Kat Cole: the Art of Handmade

An exploration of artisanal craftsmanship and the soul of wearable art.

Kat and Clarese is a luxury contemporary accessories brand founded and designed by Kat Cole. The brand is known for its “wearable art,” in other words a blend of vintage inspiration with modern, editorial styles. Based in Chicago and New York City, the Kat and Clarese specializes in statement pieces such as floral hairpieces, chokers, large brooches, recycled and re-imagined vintage handbags designed to celebrate femininity and glamour. Consequently, fashion editorials frequently feature Kat’s collections, and the brand has appeared on high-profile red carpets, including the Cannes Film Festival. The Confessional Showroom in NYC maintains Kat and Clarese’s physical presence.

IRK: Likewise, your pieces celebrate the beauty of the handmade. What first drew you to incorporating artisanal craftsmanship into your design language, and why is this language important to you as a designer?

Kat Cole: I’ve always been drawn to the intimacy of anything human hands shape. There’s an honesty in artisanal craftsmanship; furthermore, little nuances, textures, gestures and even imperfections that machines can’t replicate. Creating by hand is important to me because it creates a deeper emotional connection between the maker, the piece, and the wearer. You can tell when a piece has been handmade. Each piece tells a story. Storytelling is a key component of my brand.

IRK: What is your favorite aspect of ‘touch’ that you aim to highlight in your design practice and why?

Kat Cole: My favorite aspect of touch is the way it communicates intention. Whether it’s the delicate placement of rhinestones or the choice of a vintage shoe clip from the Victorian era –  each gesture captures a moment of decision. Above all, touch gives a piece its soul. It’s what makes it special and meaningful. 

IRK: How has your connection to hand craft evolved over time?

Kat Cole: In the beginning, hand craft was simply my method. Now it is my philosophy. I moved from seeing it as a technique to understanding it as a dialogue. Between tradition and innovation, patience and experimentation. Moreover, the more I create, the more I respect the time it takes to make something meaningful. That evolution has shaped not only my craft, but also the values behind my brand.

IRK: Your designs feature traditional handcraft details that feel deeply personal. How do you balance honoring those artisanal traditions while bringing a modern design sensibility to your pieces?

Kat Cole: I see my work as honoring both the past and the present. My work is a mixture of vintage and modernity. I honor tradition through technique. Hand shaping, hand finishing, or embellishment practices. But I bring modernity through form, scale, and styling.

IRK: In an age of mass production, speed, and fast fashion, you’ve chosen to intentionally slow things down and step away from the fashion zeitgeist. What do you feel your intentionality of handcraft brings to your wearer’s experience?

Kat Cole: When something is created slowly and deliberately, it holds a different energy. My hope is that each one of my piece feels like an object of care, not consumption. Something to treasure, not dispose of. 

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Cover Credits

Fashion Designer: Kat & Clarese @katandclarese
The Confessional Showroom @the_confessional_showroom_nyc
Creative Director + Collage Artist: Stacy Seiler @mywestvillagelife

Photographer: Jeff Mikkelson @jeffmikkelson

Stylist + Editor-at-Large: Cannon, The Cannon Media Group @thecannonmediagroup

Makeup: Kelley Quan of Kramer + Kramer @kelleyquan1 @kramerandkramer

Hair: Hikari Tezuka of Art Department @thebesthikari @artdeptbeautystyle

Model: Sofia Gomez of The Industry @sofiiag0mez_ @theindustryny

Assistant: Sarina Hingorani @sarina_hingorani

See the entire story Letters to Nature in the Touché issue