Katri Chapman is an upcycling designer and dressmaker – as well as a punk singer and a mum-of-two. Here she maps her journey from Finland to Norwich and explains her passion for creating pieces out of recycled bike innertubes
I always wanted to live abroad and when I visited London for the first time I just felt ‘I’ve come home’. I think it’s the history, culture and chaotic city life that got me hooked. I met my husband in London and when I was expecting our first child we decided to move to Norwich as my husband is from here. Norwich is so beautiful. It has a lot of character with the old buildings and – even for a smaller city – it has lot of art and culture going on. People are friendly and welcoming and it’s not far from London where I still travel to work from time to time.
I moved to London after I quit my own sewing business back in Finland at the beginning of 2014. I suffered some sort of burnout and thought I’ll never want to sew again! But sewing was really the only thing I’ve ever done so I started to work as a freelancer for various fashion and designer brands. I set up as self-employed and very soon started planning to make my own products, selling them online and in markets around London. I started first making small vintage style purses out of leftover materials. Then, one day, a friend of mine who was a cycle courier and bike enthusiast, asked if I could make a wallet out his broken inner tubes. I had no idea if you even could sew inner tubes, but I said I’ll give it a go! I still have my same old industrial sewing machine which I bought from an old lady who used to make handbags. I practiced, tested and actually managed to make a wallet! It wasn’t easy but, somehow, I made it work. I posted a photo of it in Facebook and lot of friends started to ask if they could buy them. That’s how it all started and since then I’ve done lot of different products from wallets, jewellery, bags, biker jackets, tops etc.
In my work I want to use mostly recycled materials – straps, buckles, zips, buttons etc. are new. I’m very much against the fast fashion industry and want to encourage people to choose second hand, repair their clothes, choose wisely when buying new and buy local and sustainable as much as possible. I’m shocked about the culture of wearing something only once! I’ve always bought most of my clothes from flea markets and charity shops. I wear same things for years, and I have clothes that I’ve owned over 20 years. I also run sewing workshops where I teach how you can repair and alter your own clothes.
I want to create interesting pieces that could be even considered as wearable art. I don’t know how to describe my design style any better. I don’t believe in seasonal fashion, where something is “so last season”. I think we should all create our own style based in our personalities and interests. That’s way more interesting than fashion. It tells a story of the person. I get my inspiration from punk culture (where I’ve been active since young age) and do it yourself -attitude, this goes hand in hand by creating your own style and even making your own clothes. My favourite product is my crossbody bags which are made from recycled bike innertubes. I love playing with the pieces of inner tube, find writings, markings, and flaws, then put them together and see what comes out! Also, I love the contrast of using “rough” material like innertube but create cute products out of it.
My studio is based at Anteros Art Foundation, Norwich. We are a community of artists there. There’s a gallery with lot of interesting exhibitions going on, music room for small concerts, art classes, gift shop where you can find work from local artists, including mine. I’m also welcoming people to come and visit my studio by appointment. I sell online and Etsy. I also have retailers in London, Sweden and – soon – in Finland, too.
I play in punk band called Haavat. It’s Finnish and means ‘wounds’. We have just recorded our first album which will hopefully be out later this year. The next gig I think will be 4th of July at the Louis Marcesi. I’ve been playing in bands since my early 20’s. I use to run my own little label printing punk patches and t-shirts and sell them at gigs and festivals. I used to be active on animal rights scene as well. I’ve been vegetarian for almost 25 years. Nowadays I’m not out much as I have two small children and I spend my “spare” time lifting weights, running and cooking veggie food!
I really want to open a physical shop one day which would be my studio as well. I want to create more one-off pieces of clothing so people could come and try them on. Maybe employ one person to help me run the shop. I’m not dreaming to grow for anything big as it’s against what I’m standing for. I am happy just make my living and spread the word of recycling and upcycling to the world.
Visit KatriK Design and follow KatriK Design on Instagram and Facebook. Also, visit Haavat on bandcamp.com.
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