Clair McKinney-Williams
Footwear & Accessory Designer
ABOUT
I am an extremely creative person with passion, excitement and appreciation for art, design, beautifully hand crafted fashion accessories and objects.
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After studying at the prestigious Cordwainers College I went to work as a milliner for Philip Treacy for seven years. Here I was personally trained by Philip to make couture and ready to wear hats and head pieces.
I would work through the night creating hats for Philip's couture catwalk shows, and help dress the models backstage in London, Paris and New York.
Another passion in my life is travel and I had the amazing opportunity to work in Australia for a year. Whilst there I worked for a bespoke shoemaker and designer in Melbourne and a costume designer in Sydney.
On my return to the UK I worked for Clarks, designing children's and Women's shoes.
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I worked as a Senior Footwear designer for 16 years at the footwear and accessory brand Irregular Choice which are based in Brighton.
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When I started at Irregular Choice in 2003 I was given the exciting role to create a brand that would compliment Irregular Choice as a stylish, fashionable but commercial collection, which then became the brand Poetic Licence.
I designed the footwear collections, Poetic Licence, Irregular Choice kids and Bed of Roses.
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Currently I am working as a freelance designer for Zilla and Clothkits and my own brand called What's Up Birdie? Making Handmade personalised/customised slippers, shoes, hats and accessories.
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My varied experience is over 20 years working within the fashion footwear and accessory industry, from couture to high street.
I have experience of hand making and designing shoes, bags, hats, headpieces, window displays and homewares.
As a designer I am very diverse with a style that can cross from the extremely creative, fun and colourful to classic vintage.
I am always looking for opportunities to expand my knowledge and enjoy learning new things.
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Please do contact me if you feel that I could work on a project with you.
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