Katherine Hamnet

Most known for her controversial slogans printed t shirts, Katherine Hamnet's designs date back to 1979 when she founded Katherine.E.Hamnet clothier. But her oversized slogan t shirts didn't appear until 1983, which were then used by the well-known pop bands of that time including Wham! who used them in the music video for "Wake me up before you go go" and Queen's "Hammer to fall". The t shirt below saying 'Choose life' was supposed to be indicating against drugs and suicide.

In 1984, Paul Morley designed the range of "Frankie says..." t-shirts for promotion of Frankie goes to Hollywood. It was said that these t shirts were inspired by Katherine Hamnet's original t shirt designs. Though all was not pop culture. Hamnet sparked controversy when she met then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher whilst wearing a t shirt dress bearing the slogan '58% don't want Pershing' .


Her t shirts are worn and recognised worldwide and bear the slogans of political and social issue of that time. In 2011 she was awarded a CBE for her services to fashion.

During the 90s and 00s Hamnet still gained popularity and controversy when she sent Naomi Campbell down the catwalk with a t shirt of the slogan 'Use a condom' and in 2003 when she gained press for her t shirt with slogan hinting at her opinion of the up and coming Iraq war.

She is a fierce environmentalist, behind the driving force of making organic cotton into the mainstream fashion. Also revivinbg then lost parts of the world's jungles and forest she is quoted in saying that its her 'greatest ambition'.


In my opinion I like how Hammer challenges the way fashion cash be viewed and what it can be to make something so original and thought . Though critics can say that on occasion she can take it too far. But its her drastic opinion and the way she chooses to display it which makes her the fashion force she is today 34 years after she first established herself.