Katie Young Gerald worked as part of the dedicated and loyal English Eccentrics team in the 1990s under the creative direction of Helen David.
Katie’s love of fashion began out of a frustration at the age of 11 when she was unable to find anything special to wear to both her parents weddings! Living in Somerset she discovered vintage clothes and began sourcing, customising and recreating from vintage.
It was never in doubt that Katie would embark on a career in fashion and she gained a BA Hons in fashion and textiles at Manchester Metropolitan University. Upon graduating Katie moved to London and started working for the prestigious English Eccentrics, who were then based in Old Street.
Over five years, Helen and Katie worked very closely together. Helen became a true inspiration to Katie, who found Helen’s work both beautiful and mesmerising. Katie learnt so much about fashion, textiles, print and design during this period and cherishes her memories from this special time.
In the mid-nineties Katie moved to Hong Kong, where she expanded her knowledge in fabric sourcing and product development. She also developed close relationships with suppliers and gained an in-depth knowledge and passion for sustainable fashion and ethical supply chains.
Katie founded Bespoke Textiles 10 years ago, designing, sourcing and supplying unique uniforms, luxury limited edition textile collections to heritage and hospitality brands such as Soho House, The Ivy Collection, The Honourable Society of Middle Temple and The Ace Hotel, to name just a few.
Fast forward to 2018 and Katie is now reintroducing some of English Eccentrics’ most loved prints and designs from the secret archive. It was only natural for Katie to be the person to bring the brand back to the forefront of British fashion, she is a true brand ambassador and holds a wealth of knowledge and love for the brand.