Steampunk Couture creates hand-crafted unique dreams focusing on Neo-Victorian, Sci-Fi and Shabby Chic fashion. Meet Kato, the founder and designer behind SteampunkCouture, Kato.
How old is Steampunk Couture now?
Eight years old next May.
and tell me how you started Steampunk Couture, a bit about the background, a bit about the journey to where you are today.
I’d started designing for fun in my early teens, but didn’t learn to sew until my early twenties. I wanted to start my own label and launched Steampunk Couture after a band member from Abney Park pointed out “how Steampunk” my illustrations and style were. I had not heard the term “Steampunk” before then and it was refreshing to finally have a name for my particular style of designs. I emigrated to Los Angeles a couple of years later and that’s when the business really took off. It was greatly welcomed by the American market as Steampunk was really taking off over here and I owned the first Steampunk clothing company in existence. The timing couldn’t have been better, but part of the success came from creating made-to-measure couture. People were more interested in having something custom made than buying pieces I already had in stock. The business has now grown to a stage where I’m able to hire an additional seamstress, an assistant and I have a full-time photographer/Videographer and prop-builder that works with me. Being self-employed is extremely demanding and you find yourself working longer and harder hours than you would in a 9-5, but it’s certainly worth it.
How does an ordinary day look for you?
I get up at 5am and go to the gym. I’m exercise crazy. I’m that busty blonde at the gym that everyone hates. lol Then I juggle breakfast and emails for as long as I can stand it before ramping into work. I’ll either be working on current orders that have come in that week or if I’m lucky, creating new pieces for a collection. I’ll just sew and sew up until about 6pm, when I take a break to go walk in the forest before collapsing with Netflix and then starting the whole process over again. Every few days, I’ll take time out to answer interview emails that I’ve foolishly let pile up in my inbox! And on the weekends I shoot photosets, films and video blogs for my new site SteamGirl.com that’s set for launch in the new year.
What is most important in your creative process?
Getting people’s butt measurements correct! lol No but seriously, the math that comes with the custom-fit pieces is really vital. But it’s also of great importance that you’re always enjoying what you’re doing or spend at least a few hours a day having tons of fun with whatever you’re creating.
What inspires you to design your collections?
I gain inspiration from everywhere. Since moving up to Oregon, my environment has been of enormous inspiration to me and I keep finging myself designing organic, natural-looking pieces that photograph well in the forests here. Alexander McQueen has been inspiring me tenfold since his death, it’s kind of spooky, but his passing stirred this great determination to continue what he started. I know that sounds cheesy, but he really was quite the master in my eyes and his work is quite obvious in a couple of the pieces that I’m working on right now for the winter collection.
Whats your favorite piece from your collections?
Gosh that’s a tough one. Erm….probably the Steamcoat. Do you remember seeing photos of that one? It was one of the first peices I ever made. I long black, fitted trench with embroidered flowers on the lapel and giant, appliqued brass gears on the inside. It was like my Steampunk “Flasher coat” haha and I loved it dearly. It’s not one of the best pieces I ever made, but it put me on the map and images of it still pop up wherever you find Steampunk reference photos. I sold it for $400 to a London girl who accidentally left it on a train to then discover that it’d been stolen. I often wonder who’s wearing it now.
If you could design a piece for anyone, living or dead, who would that be? and what would that be – and why?
I want to Steampunk Avril Lavigne…for some reason. I’m not sure why. I think she could do with a new look. I steampunked Kat Von D already, so Avril’s not too far a cry from being to get hold of.
In you experience, what is the biggest challenge for an “alternative” fashion brand? and what is the biggest advantage?
You must must must be two steps ahead the whole time. As soon as people catch wind of a popular piece, it get’s copied. This has been the nature of the fashion industry since the beginning. It’s no good getting down in the dumps about it, you have to move on or already have the next big thing ready to release. The biggest advantage is just the sheer enjoyment that comes from the creative process; being able to use your hands to create your dreams and also be your own boss. I couldn’t work for anyone else.
Can you tell me anything about your new winter 2011 collection?
There are a couple of massive, show-stoppers in there. Some big dresses (again! I know) and then a dash of men’s wear and a few left-overs from the summer collection that didn’t get released in time. I’m going to be extending this collection right up to around April of next year and attempting to release a new design every week. It’s a huge undertaking but will be loads of fun.
What is your vision for Steampunk Couture? where do you imagine the brand being in five years from now?
Probably operating from the planet Nibiru after the Annunaki come back at the end of next year and wipe most of humanity out. I pre-ordered my ticket out of here already.
Follow SteampunkCouture on Facebook: facebook.com/#!/steampunkcouture
Shop the AW 2011 collection: www.steampunkcouture.com
Visit SteampunkCoutures Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/steampunkcouture
