wanting to learn how to create shoes entirely by hand led me to pestering the local clog maker to take me on as his Saturday girl, after a couple of years I got a place at cordwainers college, then part of central and st martins. when I finished my degree, I went straight into an apprenticeship in the west end of london. I was very lucky as apprenticeships were and still are, very few and far between.
for 12 years, I worked exclusively for boot and shoe companies, including john lobb, cleverly and jason amesbury, in the west end and mayfair. a chance conversation led to a residency at the royal armories in leeds where I spent two years working with the in-house leather worker to produce 30 pairs of jack boots for the household cavalry. while I was there I began to think about producing a collection of leather goods under my own name.
I was encouraged when my first show sold out completely. I have worked hard to build on that success becoming more creative with styling and inventive with detail as the collection has grown.
I am currently working on a series of collaborations with an intriguing range of clients:
flame oz are an international troupe of fire performers who are looking at ways of incorporating fire resistant leather into their incredible theatre shows.
drawn surface have worked on set designs in film and television and are currently producing a range of leather and hand printed canvas homewares with me.
I am working with milliner Good Golly Miss Molly to create a range of stunning gents headwear for various celebrities.
new projects on the horizon include a range of luxurious aprons and gentlemen's grooming products, and more recently, I have been commissioned to produce body-worn amp covers for a local music project.
interview with catherine edwards