Designer Mary Katrantzou switches from her famous digital prints to other styles
Mary Katrantzou is full of surprises. The Greek-born, London-based designer made her name with whimsical digital prints that are worn by A-listers and hang in the world's most exclusive boutiques. Last year, the rising star brought her two-dimensional prints to life via intricate embellishments, beading, crocheting and embroidery. The game-changing move not only set fans, buyers and critics abuzz, it also earned her trophies.
OCCUPATION: Fashion designer
INSPIRATION AND PLANS: “We all don’t like to be pigeonholed. I don’t want to feel like here’s the formula that makes money so just [use] it. It’s not my personality. I might as well go back to Greece and enjoy the sun. But as long as I’m in London, I need to feel that I’m driven to grow not only in terms of scale but also [in terms of] my creative vision.”
WORDS OF ADVICE: “You need to stay very focused and understand from early on who you are as a designer. To find out what is the best way for others to support you is really important.”
Mary Katrantzouis full of surprises. The Greek-born, London-based designer made her name with whimsical digital prints that are worn by A-listers and hang in the world's most exclusive boutiques. Last year, the rising star brought her two-dimensional prints to life via intricate embellishments, beading, crocheting and embroidery. The game-changing move not only set fans, buyers and critics abuzz, it also earned her trophies.
Katrantzou won this year's British Fashion Council/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund in March. The prestigious fund provides her with £200,000 (HK$2.27 million) and mentorship from industry veterans. The change of design direction has served her well.
I met with the brilliant designer in her showroom in the Marais district during Paris Fashion Week. Dressed in her signature all-black ensemble, Katrantzou exuded passion and excitement as we discussed her transformation.
"The [change] started about a year ago," she says. "[The company] was young, and I don't want to feel that I've already seen what exactly it would become in five years' time.