A few weeks ago i was interviewed for Alt Fashion Magazine, you can buy the magazine here. My interview is on page 32 to 34
Here is my interview.....
You started from a
textile background, how did this lead to the creation of BooBoo Kitty Couture?
My mother was a seamstress, so I grew up with
her making dresses, I used the use the scraps of fabrics from her designs to
make garments when I was younger, outfits for Barbie and even dressing up the
dog! I have always been creative, when I
was younger I didn’t know what career exactly I wanted, so I did a foundation
course in Art and Design at Bournemouth Arts institute, I found that I really
enjoyed textiles. I then went on to do a
degree in textiles at Nottingham Trent University. After graduating I still didn’t know what I
wanted to do, I kind of fell into a career in interior design, moved to London
and worked for some high end companies.
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| Alexa Jay by Paul Larkins |
I had a passion for fashion and vintage
still, so I got a part time job at a Vintage Boutique in Alfies Market, the
Girl Cant Help it. About three years
ago, the opportunity came up for me to buy a pedigree pug. I had always wanted a pug, they are such
funny creatures. But living in London, all my spare cash going on my new sleeve
by Valerie Vargas at Frith Street Tattoo, money was tight. So I sold all my dresses on ebay, I had a jam
packed wardrobe full of various rockabilly and vintage repo brands. After selling all my dresses, I still didn’t
have enough money to buy her, pedigree pugs are very expensive. So I took photos of all the rockabilly
vintage inspired dresses I had made for myself.
Started a facebook page and started offering my services for made to
measure dresses. Maybellene my pug has
just turned three, I raised enough money to buy her and interest in my dresses
still grows.
You've
certainly created a stand out range of designs with retro, vintage & quirky
styled designs, do any particular influences inspire you when designing new
pieces?
I immerse myself in all things
vintage, my whole house is full of items from the 50s and 60s, think the only
modern things I have are my tv, laptop and phone. I am constantly watching old movies, I am
latterly obsessed by Marilyn Monroe movies, William Travilla was her designer
for the majority of her films, she once famously quoted, 'Billy Dear,
please dress me
forever. I love you, Marilyn.'
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| Hayley in her bespoke BBKC wedding dress |
Its not just Marilyn films I
watch, I watch anything ‘vintage’ I love
modern shows set in the past like, Call the Midwife, Mad Men, Pan Am. I am also slightly obsessed with costume
dramas. Even though the costumes aren’t
exactly what I would make myself, I still get inspired by the design and the
fabric. Ladies just don’t dress like
they used to!
Most of my friends are into
vintage and rockabilly fashion, we go to a lot of rock and roll nights,
burlesque shows and our own vintage adventures, like cycling all glammed up on
our vintage bikes, they inspire me. I
get inspired by necessity, the sort of clothes I want to wear and the sort of
clothes my friends and customers want to wear, so I design for individuals.
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| My first ever shoot with Flashes and Lashes |
As you
create every dress from start to finish it certainly gives your dresses that
tailored feel, with many people opting for off the peg designs do you feel that
this tailored service is a key institution that should be turned to more often
by not just brides to be, but women everywhere? What are the benefits of having
a dress tailor made to your specifications?
I started making my own clothes,
mainly because I couldn’t find the styles I wanted, but also because my body
shape and size doent fit into the standard off the peg sizing. I have big boobs
and a tiny waist, it’s a tough life ;)
but it is also hard finding things that fit my boobs and don’t make my
look frumpy. From my experience in
measuring people, I have found that most people don’t fit into the standard off
the peg sizing. For example a lot girls
I have measured have a small waist and large hips, therefor finding pencil
skits and pants that fit diffictult. As
well as getting a garment tailored so it will fit you, having a garment made
just for you has its other benefits. Its
is a one off. I make clothing for
burlesque performers and rock and roll stars, who want to dress unique. Carman from Carman Ghia and the Hotrods comes
to me as she wants to wear outfits that no one else in the crowd are
wearing. In this alternative culture we
all strive to be alternative as possible, having a dress designed and made just
for you allows you to be just that, a true indivival.
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| Lucille by Flashes and Lashes |
There's
certainly been a boom in vintage inspired style of late, have you noticed an
increased interest in your dresses with this boom?
The whole vintage and burlesque
scene has escalated in recent years, it really has been great, great for me
personally and also great for business.
When I first got into rockabilly and vintage, the only repo dresses you
could get were from the states, another reason why I made my own. I am not sure if it’s the recession or what,
but there has been a huge interest in handmade and vintage. I am getting more and more ‘normal’ people
wanting to dip their toe into the vintage and rockabilly culture. Having a vintage inspired wedding is really
popular at the moment. I love it, I
think that designs from the 50s are timeless and flatter all women, of different
sizes and ages.
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| Emma and bridemaids all in BooBoo Kitty Couture bespoke bridal |
You've
mentioned online that you may be making a ready to wear collection soon, any
gossip on the range that you can share with us?
Yes I would love to offer a ready
to wear collection. I am in the process
of meeting with factories and pattern cutters.
I will be still offering my made to measure service, but I am hoping
that my off the peg will be more accessible to more people as the prices will
be lower than my custom service.
You've
taken part in Americana's Rockin fashion show & other shows in the last
year, will we be seeing BooBoo Kitty Couture on the catwalk again this year?
I have indeed taken part in
Americana for the past two years, both years the fashion show has been
organised by Laura from Miss Fortune. I
have taken over with the organisation of the event for this year. I have just announced the brands that are
involved on my facebook page. I have a
cracking line up and some of the best pin up alternative models in the business
taking part. I have a great team, bursting
with enthusiasm. Its going to be a
cracking show!
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| Anna Fur Laxis by Jazz Hands |
What's
the most rewarding aspect of running your own company?
The most rewarding thing about
running my own company is the feedback I get from customers and followers, I
get a real buzz when they comment on my work or even just by liking a
photo. The various methods of social
media allow me to really engage with my customer, get to know them and for them
to get to know me.
I also love being able to dress
like I want and be who I want. In my
past life in various office jobs, I had to cover my tattoos, dress a certain
way, be someone I wasn’t just so I fitted in.
it made me depressed and unhappy.
I am a creative unique person and am happy in my own skin. I am glad don’t have to cover that up anymore.
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| Scarlett Daggers by Paul Larkins |
What
are the plans for BooBoo Kitty Couture this year & beyond?
Right now its just little old me
and my pug in my studio, planning to take over the world… one dress at a
time. I am in the process of recruiting
someone to help me. I am finding this very
hard, I don’t want to recruit based on CVs and grades. I am looking for a motivated and passionate
person, someone who loves vintage and rockabilly style… and unlike most
employers I will not be asking them to cover their tattoos!
The future, I want to open my own
boutique. Sell my own off the peg range
along with others. I want to have a
studio work room behind the boutique with a team of seamstresses making the one
off couture garments. I love making
bridal and burlesque gowns, so I really want to keep pushing my business in
this direction.
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| Ten Lemon bridesmaid dresses by BBKC photo by Dave Nunn |
