Designer Profile: Kate Bonhôte of Beyond the Valley

Beyond the Valley is a platform for innovation and talent, a label in its own right and an established go-to destination for independent design in London. Since its launch five years ago, creative directors Kate Bonhôte and Kristjana S Williams have built the brand up to one of the top 100 UK Coolbrands for 2007/08/09/10, have their own label stocked on asos and farfetch, and many exciting plans for the future.

Design Background:

Creative Directors Kate Bonhôte and Kristjana S Williams are both graduates of Central Saint Martins.

What is your proudest career moment to date?

Kate: Going to Mexico & bumping into someone who was wearing one of our Kimonos! I think our most recent successes with the Beyond The Valley collection & its growing popularity globally. Having an exhibition in the V & A with our SS12 prints in September is also very much an honour for us.

Ultimate goal for the future?

Kate: Kristjana & I have a crazy future project that we would love to do one day – but we won’t jinx it by telling it out loud. But more realistically we would just love to see Beyond the Valley grow into a global brand & being able to invest in diversifying creatively.

Which of your creations/collections has stood out the most for you?

Kate: I always love the latest collection as I believe we get it more & more right each season. I do think SS10 Dreamscape Collision was the turning point where it all started to become more focused.

What is your greatest source of inspiration?

Kate: Kristjana’s prints always start the conversation. To completely focus I love to escape to somewhere new, preferably fashion remote – I often look at traditional dress or someone I am staying ats closet… it’s always a bit random. I also love taking inspiration from film and the amazing costumes

What is the best lesson you’ve learned since starting out in fashion?

Kate: Not to follow trends, stay true to your instincts, listen to your design partner, be patient for success & also learn to budget financially.

Take a look at the Beyond the Valley online store here.

- Carys Kirkpatrick