Betty's Revenge is about the traditional shy and bashful Betty coming back revamped with confidence and bags [sorry] of style! She is now envied by her friends for her casual style with its twist of effortless glamour, retaining her retro air with a funky modern edge. Think Sandy from Grease!
Betty's Revenge has been set up and established by Cathy Hoste, a Surface Designer specialising in print textiles. Cathy has studied fashion illustration at the London College of Fashion and Central Saint Martins. She completed a Foundation in Art and Design at Wimbledon College of Art and graduated from the London College of Communication with a First in Surface Design in 2010. For exhibitions and commissions please view here. Cathy is also a freelance designer, commissions include Zara, Goldsmiths, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Bloomsbury Festival.
Cathy is influenced by the quirky designs of Deborah Bowness, Linda Florence, Virginia Graham, Timorous Beasties and Antonio Lopez plus fashion designers Christian Lacroix, Basso and Brooke, Maison Martin Margiela and English Eccentrics. She gets inspiration from flea markets, a backstreet, the countryside or a random rusty bollard! She also loves the flapper dresses and embellishment details of the 1920s and the gorgeous prints of the 1950s and 1960s. Lyrics and performance arts have inspired bags such as Billie Holiday, Pina Bausch, Skip Theatre or flamenco. Cathy tries to encapsulate the mood and vibe within her designs
In addition to printed bags, Betty's Revenge has an ever expanding recycled range, Cathy's a bit of a collector and hoarder. Made from recycled and specially selected quality vintage pieces, and reworked with a fresh twist the bags and purses are vibrant and contemporary. Cathy see bags as a canvas, designs usually develop with a fusion of retro and contemporary. Other surfaces designed for include flooring, walls, ceramic and jewellery.