Houndstar of York
Houndstar creates made to order and bespoke tailored coats for dogs, using British manufactured textiles and components where possible, as well as pre-loved textiles and deadstock. Offering repairs and replacement parts on products. Thoughtfully made with quality and strength in mind and taking steps to always ensure correct fit in order to prolong lifespan.
I have a fashion background, attending University of Brighton for BA Fashion Design in 2000 and transferring to London College of Fashion in year 2 to complete my BA (Hons) in Fashion Promotion & Illustration in 2004, with a final major project investigating Sustainable Fashion. I have industry experience in fashion PR and high street buying and this time made me even more aware of the often-dubious ethical practices of the industry.
In 2010 I gained a further BTEC in Fashion Styling and worked as a freelance personal stylist which is when I became very interested in correct fit as a key element in producing more sustainable garments. I spent time in 2015 researching technological advancements in digital design and completed online CAD training. I was particularly interested in knit garments because of their flexibility in terms of fit and also the emerging technology where custom fit pattern pieces can be machine knitted quickly and easily.
I completed training in LEAN manufacture and PRINCE2 project management in 2016. During lockdown (2020) I completed the London College of Fashion online course in Fashion & Sustainability: Understanding Luxury Fashion in a Changing World.
- Listing ID: 1699
- Contact: Isobel Winterson
- What are your aspirations and plans for the future?: I would like to expand the Houndstar range to include womenswear and continue to explore methods to create a circular design and manufacturing process. My goal is to make garments that can be considered heirlooms. I would like to be part of a community of UK manufacturers and designers working towards a strong and sustainable fashion industry in the UK for future generations. I have an ambition to create a womenswear label that creates basic knitted pieces designed to flatter different body types and custom made to order (to personal measurements). But this is not a project that I would attempt alone.
- What types of projects are you interested in working on through Future Fashion Factory?: Research as indicated above in key themes; commercial collaborations with a sustainable premise; being part of the conversation!