What is your main area of business?

Ian Kettle womanswear is designed to cater to the high designer or aspiration market. Ian Kettle is a Transeasonal collection, which incorporates the 6 main elements of the year, spring, summer, high summer autumn, winter and party season. The whole collection is centred on the one theme with seasonal chapters.

How long have you worked in the fashion industry?

I graduated from Central Saint Martins in 1990.

How did you begin in the industry? What were the biggest hurdles you had to get past?

Setting up on your own is always a nightmare. Confidence is the biggest hurdle. You are always going to have money issues in the beginning.

What do you consider to be your biggest achievements so far?

I have only just begun to establish my product so achievements are yet to come. As for my career I have worked on so many levels, designer, pattern cutter, illustrator in a freelance capacity and as a member of a team. I guess the one that means the most is a recent piece of press. My last collection was used in the Cindy Sherman, June issue of VOGUE. It doesn’t get much better than that for me.

As a small or medium sized business, what are your priorities for the future?

To build on my current connections and establish the profile of the product. I will then have to look to future funding to make the leap from small independent to a working quality brand.

What one thing would make your working life easier?

A split personality.

What are the best and worst aspects of working in the fashion industry?

The best part of my place in the fashion industry is the freedom. Freedom to express myself. The bad bits are the deadlines. You are in a never ending chase, where the villain is your delivery date, be it sampling or production.

Is there another fashion-related company which you admire and aspire to? Why?

I am a fan off all the success stories out there. I am predictably a huge Galliano fan. As well as the obvious respect for his immense talent I am inspired by his career journey. His product has never suffered from compromise. From all his set backs in the beginning, just look at him now.

What are your predictions for the industry in 2003?

Predictions are tough to give. I think for my market the main trend is an attempt to separate itself again from the other markets. In other words I can see my market looking to separate itself from the vastly successful mass market (Topshop, H&M) and try to re-establish itself as the source of design and trend for a new generation.

What are you working on at the moment that others might want to know about i.e. new products, designs etc?

The launch of Ian Kettle Transeasonal is happening During the Spring/Summer London fashion Week. I am also working on a short film as a presentation piece for the Trade shows. This is a new experience for me. I have worked on other movies before and hopefully I can use this to good effect to showcase the collection.

What are your top tips for success in the fashion industry?

Again, confidence. It sounds too basic to warrant a mention but this is a tough business and you have to write your own rules.

Details

Name: Ian Scott Kettle
Company name: Ian Kettle
Address: 6 Ewen House, Barnsbury Estate, London N1 OSH
Telephone: 020 7713 5878
Fax: 020 7713 5878
Email:
Website: iankettle.co.uk (under construction)

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