Sustainability, quality, and bespoke design at heart of newly opened Atelier Katie Savage shop in Southwell
A designer with years of experience in the fashion industry has brought her bespoke clothing, bridal, and occasion wear services to a town’s high street.
Atelier Katie Savage has opened on Queen Street, Southwell, bringing sustainable, high-quality, hand-crafted clothing to shoppers.
Katie has worked in the textiles industry around the world, and for a number of major high street retailers, building up her expertise in pattern cutting, design, and fabric sourcing.
She then decided to go freelance, building her extensive skills into her own business.
Katie said: “I focus on timeless designs with a twist, I don’t always follow fashion because sometimes it dates too quickly. We’re more about longevity, and sustainability.
“It’s about building a wardrobe of things to wear again and again, and occasionally switch out. We encourage people to wear things out.”
The designer began her career with textiles companies in the area, which supplied brands such as Marks and Spencer, where she learnt to pattern cut, do fittings, pick fabrics, and design items.
She also trained in contour fashion — which covers lingerie, wedding dresses, and corsetry — and her career has involved work in India, Türkiye, and China, and for multiple high-street brands.
She has previously had shops in Newark — which was initially successful and kick-started her bespoke design service, but struggled to regain trade after the pandemic — and Edwinstowe, but now is back in the town where she was educated as a child after her family saw the shop was empty and encouraged her to take it on.
The Southwell shop, which has the ground and first floors dedicated to retail, and a workshop and private fitting room on the second floor, stocks a large selection of her designs and re-worked denim, as well as handcrafted jewellery, Italian knitwear, and bamboo socks from a Scottish company.
As well as the pre-made items, shoppers can have completely bespoke clothing made for them, or have Katie’s existing designs altered to their liking. Then, they will be brought to life by a seamstress at the atelier.
She has made things as simple as trousers so well-fitting the customer came back for five more pairs, and as out-there as reconstructions of Take That’s tour outfits for a tribute band.
“Some people have things made because they just can’t get things they need in shops — especially for people with health conditions, or those who’ve had mastectomies — and some people want another something they already have that they really like that we’ll redesign and put a twist on,” Katie added.
“I do do lots of occasion wear, mother of the bride, mother of the groom, racing attire, and also bespoke wedding and bridesmaids dresses.
“Everything is hand cut and sketched. I have my preferred fabric suppliers but will also source others for customers.
“We try to use bio-degradable fabrics where possible, and use materials with carcinogen-free dyes.”
Katie will work to customer’s budgets by altering fabric choices and designs, to create the ideal item at the ideal price — prioritising quality fabrics and fits which will stand the test of time and reduce the amount of clothing entering landfill. Her re-worked denim jackets can also be commissioned to customers’ size and tastes.
Her first two weeks open in the town have been a resounding success.
“It’s been really good, its been amazing,” Katie said.
“Everybody’s been so supportive. People are really excited because they can get anything they want made.
“The first week we took so many orders I had to get the seamstress in more, and order more fabric.”
Atelier Katie Savage is open 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Friday, and 9.30am to 4.30pm on Saturday.