BONUS POST - Top Kat Designer Q&A

I find jewellery the most personal of style items. Given as a gift or handed-down, it becomes increasingly meaningful, taking on more significance as it shines throughout the important days of the wearer's life. So jewellery created in small batches or as one-offs, by an emerging designer, is quite simply contemporary gold dust waiting to wrap itself round our memories. Design debutante Katherine Hitchcock credits her mum for inspiring her jewellery brand, WildKat, and tips her hat to Dolly Parton, Salvador Dali and Top Girls.        

What inspires the vibe of your work?

I would definitely have to say travel, I love seeing how jewellery varies across the globe. I am particularly inspired by Native Americans. I love their use of colour, geometry and beadwork.

Favourite Music? Painting? Play?

This is the point where I could ramble on forever. I love 70s and 80s music. My parents listened to Marvin Gaye, Fleetwood Mac, Peter Gabriel and Hall and Oates to name a few and it used to drive me mad, but now I love it, it’s full of nostalgia.

As for paintings, I love Dali and my favourite is - get this for a title - Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee Around a Pomegranate a Second Before Awakening. It’s the painting with tigers and an elephant with stilt-like legs. Dali's paintings are so bonkers, what’s not to like?

My favourite play would have to be Top Girls by Caryl Churchill.

If you could have 3 women (dead or alive) round for dinner, who would you invite?

Well I would have to invite my mum as it would be rude not to, especially if I was going to invite Meryl Streep as we both love her. Dolly Parton would have to be there as she has a wicked sense of humour and the voice of an angel, and I'd probably throw in Joan Rivers for good measure.

How does your mum effect or inspire your work?

My mum is a huge influence on my work. She worked as an air stewardess before becoming an interior designer so our house has a very eclectic feel. She is never afraid to use colour and is always mixing old with new.

Is there a piece of pricey jewellery you'd like to own?

Oh sure! There is a whole shop of it on Portobello road called Jessie Western CLICK HERE. They specialize in Native American jewellery and the shop is stacked to the roof with pretty things.

If you weren't expressing yourself through jewellery, what would you be doing instead?

I would love to work on films as a set painter or prop maker.

What next for your brand? 

More new pieces, I believe it’s important to keep evolving. I have recently released some more modern pieces, but they still incorporate my favourite material, leather, which can be seen throughout my work. I’m also continuously looking for inspiration so perhaps a cheeky little trip to Europe next! 

To see more of Kat's jewellery online CLICK HERE