Episode 27 - Fashion Designer, Activist and Political Artist Katharine Hamnett, CBE
In this episode of Frankly Speaking with Lynne Franks, Lynne is joined by her long time friend of 53 years, fashion designer, activist and political artist, Katharine Hamnett. Katharine is the inventor of the slogan t-shirt, an icon of the 1980's, and an early champion of sustainability in the fashion industry. She has influenced both British popular culture and politics through the strength of her work.
Breaking rules of the conventions of the fashion industry, there was always something new and exciting going on when Lynne and Katharine worked together. At a time when she was the most copied fashion designer of the time, she decided to create t-shirts with large type slogans like the now famous “ Choose Life” t-shirt, hoping that the messages would be spread far and wide.
“Make the words so big you can’t not see them from a distance. Then when you read them, you’ve had it. The words are inside your brain, and you’ve got no defences.” Katharine Hamnett
Listen as they discuss the origins of the now famous slogan t-shirts, her confrontation with Margaret Thatcher, her work championing the organic cotton trade, and her recent work with Help Refugees and We Are The Future.
To learn more about Katharine Hamnett for the UN Global Goals go here where you can also watch the music video.
To learn more about Katharine Hamnett you can do so here.
If you’d like to design your own message t-shirt, do send me your slogan at info@lynnefranks.com. The winner will be shown to Katharine and will receive one of our Power of Seven t-shirts.
If you like what you hear, and want to find out more about our community of like-minded women who believe in living and working in alignment with the feminine values of collaboration, authenticity and most of all, love, you can sign up to my mailing list at www.lynnefranks.com/signup
You can find Lynne on Instagram at @lynnejfranks, Facebook @lynnefranksobe, Twitter @Lynne_Franks , LinkedIn @Lynne Franks OBE.
Music by Joolz Barker
