 Cult Clothkits Label Relaunched |
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Monday, February 18 2008 @ 10:45 AM GMT
Author: Dan. Views: 325
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Ask anyone whose parent whipped them up Clothkits' clothes in the Seventies and you will be left breathless by their enthusiasm. Could it be the bold graphic illustrations, the arty ethos? The nostalgia behind this British brand, born in 1969, is huge; the fan base as fervent as a cult following. Raised on a diet of muesli and Pippi Longstocking, those lucky enough to be Clothkits-toting kids were the talk of their street as they strutted around like young peacocks in the Rothko blue cherry strewn trousers, proudly carrying their Clothkittys.
Despite her Mum being the perfect Clothkits' demographic - a chicken-rearing, brown rice-eating high-street rebel - Kay Mawer fell in love with the crisp cotton, printed with its cut and sew illustrations much later. Having spent her teens making clothes Mawer began collecting vintage textiles. This Fine Art graduate's love of Clothkits was formed and she jumped at the opportunity to breathe life into this dormant brand just in time to deck out her two small children.
Clothkits' first collection of peekaboo dresses, skirts, accessories
and tees have some of the old Clothkits' kooky, craftsy appeal but with
a fresh new look in simple shapes. Choose rugged 100% cotton, soft baby
cord or a linen/cotton blend in brave colour combinations and picked
for durability. The first of the new family of Clothkits' printers Jane
Foster prints bold Scandi-inspired na�ve birds, flowers and funky
chickens. The turquoise with a lime print, shocking pink with neon
orange and leaf green with violet are most definitely for shirkers of
baby blue and pale pink. Bright boys clothes are in the pipeline too.
Kits contain everything you need to make the garment - thread, buttons
as well as the fabric printed with clear illustrated instructions to
guide you through the project. No sewing experience is necessary; a
dress can be completed in an evening. The pinny makes an ideal first
time sewing project and Clothkits' Kiki doll can be used as a tea towel
if you never get around to making her.
Those who want to turn the
Clothkits' experience into a family affair will find it hard to resist
the adult skirt with artist Rob Ryan's magical illustrations weaving
stories over the cloth. Mawer plans to develop Clothkits as a platform
to showcase both up and coming designers and established artists of all
genres like hot new textile designer Annabel Waterman who screen prints
Russian dolls, and has designed a tea towel dress with fabric pens for
kids to embellish themselves.
Each pattern is hand-printed in the UK and the made-to-order line is
made here avoiding child labour and the inevitable carbon emissions of
import and export. And as if that was not enough to keep Mawer busy,
the new Clothkits' queen is currently working on the development of a
vintage line. Watch out - cherry flares could be making a beeline for a
high street near you...
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