Trousers, jodhpurs

These jodhpurs date from the early to mid 1980s, and are by Katharine Hamnett. Hamnett is an important British designer, now best known for her ethical business philsophy and oversized t-shirts bearing political statements. Before opening her own store in 1986, Hamnett's designs could be bought from Joseph. In its early days Joseph supported up and coming British designers, such as Hamnett and Margaret Howell.

Kim Philpotts bought these jodhpurs from Joseph on Sloane Street, London. Philpotts grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon, and studied Set and Costume Design at Birmingham, graduating in 1981. An early love of fashion developed further once she moved to London, and Philpotts was particularly keen on buying British fashion. This was at a time when British fashion was becoming increasingly popular, as the country moved away from the austerity of the 1970s and into the more optimistic 1980s. This was reflected in fashion design at the time; Philpotts remembers that fashion became much more glamourous, with an emphasis upon self-projection. Philpotts was particularly interested in female designers, such as Wendy Dagworthy, Vivienne Westwood, Katharine Hamnett, Betty Jackson and Ally Capellino.