academy of design - news
Designer Profile Indigo Joker
Indigo Joker is the spark in your match, it's the bling in your cuff, it's fashion that turns heads and makes a statement once zipped up and put on. Ex Academy of Design student and now owner & Creative Director, Kathryn Edmonds has built not only a new label that has captured Brisbane, Gold Coast and now interstate fashion lovers’ hearts, sparking the attention of fashion journalists, bloggers and boutique owners nationwide.
Conceived in 2009 with the launch of its first collection, Indigo Joker was the brain child of Kathryn's creative soul and an outlet allowing her to express her never ending urge to produce an edgy & polished look for the modern day girl. Completing her studies in 2007 then working within the design room of a local surf-wear company, Kathryn felt the need to venture out on her own and to forge her own way through the fashion world! With a slew of awards under her belt, Kathryn's design skills have been recognized on numerous occasions. She was recently nominated as a Finalist for "The next big thing in Fashion" competition hosted by “Sanctuary Cove" Also nominated as a finalist for NRA awards and winning "Project Runway's" budding designer award in 2009 + many more.
From the success of her first range which sold out - her SS10/11 collection is being hotly anticipated by her loyal and strong following of girls who have all felt the rush of excitement when being some of the first to adorn her garments. Keep watching for this fresh new label that is set to take the Australian Fashion Industry by storm!
BT Top 5 with a Designer
Q1. How would you describe the feel of your label?
Indigo Joker is a conceptual & trend driven label that brings out and compliments it's wearers' innate sense of style and love of fashion. We love to push the boundaries a bit when it comes to designing clothes, we add in lots of clever panels (to ensure the fit is impeccable) + we also like to use high end trims and fabrics as well making sure the colour plattee is bold, edgy and very much seasonably relevant.
Q2. What was the inspiration for the current collection?
Inspiration for ALL of our collections predominately comes from overseas travel. Every year we embark on a new adventure off-shore to gain inspiration from that particular country and culture and to ensure that the label's focus stays on creating amazing, unique garments that would also stand up against Europen fashion standards.
Our first range's inspiration was taken from the fast paced and urban streets of the famously fashionable....LONDON! We spent nearly 3 weeks there (although have lived there in the past for a number of years), observing what the local girls wore when out dancing to amazing dirty electrode beats in underground subway nightclubs. We trawled through hundreds of vintage shops & gained inspiration from the adventuress and creative street style that so many Londoners just automatically are in tune with. Our next SS10/11 range draws inspiration from the historical and romantic streets of Italy.
Q3. What are your 3 must have items for Winter 2010?
An amazingly structured crop jacket/bolero (can be worn with so many outfits)
Lots of shoulder bling (preferably on padded shoulders too)
Layers, Layers, Layers - always looks amazing!
Q4. Who are your favourite style icons?
Indigo Joker loves slightly quirky style icons, like Alexa Chung and Erin Wasson. These women always just look polished yet in an effortless kind of way and know how to dress at all times for what ever occasion they're attending. I am also still a huge huge fan of Heidi Middelton's style from Sass & Bide - These women are all true style icons to me.
Q5. What is the best advice you have ever been given?
I've been fortunate enough to know some very successful entrepreneurs & business owners and have been given many great 'pearls of wisdom' with advice, but probably some of the best bits of advice that have resonated with me and always rung true have been: stay true to who you are, trust your gut feeling at all times, take calculated risks & never let the knock backs or hurdles get in your way!