DECEMBER 12, 2015
RACHEL EVANS
10 Years of Kirsty Doyle
In January 2006 the first series of Project Catwalk aired on television, hosted by Liz Hurley and featuring a panel of judges including Julien MacDonald and Lorraine Candy of Elle Magazine. The show saw 12 hopeful fashion designers battling it out to win the competition, alongside the models who worked with the designers throughout. The winner of the series was Kirsty Doyle, a Liverpool girl through and through, with hopes of achieving her dreams to become an established designer. As we approach the 10 year anniversary, we're taking a look back to see how Kirsty has progressed since the competition and how the KD brand has grown.
While competing on Project Catwalk Kirsty was studying Fashion Design at Liverpool John Moores University and she says that the show pushed her to her limits. "I entered project catwalk as a completely different designer, now as a designer and company director I have to be aware of the designs as a commercial concept. Then it was more conceptual, more experimental. I loved every minute. Now I work with a team of people, it's completely different but I still love it."
In the first episode Kirsty and her competitors were set a challenge to create a dress for a garden party made only from materials bought at B&Q DIY store. They were all given a budget of £50 and 2 days to complete their design. Throughout the rest of the series the designers were asked to create different outfits ranging from wedding dresses to an outfit for guest judge Kelly Osbourne, with someone being eliminated each week. The final 3 were then given £4,000 and 5 months to create their own 12 piece collection to show at London Fashion week, with the help of professional pattern cutters and technicians. In the final episode Kirsty was declared winner. One of her prizes was a feature in British Elle magazine, putting her firmly on the map.
AW15 › Black Astala Suit
Following on from the show Kirsty began to create her own brand, Kirsty Doyle. I ask her was fashion design always the career path she planned on taking, she tells me "I wanted to be a teacher or a lawyer when I was young, but after doing GCSE art that changed for me. I come from a creative household. Now I couldn't imagine doing anything else, it is such a part of my life. The passion is still the same, it has developed as the business has evolved."
Kirsty opened her first store in the Met Quarter in Liverpool city centre in 2008, followed by a bigger premise in Liverpool One in 2009. She started off by creating bespoke evening wear but soon expanded into ready to wear, bridesmaids and now bespoke bridal. "I adore the wedding dress part of the business, I dress the bride on her wedding day and I get such a rush of adrenaline when I have finished. Each wedding dress is completely different and unique to each bride. This is by far my most favourite design element."
Kirsty has a huge following in her hometown of Liverpool but she has created bespoke dresses for women around the country. After a number of years selling from a retail space Kirsty finally decided to close her store in Liverpool One shopping centre so she could focus more of her energy into the bespoke service. She now sells her ready to wear line from her website www.kirsty-doyle.com. Her homepage says "Kirsty Doyle is a woman designing for other women. Each and every piece is designed with herself in mind, she wants women to feel how she feels when she wears a KD dress. Strong, confident and untouchable is how she feels when wearing a classic look."
The website is aimed at cool city girls who will mix and match items to create their own individual look. Kirsty says that the design studio take inspiration from New York, London and Paris street style as well as fashion icons from the 1940s and 1950s. "A combination of contemporary meets classic tailoring."
Lais Dress
Raissa Dress
Karrah Dress
Anyone who has been following Kirsty's journey will have witnessed how her brand has matured into a chic and stylish collection worthy of recognition and appreciation. She is a well respected designer who puts time and consideration into every piece. You can see a definitive glamour in her clothing which comes from Kirsty's own personal taste. "My favourite brands include Nicholas Ghesquiere for Balanciaga, John Galliano for Dior, Gambatissta Valli and Rochas. I love old school glamour and theatre when it comes to luxury brands."
I ask Kirsty what her ambitions are for the future of the KD brand. She tells me "My aspirations are to build up the Kirsty Doyle Bride, (my naughty secret is I love Say Yes to the Dress on TLC). The emotions and happiness that comes with bridal is infectious. So maybe I'll have my own to show called Say Yes to the KD Dress! Finally, for Kirsty-Doyle.com to appeal to an international audience, through social media, good customer service and fabulous dresses the word will hopefully spread!"
Having watched the business grow to where it is now over the last 10 years I have no doubt in my mind that Kirsty will realise her dreams to their full potential. Watch this space!