HAMNETT, KATHARINE

(1948- )

Born to a British military family, Hamnett attendedCentral Saint Martins College of Art and Designin London. She and a friend opened a store in 1969, but she went bankrupt after a nasty divorce settlement. After years offreelance designing, she started her own company in 1979; in 1986, she received backing from Danish fashion entrepreneur, Peder Bertlesen, to open her flagship store on Brompton Road. Known for her strong political views and controversial slogans onT-shirts, Hamnett was also one of the first designers to support the Green Movement in fashion. In 1989, Hamnett signed one deal with ItalianmanufacturerZamasport for her men's and women's collection and another with CGA for Hamnett II, her secondary line. Hamnett, who began showing her collections in London, became critical of the British fashion industry and moved her show to Paris and her manufacturing facility to Italy. After the September 11, 2001, terror attacks, Hamnett stopped showing her collection and was forced into liquidation. She has since restructured and downsized her business and still actively campaigns for environmentally friendlycottonproduction and other ecological causes.

See alsoFair Trade Fashion; Freelance designer.