Line: Stuff by Kate
Designer: Kate Seavey
Site: StuffByKate.com
A Unique Twist on Outerwear
Stuff by Kate puts the fun back into fashion. The designer, Kate, has made warm clothing easy and comfortable with an eclectic edge. The collection is hand sewn by Kate herself. Her mission is to keep the individuality in her line without mass producing or replicating any of her designs. You can always be sure Stuff by Kate is truly one of a kind.
HELIUM MAGAZINE (HM): What does fashion mean to you?
KATE SEAVEY (KS): Basically, it’s an expression of my inner artist, an expression of myself. I like making clothes that are fun to wear and expressing my creativity into wearable art. I think its both kind of underrated and overrated at the same time. It’s a staple of everybody’s life; you can’t live without it. It’s important to everyone whether you realize it or not.
HM: How did Stuff by Kate get started? How long has Stuff by Kate been established?
KS: I’ve wanted to be a designer my whole life. I started sewing when I was eight. When I was in college I had a school project that I had to do. I sewed a purse for one of my design classes for a presentation. One of my sorority sisters wanted to buy it. She bought the purse then all of our friends started buying them so I sold about 50 purses by the end of the semester. Then I discovered that I could really do this full time. It was kind of started by accident. I have officially been in business for five years now. But I have been sewing through college and my adolescence.
HM: Who do you imagine wearing Stuff by Kate?
KS: My target customer is any normal girl from the ages 15 to 30. My muse is California beach bum meets Bettsy Johnston inspired flower child. So its definitely a combination of a fun, artistic detail with a lot of color but yet the clothing is really easy and comfortable to wear.
HM: How does Stuff by Kate represent San Jose and the bay area?
KS: Most of my clientele started here. I moved to San Jose right after I graduated from college. My friends who lived in San Jose were my core audience who launched my clothing line. A lot of my first fashion shows took place right here in San Jose. I’ve had great support from the community. I’ve been here since the start so it’s really important to me to have the support from all those people.
HM: What was your inspiration for your clothing line?
KS: It’s a unique twist on fall outerwear. The collection shows that warm can be pretty too. I love being comfortable and I know that everybody loves getting dressed up but you can look cute and be warm, while not having to worry about accessorizing at the same time. That was the main inspiration for my line. There are a lot of classic pieces with a cheeky twist.
HM: Where can Stuff by Kate be purchased?
KS: My website is www.stuffbykate.com which will direct you to an online boutique on etsy.com. My pieces are also in the store Oak on Newbury Street in Boston, MA. I am also in a boutique in Modesto, CA. All of that information with further details is on my website.
HM: What is the ultimate goal for Stuff by Kate?
KS: My 3 to 5 year plan is to open my own boutique. I thought about going into production but I would like to keep my clothing line handmade. My ultimate goal is to have my own studio space where I can open a retail store and do all of my own sewing on site so I could have custom clients come in and design their dream wardrobe.
HM: What’s next for Stuff by Kate?
KS: I’m always working on new projects. I was featured in Helium’s Atomic Fashion Show and am looking forward to Elemental. I am also wrapping up my fall collection and from there I have more photo shoots lined up combined with a few more fall fashion shows. Portland fashion show is looking like something that will be in the near future for Stuff by Kate.
Interview by Angela Marino
Staff
Andrea Henneman – Photographer
Mattion Mountford – Manager
Jack Husting – Art director
Cherelle Cruz – Model
Josie Wilder – Model
Esther Au – Makeup & Hair
Jennifer Giles – Fashion Aide
Jennifer Elias – Fashion Aide
Wow! Those two “Fashion Aids” are doing an AMAZING job!!!
i love these pics what a fun day too bad only one of my pics are in there but they all look great and stuff by kate is the next big thing for sure!!
