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It began in 1984 when Kim discovered latex. She made a dress for herself which caused quite a stir. Only this strap survives from that dress.
A friend displayed it on her stall in The Great Gear Market in the King’s Road. The first day a woman ordered ten dresses for her shop in Switzerland and Kim West Clothing was born.
Kim took her name from David Bowies' Ziggy Stardust album cover. Photographer Brian Ward, who took the photo, promised to take a picture of her underneath the sign but sadly died before he could do it.
An image of Kim, taken from her first catalogue and shot at a flat in Parkway, Camden Town, appeared on the front cover of Skin Two magazine, issue 4.
Kim’s next design was the cowgirl outfit. The jacket was displayed in the window of her favorite shop, Western Styling. It was spotted by photographer David Todd and appeared in the July ’85 issue of The Face
Western Styling were inundated with orders. Tony James of Sigue Sigue Sputnik wore one on Top of the Pops.
Adam Ant
Sam Fox
May 1985. Skin Two held a fashion show at the Embassy Club. Photos of Kim’s dresses made Penthouse and The Guardian.
January 1986. Sue Blair, fashion editor of the Telegraph magazine, used Kim's clothes in a double page spread and front cover. They received a record number of complaints from ‘disgusted of Tunbridge Wells’.
In February 1987 Kim opened her first shop in London’s legendary Kensington Market.
Margi Clark in a Kim West velour dress
Helena Bonham-Carter
Kylie
Janet Street-Porter
Isabella Rossellini
Kim was experimenting with patterns and colours and was the first designer to print onto latex.
Film Producer Chiara Menage in a Kim West playsuit at her wedding in Cornwall.
Kim formed Heels of London with Jessamy Calkin, selling hand made shoes.
Madonna wore them..
...and Tatler encountered controversy when the shoes were used in the infamous ‘Twixt B cup and Lip’ spread in the May 1988 issue.
Kim West received it’s first complaint from Archbishop House.
1991 saw Kim's groundbreaking third catalogue photographed by Kevin Davies and designed by Phil Bicker (then art director of THE FACE).
In March 1993 Kim was asked by Vivienne Westwood to make a pair of white rubber stockings for her collection to be worn by Naomi Campbell. Unfortunately combined with a pair of 10 inch heels they may have contributed to her spectacular and infamous fall.
The next collection featured this controversial advertisement. It was only allowed to be printed when Kim explained that it was a bra.
The front of house girls were Ciona Johnson-King who is still the makeup artist for all Kim West shoots
...and an unknown booker at Models 1 called Davina McCall.
During the busy times Kim employed a part-timer called Jordy. He inspired her to approach Channel 4 with an idea for a documentary about male bonding. The programme - called The Sex Hunters - starred Jordy, Steve, Dave, Matt, Lee and Tony. It aired on December 17th, 1993
A week later, Kim met her husband-to-be and moved to the USA where they lived for seven years and had two boys.
November 2009. Kim West was relaunched.
This time there were no complaints to the Telegraph.
Kim's designs were used in a Jimmy Choo ad campaign, modeled by the gorgeous Crystal Renn.
Crystal Renn
With new techniques and a range of new fabrics, the story continues...