KLEE - a brand of machine knitted streetwear that incorporates fully fashioned locally designed and produced garments.
KLEE stands for Kathryn Lee, my first and middle name.
The KLEE Mission: "To Change the identity of knitwear."
The Process:
- The Design process begins with sourcing suitable yarn, experimenting with the yarn on the various knitting machines until a fabric detail was developed.
- A collection of garments are designed utilising the fabric detail in various ways.
- I make the first samples with strict quality control.
- I photograph models showcasing each style and organise external advertising through Studio Magazine
- Catalogues and order forms are printed
- Appointments with leading edge retailers are scheduled across the country
- Travel and sales takes place
- Return to Newcastle, brief the small team of machine knitters and begin production.
As a young sole trader I utilised many skills to design, market, sell, produce and deliver KLEE to retailers. Two collections are produced each year.
The photographs are a selection of styles across a number of collections produced between 1994-1998
