A Day in the Life of Katy Goy
Friday, April 4th, 2008Friday at last and what better way to round off the week than with a Day In the Life of feature. Today’s article is written courtesy of skilled designer and seamstress, Katy Goy of My Little Empire.

Dreaming About Dresses
I am usually awoken at 6.15am by a screaming cat. I then lie in bed for an hour or so thinking about dresses, fabric, things I’d like to wear, and attempting to doze while the cat attempts to suffocate me.
After all the hard work of thinking, I generally get up feeling inspired and excited for what I’m going to do in the day. The first thing I do in the morning is to check my emails. Email checking is very important for me as I like to be as speedy with my delivery of pieces to customers as I possibly can, so if there are any urgent orders then the whole plan for the day can change.
I don’t like to eat in the morning, I never have. When I was little coffee and bourbon biscuits were my thing. Now I’ve mellowed and am on softer things like fresh orange and innocent smoothies.

Inspiration Through Blogs
If the emails have not been filled with quasi emergencies, then I like to read what Susie Bubble has to say for the day. This is essential reading for me; I hate the whole snobby side of fashion and this is as far away from that as you can get. It’s a riot of instant inspiration on your screen. Then it’s over to Indie Quarter to see who my new crafty crush is this week. Often from these two blogs I’ll go off on an inspiring journey through the net for an hour or so, stumbling upon magazines that I simply must read (Lula, Preen etc.) and designers that I must learn more about (Jane Carlstrom).
What happens next depends greatly on the time of year. There are many stages of designing anything - the ideas stage, the sample stage, the production stage, the ‘it’s all wrong and I hate it’ stage. So my day can either be filled with sketching (competently) sewing (brilliantly!) or attempting to do the business side of things (with room for improvement).

Just Me and The Fluff
Generally my interaction with people is fairly minimal during the day. Sometimes I’ll be able to play with my friends from upstairs - they are involved in the film industry which is exciting to learn about. Or I’ll go and meet my musical friend for three curries and rice in Manchester’s NQ [Northern Quarter]. But mostly it’s just me and The Fluff. She’s very helpful and gives her invaluable opinion freely!
I Don’t Think That You Switch Off if You’re a Designer
The working day lasts generally as long as is necessary, so if there is lots to do I can still be going at 10pm. I always stop to eat with my partner and housemate though, as working by myself a lot can get lonely.
My favourite evening of the week is Tuesday which is often spent at The Pinch and feels like being at home except someone else makes the drinks and there is usually an interesting live music act on. I don’t think that you switch off if you’re a designer. You’re always partly at work. So going to nights like these are like design in action for me. I find myself cataloguing every outfit I see that I like, the ones I don’t like and why. This is people watching with a purpose!
After a drink and a soak up of the sounds and a chat to the gorgeous The Bangs girls it’s off home to sleep, sort of. As when I close my eyes I see designs, the fabric to use, or just the general colour pallet, or silhouette that I want to design the next piece I make in. I have to try really hard to remember all these ideas because I never remember to bring my notebook to bed, which means I go to sleep eventually through worry that I’ll forget something.

Things I Like About Being an Indie Designer
The best thing about being an Indie designer is the feeling of satisfaction I get from expressing myself creatively on a daily basis. It makes me feel complete somehow, seeing a flat piece of fabric become something three dimensional and tangible and having the skills to do that myself is really important to me.
I’m Not So Enamoured With . . .
I am however not so enamoured with the whole business side of being an indie designer. I find that I am far too timid to approach people, and promote myself as I should be doing. Oh, and I hate numbers so the accounts bit of it isn’t that great either.
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Thank you Katy.
To check out Katy’s beautiful creations go to www.my-little-empire.co.uk.


























































