Katrina Ferrari-The Biggest Kept Secret In The Fashion World

Ok, so you may have seen from the numerous Facebook updates and Twitter updates, that I had a special surprise planned for you this week. After so long of just small posts I thought it was about time I treated you all to something special and Katrina Ferrari is definitely something special.

I was first drawn to the designer Katrina Ferrari through Twitter where I saw her posts about London College of Fashion Graduate Show. I immediately checked out her website and was blown away by the complexity of her designs which still manage to have a simple graceful air to them despite the wide range of textures and techniques used to create them. 


Katrina Ferrari studied fashion at Middlesex University, England and has now branched out to start her own clothing line which specialises in affordable couture incorporating her signature draping techniques with cutting edge design. Think if Lady Gaga and Daphne Guinness had a more refined older sister and you will have the perfect client for Katrina Ferrari. 

Her graduate collection named "Hexanjagd" shown in 2010 was what awarded her with her first class degree as well as getting her noticed in the fashion world. It was with this collection that she was chosen as one of the top 20 graduate designs resulting in her work not only being shown at Graduate Fashion week but also the Truman Brewery. 


Ferrari's fresh and dynamic approach to fashion design has got her noticed all across the country and she is now one of the names to watch this year. Having been kept a secret in the fashion world for so long, it is now time to scream and shout her name. After all, Katrina Ferrari is hotly tipped to be the designer of her generation. Definitely one to watch out for. 

I was lucky enough to interview this wonderful designer for the blog. Here are her answers which allow you to delve deeper into the genius, creative mind behind the wonderful clothes that she creates. 

1) Have you always known that you would become a designer. If not, when you were a child, what was your dream occupation?

Always as a child I knew I wanted to do something arts related, I remember always drawing and designing dresses and making clothes for my Barbie doll with my mum! So I think I always knew it was what I wanted to do.

2) What does fashion mean to you? How has it shaped who you are as a person and as a designer?

Fashion is everything to me, its everywhere influenced by music and art and day to day living and lifestyles. Its allowed me as a person to express myself, to be a bit wacky with my clothing choice and have short bleach blond boy hair!

As a designer you can take inspiration from anywhere and anything thing and I think your subject matter depends on the sort of person you are, its allowed me to delve deeper into that darker world, and take inspiration from things that others may find grotesque and scary.

3)What inspires you to design? A lot of designers have a muse, do you and if so why do they inspire you?

I don’t really have a muse, I always look at people like Daphne Guinness just because I think she is amazingly beautiful and everything she wear looks effortless, and I want to create that look with my designs.

For inspiration I look at a broad sector of ideas from art to some fashion, but I always first try to create that mood of the collection and then design from there.

4) What is the best bit of advice you have received?

‘this is your year you have to do it’

‘don’t give up’

5) What advice would you give someone trying to break into the industry?

I would strongly advise to seriously think about it first and that you have to be willing to commit to it 24/7 if you want to set up your own label.

But if its something you want to do and if you are determined then you can make it happen, I would say contact anyone and everyone you can from stylists to bloggers to photographers and start building up a network of people around you. Social networking has taken over and is extremely powerful in the 21stcentury!

6) Many designers such as Dolce & Gabbana use fashion bloggers to promote their collections and invite them to the fashion shows to report on their collections. What is your view on fashion bloggers?

As I said before social networking has taken over and I think its great it gives people a chance, budding journalists can promote themselves via their blogs and a lot of the time can get better interviews than someone at a magazine!

7) What is the one item of clothing you wish people wore more often?

Clothes that actually fit!

8)If you could design an outfit for anyone in the world, past or present, who would it be, why and what would you make them?

Either Edie Sedgwick or Daphne Guinness, I would make them a floor length red couture gown that has been handbeaded.

9) As a designer, you have a very hectic life. Where is your favourite holiday destination and why?

There are two, Italy and Antigua. Italy because its my culture, the food the people the lifestyle it’s a beautiful country full of culture.

I discovered Antigua on holiday last year and fell in love with the white sandy beaches and clear water its paradise.

10) Where is your favourite place on the high street to shop?

I don’t shop on the highstreet! Its charity shops and second hand stores for me but I do go to Topshop occasionally for a browse.

I hope now you can see the bigger picture behind her designs and what powers her to move forward in the forever changing world of fashion. If you are interested in finding out more about her then visit her website or follow her on twitter.