Saturday, January 23, 2010

The talented Kathryn Leah Payne



When Kathryn Leah Payne, Christchurch fashion designer emailed me a few months ago with pictures of her debut collection, I simply couldn't contain my excitement. Her 1980's inspired Jackal and Hide winter 2010 range is unique, with a twist of sexy sophistication and LOTS of leather.  But it is her meticulous attention to detail and exceptional tailoring that caught my eye.  Needless to say I jumped at the chance to view her range last week and learn more about this talented designer.

After graduating Christchurch Polytechnic in 2000, award winning Payne decided to try her hand at leather jewellery and accessories design.  You may remember seeing her designs in Workshop and other boutiques around NZ.  But, she became interested in wider industry opportunities and went on to cut her clothing design teeth in London.  Working with reputable designers, Caroline Charles, whose celebrity client base included Princess Diana, Ringo Star and Mick Jagger, and British fashion house, Bolongaro Trevor, was invaluable for Payne.  Caroline Charles shared Payne's love of vintage, beautiful tailoring and detail, while Bolongaro Trevor taught her a lot about the business. Now she's equipped with the necessary skills and experience to grow her eponymous label, she is ready is to take on the NZ Fashion world once again.

So, what can you expect from this 17 piece collection? A dress, corsets, pants, jackets, shrugs, leggings and sleeves with most garments featuring something a little different.  Her chosen fabrics are a lambskin leather, viscose, merino jersey, wool crepe, denim, possum fur and vintage silks. The colour palette is dark "I quite like dark, vintage looking fabrics and fixings that have a tarnished look" and there is nothing to "flashy", which adds to the sophisticated look.

It's definitely a standout collection for me, especially knowing Payne "hand paints and hand makes" a lot of her work, and she "likes to play with 3 dimensional shapes that are different and unique" A very time consuming process that makes each piece in her collection unique and limited.

My favorites include Swan Skirt, Owl Corset, Jackal Pants and Fantail Jacket - the first 5 images shown below.

Checkout the 3 dimensional detail too - stunning!

It's fabulous to have this clever and very creative designer back in NZ!
 www.kathrynleahpayne.com