2015 Fashion Show designer spotlight: Catkin by Devon Okamoto

Devon Okamoto has always been involved in the arts. Her passion for illustration and art in general led her to an education in fashion design.

As a designer, Okamoto is determined to create with mindfulness for the earth. She wants to advocate a mindset of conscious consumerism not only fashion, but in all of our local industries. With this in mind, many of her designs focus on versatility, include natural or handmade qualities, and encourage a less wasteful lifestyle.

Catkin will be unveiled at the 2015 Fashion Show, presented by Tamoda Apparel, on April 9 at the River Rock Casino. Thirty-eight other lines by KPU fashion design and technology students will also be showcased. For event details, visit kpu.ca/2015fashionshow, or follow @kpu_theshow on Twitter and @theshow2015 on Instagram.

Amber Folk: Describe your collection.

Devon Okamoto: Catkin is a unisex children’s collection for creative and growing kids ages five to 10. There is a focus on adjustability to create longer wear, which brings more value to each garment. The fabrics are soft on sensitive skin and easy to care for. The West Coast nature theme provides a gender-neutral palette and inspiration to work from. The idea is to inspire equality, play, and growth as individuals, rather than conformity to a clothing style that may only define a select few kids.

AF: What was the inspiration behind your collection?

DO: Every children’s department I’ve ever walked into in Vancouver is split into distinct girls and boys sections, with very little wiggle room. This doesn’t just include clothes, but also toys and décor too. As a major Canadian city, and a community that is growing and defining itself as diverse and open, we need to integrate that mindset into the products we’re purchasing, especially for the next generation. Children are always growing, and not only are unisex clothes a progressive strategy for equalizing gender roles, but they’re also convenient for hand-me-downs and play wear that can be loved longer.

AF: Describe your design/creative process.

DO: I find it hard to get on board with the whole process of writing down every idea I think of. To me, it's similar to being told to write all your steps in a math equation. It's a bit tedious. I prefer to let ideas generate slowly, and evolve in my mind, writing an occasional note or two as reminders until I feel more inspired. Then I sketch, in pen usually. After I mull those sketches over I choose or evolve from the best features. Often my garments are a lot different from how they start out.

AF: What have you learned at KPU?

DO: Summing up four years of learning is pretty difficult. I’ve learned a lot. When I got into this program, I could barely sew and couldn't draft to save my life. I remember in first year I sewed two left legs on a pair of pants the night before they were due. Now our class is computer drafting designs and sewing up prototypes in a few days, while organizing and branding a huge fashion show. It has felt like slow progress but it's all coming together.

AF: What is your favourite food?

DO: Baked spaghetti. No—sushi or black bean crab or steak. Pretty much everything: food is my weakness.