell us of a secret skill you’ve mastered other than fashion and accessory design?
I’m very good at making gin and tonics (strong, plus sliced lemon and sliced lime in a fitting glass)
Why did you choose to design clothes and jewellery?
Clothing is something I’m trained in and jewellery is an obsession.
Tell us about your creative hideouts. Where do you go to get inspired before designing a collection?
I like to hunt old people down on the street as they always seem to have the best outerwear! I like to read, I like to watch sci-fi movies and I like to ‘play’ with jewellery making materials whilst adding ‘fun’ stuff into the mix.
Tell us about your first fashion memory.
It wasn’t very glamorous but it was probably customising clothes to wear to the school disco – I often looked a state!
What are the wardrobe staples you cannot live without?
Oversized silk t-shirts, men’s trousers, statement necklaces and sequinned skirts.
Reflecting on your own experiences and struggles as a hardworking emerging designer, any words of wisdom for fashion newbies entering the industry?
Learn as much as possible and take critique – it may be hard to hear at the start but you can learn from it and make your work stronger.
Best Christmas present you’ve ever received?
It has to be a She-Ra costume I received when I was quite a bit younger, I used to wear it whilst riding my bike around the house pretending to defeat skeletor!
Finally, what’s next for Kirsty Ward?
To keep being creative and hopefully make lots of money (fingers crossed)!
