Designer Karen Walker talks to The One Magazine about effortless style, Ethical Fashion and her very first created item.
BY ALEXANDRA CASPRUF, THE ONE MAGAZINE
Karen Walker
1. How did you become a fashion designer?
When I was in my second year at fashion school I made a shirt for a friend and other people wanted the same shirt and then shops started asking for it. It’s grown from there.
2. You are originally from New Zealand. Is this influencing your aesthetic?
The New Zealand lifestyle is very casual and optimistic and I think that that’s reflected in our work. We have a reputation for an effortless and unpretentious style.
3. What was the first item that you created? Tell us about it.
The very first item I made was a circular skirt for my Barbie doll when I was about five.
Karen Walker Eyewear campaign, Visible, photographed by Derek Henderson, features those who work on the Ethical Fashion Initiative project.
4. How would you describe your collections?
Scarlett Johansson wears Karen Walker shades
As optimistic! Our collections are high casual. The reoccurring theme is taking extremes and pushing them together – masculine and feminine, tailored and street, luxury and non luxury, dark and super-cute.
5. Why did you decide to start an eyewear line?
I had a vision for a certain kind of eyewear that wasn’t available – bigger, bolder, flatter, brighter.
6. Karen Walker eyewear is a fashion darling. Why do you think celebrities, the fashion world and people in general love your eyewear? What did turn your sunglasses into a must-have?
I think it’s because they’re interesting. As I mentioned earlier, Karen Walker Eyewear has always had an optimistic outlook and has always been about standing out from the crowd.
KW Utopia frames feastured in fashion editorials
Kenyan artist Alex wears KW Utopia frames for Vision campaign
7. What are the future trends in eyewear?
I have no idea about trends, we just make what we think will be good.
8. What inspires you when creating a new collection?
The gaps in what we’ve already done. We always built around strong shapes, exaggerated scale, intense colours and new ideas, along with re-inventions of favourite styles.
Karen Walker AW 14/15 Collection
9. How did you become involved in campaigns with a strong social and ethical part?
We’ve worked with the United Nations’ Ethical Fashion Initiative since 2012. Their task is to help artisans in poor communities out of poverty through work. The people photographed for our summer campaign for example include machinists, cutters, tailors, production managers and metal workers as well as members of the Maasai group who create the more elaborate beading work. Our photos allow a glimpse into the world that the work is coming from. Our work with them is still continuing and we’re currently developing new products for launch in 2015.
Backstage Karen Walker Runway
10. How would you describe your personal style?
Attempting elegant but with some fun in there too.
11. What are the items that you cannot leave your house without?
As long as I have my iPhone, my sunglasses and enough money for a coffee I’m ready for anything.
12. Tell us about a funny fashion memory?
I once had a meeting in Japan that went for 13 hours. That was pretty funny, once it finally finished!
13. What are your future projects? Tell us about your autumn-winter eyewear collection.
Our Autumn Winter range coming up is also our tenth birthday in eyewear and we have a special range and campaign to mark that.
Alexa Chung sporting Karen Walker frames
Sienna Miller in Karen Walker sunnies