As a member of the fashion industry, I cannot say I am too thrill to see this pictorial. Both models are not of equal height and it look troublesome because the one that is of Asian descent looks disproportion compared to the other. Also, she has the same face in every photo which doesn’t make people what to continue looking through the pictures. I would be much happier if I were to see the other model (whom I may say didn’t get a fair share as the other did). Also the poses are too distracting and as well the makeup too dramatic- it take away from the outfits. Your model must close her mouth. She has very beautiful teeth, but seeing the same thing over and over doesn’t excite most people.
Speaking of outfits, there should be a different outfit presented in different shot. It literally waste sales and horrible marketing to have three shots with the same jacket. I have to comment that I do love the color blocks and the concept works well with the outfits.
Sorry if it seems that I’m being rude. As a growing magazine you want people to love what you are doing. These are rookie mistakes but can be fixed once criticism is giving. I do not feel that something can succeed if criticism is not given and I love this industry more then anything in the world (but not as much as my dog). I do hope to see this magazine come around; I’ve been living in San Jose for a few months and the lack of fashion is makes me miserable.
Not the best shoot from Helium but it’s a great concept considering they’re just sweaters. I could totally see my girlfriend wearing the piano one xmas morning! They look really comfy because they go down so low and are made of cotton.
Idk what Jayla is complaining about. Isn’t that other girl the model in EVERY picture on the designer’s website? I like seeing a model that represents the diversity of Silicon Valley.
Does anyone else think Asians don’t belong in the fashion industry because they aren’t the same height?
It doesn’t matter if she on the designer’s website. Models want more work, more exposure. The more times they can get their picture in something, the more work comes there way, and they are more financially better off.
I’m assuming youre not part of the fashion industry (and when I mean a part I don’t mean a student. I am a production manager for a fashion company in SF and am well known and connected within the region. I made a name for myself and for being young, I consider it an accomplishment ) so I can understand why you don’t understand. If you have ever watch Project Runway, in Season 4, one of the designers flipped out because her models were not of the same height. The other two designers ridiculed her for her model picks because it will draw attention away from the clothes if the order goes up and down. So I completely understand what Jayla is saying when it look uneven. Normally during a fashion show or an editorial you want that same height and same body type. Hardly anyone gets cast if they are not.
Sorry I have to defend Jayla because she is right. As fashion people, we’re taught to criticize and analyze. With out it, we would always be late when it comes to trends and being the next new thing. She only doing what comes naturally with the job. As a designer and needing more press, I would be pissed if I was published with three of my clothing in six shots. That kills sales of three more jackets that people might have been interested or would draw people to me. Also, if the shots aren’t shot right, people might think it’s cheesy and won’t even give the designer a look. First impressions mean everything and these shots are the first impressions to people who have never seen her before. This model didn’t bring the picture to light because of her over exaggerated moves.
Please do not bring up the race thing. No one said anything about Asians in a negative content so we don’t need to go there. I am Asian as well and I’m not that tall but even I wouldn’t pose next to her. I would basically look like an stumpy elf. If it was an Asian girl of the same height, there wouldn’t have been an issue. The issue, may I remind you, is her height. Sorry I read a lot of media daily and social issues for trend forecasting reasons and I’m really tired of the Asian debate. Yes there is hardly any Asians in the media but now is not our generation. Our generation is to please our parents. It’s not fair but most household believe in the Confucius Order. Once Asians assimilate into American society and become more Americanized and raise their children to go for their dreams, we can hopefully see more.
Sorry for going on a tangent. This publication has hope. It needs criticism to further its enhancement.
i hate when criticism becomes a race issue. what happen it just being an issue that can be fix and not involving race?
…….. this is one subject that people can go on and on about. I know from watching ATNM its a height issue. not a race. if an asian girl was 5′ 10” people would be all over that. same goes for a white girl. a black girl. and a mexican girl. any shorter and there is no job. i mean the industry still discriminate against girls who are 5′ 7”. a few friends of mine who are asians are only import models because they don’t care about height. just body type. it’s a sad reality but it’s society.