Who would have thought that brightly painted junk furniture and hand embroidered tea towels will make it big not only in London but also in other parts of the world. This "glorified junk shop" that started selling vintage fabric and wall papers in 1993 was the brainchild of Catherine Isabel Kidston or more popularly known as Cath Kidston. Her own prints and products are inspired by the traditional English country house in which she was raised.
Cath Kidston was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 37. It was good that it was detected early unlike her parents who both died from cancer. As soon as she recovered she realised that life is too short not to do something that you really want. Thus, she gave up her interior design work and invested £15,000 of her own saving to put up her first shop. One of her first designs was an ironing board cover with distinctive floral print to purposely put up a jolly mood for everyone while doing household chores. This has come to epitomize the Cath Kidston look.
As her products became popular and totally swept the gloomy retailer trend, it steadily expanded to several varieties which include home wares, women's fashion and accessories, children's clothing and toiletries. Later on Cath Kidston partnered several companies like Nokia to design some of their mobile phone models, with Roberts Radio, and with Tesco for their eco-friendly shopping bag made from plastic bottles which were used to raise funds for Marie Curie Cancer Cure Foundation.
Her design of pastel polka dots and floral prints depict the image of the past where housewives enjoyed afternoon tea, knitting and baking. This must have had a nostalgic effect on modern housewives who were busy working outside as it gives them the feeling of a blissful home where everything seems to be perfect.
Cath Kidston totally agrees that her products fulfil the need for value and meaning of a simpler life. The present economic crisis makes people nervous to look forward and seeing the aesthetic design of the 1930's and 1940's that adorn their home creates an aura of comfort and cosiness of the past.
Ironically, Cath Kidston admitted that she is not a domestic goddess herself. She said her partner is lucky if he gets a takeaway and that she is a complete slob who never gets out of her tracksuits on weekends.
Even though she is good in designing children's apparel, she does not have kids of her own. She disclosed that her playfulness comes from her character which she described as "not being very grown-up herself".
In spite of the contradiction from the personal life of Cath Kidston with her well loved designs it cannot be denied that her products touched the hearts of many housewives. This is the main factor why Cath Kidston works hard to ensure that all her products are pretty, practical and affordable so her shoppers will find a reason to be cheerful in spite of the dwindling economic condition.
Heathcote-Ivory.com offer a range of luxury products including a first class selection of toiletries range designed by Cath Kidston including Wild Rose, Bluebell, Honeysuckle and many more.
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