Atlas of Fashion Designers

355

Karen Walker

Karen Walker

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 e collections of Karen Walker take narrative as a source of inspiration.  e New Zea-

land designer delves deeply into diff erent forms of narration, be it through literature, fi lm

or theater, in order to represent a woman free of clichés, one who is spontaneous and

natural—someone like Woody Allen’s Annie Hall, who is capable of combining simple

yet original clothes naturally, with a sense of humor and a certain air of insouciance as

her signature style. A posture that reveals a certain attitude toward life.  e triumph of

rebelliousness achieved through work and self-assuredness. A refl ection of the training and

personality of the designer herself.

Karen began to study pattern cutting and dressmaking when she was only eighteen. Soon

she was designing her own shirts, which in three short years would lead to the open-

ing of her own store. And from there the road led straight to success. Karen’s designs are

sold internationally in 140 stores, in cities such as New York, London, Hong Kong, and

Sydney.  e most important magazines in the world of fashion devoutly cover her shows.

Numerous artists—among them Björk, Sienna Miller, Jennifer Lopez, Claire Danes, Cate

Blanchett and Liv Tyler—wear her garments. And not only clothes: Karen has also thrown

herself with gusto into the design of jewelry and accessories—all an extension of her un-

usual know-how.

 is is because Karen’s sartorial creations are not merely pretty clothes, but garments with

an unmistakable identity: a unique, individual personality, one carefully crafted and pos-

sible only as the result of the clear-headedness and refi ned tastes of someone absolutely sure

of who she is.

Photography by Derek Henderson

356

Karen Walker

Sketches and images from the Fall/

Winter 2007–2008 collection, “Karen

to the Rescue,” in which Karen Walker

introduces us to super-heroines situated

somewhere between the rationalist

sophistication of the 30s and the chic

functionalism of the new millennium.

Sketches courtesy of Karen Walker

357

Karen Walker

Photographies by Corinna Lecca

358

Karen Walker

- What inspires you?

Extremes being pushed together.

- What is your dream as a designer?

To make good product.

- What has been the most important achievement of your career?

 ere have been hundreds of important moments, and it’s impossible to pick just one, but I always feel extremely proud

when I see people on the street wearing my clothes.

- How important are trends?

Trends are very important, because they interpret all the thousands of things that are going on on the catwalk into bite-

size pieces of information, so the public can get an understanding of what’s new in fashion.

- Fashion has always refl ected a certain era. What does fashion refl ect in the twenty-fi rst century?

Fashion has always refl ected shifts in society, and the biggest shift so far this century is our focus on the health of the

planet. So, seven years into the century, twenty-fi rst century fashion is about quality, sustainability and functionality

to counteract the built-in disposability of fashion and to react to the impact fashion has on the environment. So, in a

nutshell, fashion is refl ecting our concern for the planet.

- What book would you recommend to every fashion designer?

Anything that has beauty and disaster in the same space qualifi es as a fashion icon. For me, one of the books that cap-

tures this most is Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina.

Karen Walker

PO Box 6694, Wellesley Street

Auckland

New Zealand

www.karenwalker.com

359

Karen Walker

Photography by Derek Henderson