Q: How was the programme at DMU?
A: I had a wicked three year course at DMU studying contour fashion and received first class honours.

Q: Did you take part in student competitions?
A: I had various competitons set to the year by industry, where I came third, second and eventually first.

Q: Were you able to do any internships or work placements?
A: I managed to gain work placements at Amanda Wakeley, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and George at Asda, and also helped at the Amanda Wakeley London Fashion Week show the other year.

Q: Did you complete a senior project at DMU?
A: I did complete a senior project. The changing silhouette of the past and of today has predominantly been a result of the body-distorting garments we wear, and have worn in order to please society or our own ideals. It is this intrigue that has lead me to delve deeper into the realms of control over another person, or another form – especially the inanimate.

The ideas of restricting the body and playing with proportions are mixed with literal implications of the puppet, strings seen by vertical stripes and cording techniques, and separate limbs and ball joints reflected in dividing panels emphasized by contrasting boning channels.

Photos from Katherine Jones

Q: What have you been doing since graduating?
A: I finished Uni last June/July, and after a lot of thinking I decided that I wasn’t going to head straight into the fashion industry from Uni. I want to carry on my studies in an MA Costume Design course. As tuition fees were a little out of my range straight from Uni I decided to move home, and work various jobs to earn the money.

Q: Have you stopped working in fashion?
A: I am keeping my finger in the contour/fashion industry, with such opportunities as Alternative Fashion Week. I have been selected to show my collection, so I am currently trying to get everything sorted for that – bit stressful.

Q: (After AFW) How did the show go?
A: AFW was great — stressful but all good. Things are very busy at the minute, following the success of AFW I am in the research/design process of a new collection which takes great inspiration from the 1920s, so I am exploring further into past fashions and broadening my knowledge of historical dress. With busy days I mainly work on my collections in the evenings and weekends – which often means some sleepless nights, but hopefully it will all be worth it

Photos by Paul Tait from the Fashion UK coverage of the 2008 AFW in London.

Contact Lucy Jackson

Q: Tell our readers about your self.
A: In terms of background info, I studied photography at college before going to Chelsea College of Art, London to study Textile Design and then onto The Fashion Institute of Technology NYC to study Fashion Design. There I fell in love with lingerie design while taking an Intimate Apparel class, so I transferred my degree to Contour Fashion at De Montfort, being the only student ever to complete the degree in one year and finishing with First Class Honours.

Q: How did you make your move into photography?
A: After graduation I worked as a freelance lingerie designer, then as Head of Design for By Caprice Lingerie, before taking a career break and reinventing myself as a fashion and lingerie photographer. I’ve been running my own business Katherine Jones Photography for two years now and have studios in South Wales and Greenwich London.

Q: For the Lingerie shoots, have you mainly worked with other DeMontfort alumni?
A: I’ve got very close links with De Montfort – I was a graduate myself, coming away with a First Class Honours degree in Contour Fashion. So it seemed a natural market for me (even though I shoot for the students at a huge discount!) as I’m providing to a wish-list that I myself would’ve created after graduating. Shooting lingerie is relatively new to me, so before moving into the wider market, the alumni gave me a proving ground from which to hone my skills in this area. To the best of my knowledge there are no other photographers working at my level who shoot for the alumni, so it’s a pleasure to be able to provide them with this kind of service.

Q: Are you accepting any new clients?
A: A new London-based contract with a magazine and media agency has seen the work increase five-fold, but I am very lucky insofar as I was able to negotiate a ‘non exclusive’ agreement to the agency. I’m still open to any client that wants me!

Q: How does the process work? Does the designer have a vision of the final picture? Do you? How much collaboration?
A: I art direct all of my shoots which puts me in a great position to work closely with the designer really getting to grips with their vision of both the collection and the final image. How much collaboration goes on depends on the designer, but most are happy for me to follow my own vision of the images. I ensure that the locations, props, models, hair and make-up emphasise the photography as much as possible, so the finished pictures really work to flatter the designs.

Q: How long is each session?
A: Including hair, make-up and lighting set-ups, an average session usually takes between 8-10 hours; a full day’s shooting. Larger collections are shot over two or more days.

Q: Does a single model changing into lots of outfits save money over a couple of models that are ready to shoot?
A: A single model changing into a number outfits can certainly save money if the collection is small enough to be shot in one day (usually up to 10 outfits). But if there’s a large number of outfits to get through it’d usually be at the cost of the final image. Models can get tired after a long day which means that their expressions can wane or they lose focus, so I wouldn’t recommend it for larger collections.

Katherine shared some of her portfolio and described each photo.

Loutka – Inspired by Tim Burton, puppets and broken dolls. Lingerie by Lucy Jackson

Brieranim – Images to launch bespoke, bridalwear and bridal lingerie company Brieranim. Lingerie by Anne Brierley

Something Blue – Images to launch debut collection by Jessie Lou Lingerie inspired by Marie Antoinette. Lingerie by Jessica Clatworthy

Sundae – Inspired by a contrasting mix of refined toile de jouy and erotic dancing. Lingerie by Holly Cavenon

Porcelain - Inspired by the emerging freedom of the 1920’s woman. Lingerie by Claire Hughes

Wisteria - Inspired by a game of ‘peeping Tom’ and lonely housewife. Lingerie by Charlotte Sparey

Contact Katherine Jones for more information.