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She's putting good back into the hood
Leeds designer Sallyanne McCrory is making a name for herself by redeeming the reputation of the much-maligned hoodie.
The 30-year-old, who lives in Beeston, rents a studio in nearby Holbeck where she crafts her personalised creations which sell from 70 all the way up to 170.
Sallyanne started her label, KnK Clothing, as a hobby.
But now she is hoping, through the Job Centre's Enterprise Rehearsal scheme, to make it her living.
The international fashion and business graduate has even set up the Hoodie Appreciation Society to promote her range – tagline It's All Good in the Hood.
Her site is also a celebration of a piece of clothing whose wearers have often attracted a bad reputation.
She said: "I wanted to take that bad name away from hoodies and create a more positive image.
"I also wanted to make streetwear for women as I think there's a gap in the market.
"I founded the KnK label, which stands for Kit-n-Kaboodle, in 2003 making one-off design T-shirts using screenprints.
"I was sort of doing it as a hobby making stuff for friends and family.
"But this year I decided I wanted to take it more seriously."
A one-woman-band, Sallyanne buys the basic hoodie from a London supplier.
Then using her printed textile and screen printing skills as well her electric sewing machine, she customises the garment to her customer's individual tastes.
Clients include DJ Sub Focus, DJ Skream and DJ Filthy Rich from the national drum and bass music scene and a commission for 100 hoodies for the Metropolis club night at the University of Leeds.
She is getting ready to take her range to next month's Margin streetwear trade show in London.
Sallyanne said: "I'm hoping to get more people buying my stuff.
"Through the Job Centre scheme I'm going to be test trading for six months which allows me to claims benefits while running a business.
"The website was originally a bit of fun. I'd take photographs of people wearing hoodies I liked when I met them at clubs and put their pictures on the site.
"There are 1,500 members now, but quite a lot have also becomes customers."
Go to www.kit-n-kaboodle.com or The Hoody Appreciation Society on Facebook.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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