FEATURED DESIGNER – CATINI DESIGNS
Sassenfras caught up with Catherine Mancini – designer extraordinaire from Perth label Catini Designs – to find out how her intricate and cleverly cut designs come to life.
I first saw Catini Designs at the 2011 Perth Fashion Festival as part of the WA Designer Collection. Her debut collection walked confidently and boldly alongside Perth fashion luminaries Liz Davenport and Empire Rose. I was immediately fascinated by the intricacy of the designs and above all, the technique and skill the designer clearly has. I later discovered Catherine graduated in 2009 from the Central Institute of Technology with the award for Best Construction and I wasn’t in the least bit surprised.
Catini Designs is headed for great things. In the meantime we have the pleasure of geting to know a little more about this talented Perth designer.
Your Precipice collection for S/S 11/12 featured some beautiful, almost architectural, detailing. Is this something we can expect to see more of in future collections?
Absolutely!! I love using really unique,strong and bold lines is my designs. I am inspired by the body and creating shapes that compliment the figure. Focusing on the shoulders , waist and hips to get an elegant and fresh look.
What and or/who inspires you?
I am inspired by many different things. Architecture for one, as I love to apply structural / voluminous forms to the body that can adapt the usual silhouette. Also the female figure. I like to the look at the body as a blank canvas and create from there. Many different designers inspire me……Just seeing so many beautiful creations on a runway or a red carpet can lead me to be so motivated to get sketching and come up with some fresh, elegant and unique pieces. My family is a huge inspiration to me because I want to make them proud and show them what all of their support has helped me achieve.
Tell us about your creative process? For example, do you use mood boards, journals, take photographs, listen to music etc?
My creative process can vary quite a bit! I find sketching any ideas is a great way to get it out of my head and onto paper. Then I find I need music with a good beat to get motivated and inspired to then go forward with my designs and apply them to the body. Being on my own is a really good way for me to focus and carry out the design process. But I find that the best way is really to get some fabric and start pinning that way I can visualise how the ideas are going to translate into a 3D form and be able to experiment and see what I can come up with.
What are your favourite fabrics to work with and why?
Anything that has a bit of shape and structure to it. Silk and cottons, work well for my designs. Fabrics that keep their shape and really sit beautifully on the body. Fabrics with a slight stretch always help just for a little extra movement when the garment is worn.
You clearly have a talent for using cut to create structure. Why does this technique appeal to you?
It began when I was studying at TAFE. I started being a little more experimental and trying to adapt the general silhouette of garments on the body. By adding interfacing and boning to a shape or piece of fabric and then seeing what it can do when on a figure. I love the way that I can express myself through unique designs and really explore a different way of dressing the body. And not knowing what you’re going to produce until you experiment a little.
How did you get involved with Hatch?
I was so honoured to be part of the Hatch store. After my show at Perth Fashion Festival 2011 I was asked to be involved on the new initiative to display WA designers- established and emerging. Hatch is a fantastic boutique which supports many amazing WA designers. Being incredibly new to the industry it was fantastic to be able to have a few of my pieces in a store dedicated to showing off what WA designers can produce!
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