Light House Presents: Katharine Hamnett

"A rare opportunity to hear directly from one of British fashion's most influential designers, in conversation about a career that redefined an industry."

In continuing to celebrate the arts and culture pioneers of craft and design with our 'Light House presents' series, we're delighted to announce that British design legend Katharine Hamnett and acclaimed fashion journalist Sarah Mower – two of the most influential figures in fashion – will be in conversation with us this month.

Katharine Hamnett's monumental impact on fashion design, entrepreneurship and popular culture began by revolutionising streetwear in the 1980s, pioneering innovations including stone-washing, stretch denim and garment dyeing, and inventing the protest tee with bold slogans like "Choose Life" and ‘Worldwide Nuclear Ban Now'– calls to action for political, environmental, and social awareness.

“It’s very easy to be successful if you’re ruthless and you have no principles. I think the challenge is to earn your living being a decent human being.” - Katharine Hamnett

Sarah Mower has spent decades through her incisive journalism reporting shows and interviewing designers for Vogue Runway, as well as championing young designers. To date she has one of the longest and most significant critical relationships with Hamnett's work, writing in 1987, (at the height of the designer's commercial peak), that she was the, "most copied designer in the world."

Together, Katharine Hamnett and Light House align in championing independent artisans and makers and rebelling against high street monotony, alongside an ongoing passion for ethical fashion, sustainable manufacturing and high-end craftmanship, and anti-fast-fashion philosophies. With a focus on archiving heritage designs and celebrating creators who defy norms, Light House regularly features vintage pieces from Katharine Hamnett in our showrooms.

Taking place on Tuesday 14th July from 7.00-8.00pm with a Q&A to follow (doors open 6.30pm), at the Light House on London’s Berwick Street, this is an unmissable deep-dive into the rise of the Katharine Hamnett brand in the 1980s and the innovation and processes behind her designs – alongside imagery and film reflecting on her globally celebrated career.

With a reemergence of interest and collectors seeking out her archive designs, this event is a must-attend for fashion fans, conscious consumers and sustainable stylists. 

Tickets for the evening are priced at £40.00 and are available to purchase here:

 https://lighthouse.artsvp.com/d60ce1 

and 50% of proceeds will go to Heal Palestine.