There is no ignoring Katie Tubbing’s fashion creations. They scream ‘more is more’.Yet at the hear t of this 27-yearold designer’s ar t, there appears to be a paradox: she is both a maximalist and a proponent of sustainability. ‘Sustainable maximalism’ could be her mantra. ‘I always say I’m a maximalist and I like to challenge the fashion concept where you take elements away to reveal the essence of the piece. It’s almost like tr ying to introduce a new aesthetic.’
Currently making ‘ver y flamboyant’ embroidered chokers, dripping with repurposed vintage jeweller y, this, she says, is as commercial as her work gets. And it takes a special kind of client to revel in this look. ‘Because the chokers have so much “per sonality”, you need someone who has the per sonality to carr y the piece and not get lost in it. I’m also making slightly thinner chokers which are more casual and easier to wear. There’s a German pop star who has one; people in music love this kind of stuff.’
As for the sustainability of her work, Katie goes to a lot of vintage markets to source vintage jeweller y, which she pulls apar t to upcycle. The stitching involved is simple, securing each jewel to the fabric, finishing with a double knot. ‘For cer tain pieces you have to go through specific angles but it’s ver y intuitive.’