In Conversation with Katie Irving
Tell us about your background:
I was born and grew up just outside of Nashville, TN and moved to London to study art when I was 18. I had the most incredible college experience! I spent six years completely immersed in art and fashion, doing research in the V&A archives, vintage shopping in Portobello market and having pints in art school dives. In 2005, I graduated with a Master’s in Printed Textiles from Chelsea College of Art where I focused on how to create emotional impact with printed patterns; concepts which I have used throughout my career. I was incredibly fortunate to begin my career at Chloe in Paris during Phoebe Philo’s last collection in 2004. She and her team were a dream to collaborate with and I’ve carried so much of what I learned there throughout my career- incredible attention to detail and how important it is to have fun at work. From there, I moved to New York and worked for two years as a Textile Designer for Elie Tahari and then I was recruited by Abercrombie & Fitch in Ohio. I was with A&F for 11 years and had the opportunity to lead the pattern teams for all of their brands (Hollister, Gilly Hicks and Abercrombie kids). I spent my last 5 years as Sr. Director of Concept and worked on the re-launch of Abercrombie Kids while piloting customer-centric research initiatives and leading trend forecasting and print/pattern design.In 2019, I decided to make the move to Creative Consulting and it's been a great change and a challenge. The ability to apply 15+ years of experience to multiple companies and projects has given me the chance to learn so much. Working on projects ranging from brand identity to content creation and even commissioned paintings has given me a chance to stretch my creativity in so many new directions.
What has been the biggest challenge in the transition into Consulting?
Not having a team is probably the biggest challenge. Getting used to working on my own was a huge adjustment and I missed collaboration at the beginning. Now, I've built a great network and feel part of a community, but that took time. The other challenge has been having the courage to decide where to focus. My first 6 months of consulting was a 'spaghetti-on-the-wall' phase and I said yes to every project that came my way. To have real impact, I knew I needed to focus moving forward. Making those decisions (and trying not to second-guess them) was a challenge.
Katie with hand-painted leather jackets from Katie's brand YCHL Collective.
What do you wish you’d known when you started out?
That career paths aren’t linear and there are many definitions of success. For some, success might look like choosing to work less and spend more time with family. For others, it might be becoming a VP by 40 or launching their own business. There is no right or wrong path and success is all about being true to yourself and your values. Also, that it’s ok to take a break when you need it.
Best career advice you've ever received?
There are plenty of opportunities for everyone. Whether you’re currently a jobseeker or you’re climbing the corporate ladder, there is enough opportunity to go around. Don’t let anyone with a scarcity mindset convince you otherwise.
What leadership qualities are important to you?
In my experience, the best leaders have a lot of empathy and emotional intelligence. Being able to put yourself in your team's place and understand their perspective not only leads to better decision-making but to a much happier team. Also, being out front and leading is an inherently vulnerable position and being able to embrace this is key. It fosters a deeply creative culture for your team, builds trust and creates the perfect environment for truly incredible ideas.
And for fun, what is your favorite wardrobe staple?
Vintage jackets - I have at least 30! The louder, the better (especially if it’s suede and has fringe). It doesn’t matter what you’re wearing, throw a vintage statement jacket over it and you're instantly ready for any occasion.
Left: As an Artist-in-Residence at this year's Alt Summit, Katie painted this vintage, leather trench poolside at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs. Right: Custom Doc Marten's for YCHL Collective
You can check out Katie's work here: https://www.katieirvingcreative.com
Connect with Katie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieirvingcreative
And, follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katieirvingcreative
