Fashion Knitwear: Degree Show
BA (Hons) Fashion Design
Northumbria University, UK: 2000 – 2004

Kate studied Fashion Design at Northumbria University and graduated with a first class degree in 2004. The four year sandwich course included one year of work placement, which Kate spent at Missoni in Italy and Knit-1 Ltd in Brighton. The degree covered womenswear, menswear, printed textiles and knitwear, the latter became Kate’s specialist area.

Kate’s degree collection of seven outfits was selected to be shown on the runway at London Graduate Fashion Week and was a finalist for the Best Knitwear Award. It was also sponsored by Iafil to be presented in Italy at Riccione Moda Italia. Additional sponsors included Missoni, Todd & Duncan and Z.Hinchliffe. The collection was awarded the 2003/04 David Bethell Bursary by the Worshipful Company of Framework Knitters of London.

Kate’s degree collection evolved from her sketchbooks where she visually documented her inspirations; from tribal body decoration to Barcelona and the mosaics in Gaudi’s Parc Guell. The seven outfits included knitted and woven garments, all intricately made with a great attention to detail. The knitted pieces were made on hand-operated knitting machines with natural fibres, such as cashmere, cotton and silk. Surface pattern and subtle texture were integrated into the knit, and/or created through embellishment, such as embroidery, print and hand-stitched seam details.