Scottish designer Christopher Kane was born in July 1982 near Glasgow, Scotland. He is the youngest of five children and is very close to his older sister Tammy (born 1979), with whom he runs his fashion label.
A Promising Start
Christopher Kane did not have to wait until he had graduated from fashion-college to start receiving accolades for his work. He honed his fashion skills at the famous Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London, which itself has a sterling reputation for producing the world’s best fashion designers.
While a student in 2005, he won the Lancôme Colour Award and in subsequent years Kane was awarded with the Harrods Design Award (2006) for his MA collection. Also in 2006, he was named Scottish New Designer of the Year and in 2007, he was awarded the British New Designer of the Year title.
Versace’s Favourite
Winning the Lancôme Colour Award in 2005 rose Kane's profile, so big was the hype that American Vogue editor Anna Wintour attended his degree show, which in itself is all Kane needed to announce his arrival on the fashion scene, such is Wintour's power in the industry.
Wintour put him in contact with her friend, Italian designer Donatella Versace, as she saw similarities in their sexy, body-hugging designs. Versace liked what she saw, so much so that she invited him to be a consultant for the Versace collection and since Spring / Summer 2010, he has designed the Versace diffusion line Versus which has been revived after being dormant for five years.
Collections and Collaborations
Although herself trained in fashion design, having studied at the Scottish college of Textile Design, Tammy Kane takes a more business role in the partnership, she also acts as the fit model for the clothes, she says,
“I’m Christopher’s collaborator, rather than his mannequin. Not his muse as such, but I wear the clothes like they’re mine — I almost nurture them. I can work with him because we share an instinct for the designs. I’ve always known we’d end up working together.”
A sentiment that Christopher backs up, “Tammy and I share everything, from fabrics to… everything.”
Kane showed his first highly anticipated collection in September 2006 for the S/S 2007 season. It was met with critical rapture and Donatella Versace continues to show her support, jetting in especially for his most recent show, Spring / Summer 2010 at London Fashion Week. Along with his own label and Versus, Kane has designed a collection for British high street store Topshop every Autumn / Winter season since 2007. Only three years out of fashion college and Christopher Kane has already secured his place in the fashion world.
Sources:
- timesonline.co.uk - Christopher and Tammy Kane interview
- style.com - Christopher Kane
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