Clare Tough

Clare Tough graduated from Chelsea College of Art in 2001 with first class honours and the RSA Student Design Award Masters medal. After working with Kay Cosserat she discovered a passion for knit and went on to take her MA at Central Saint Martins in 2004. Browns bought her graduation collection. After producing her own label for a season she was discovered by EO Bocci, the international fashion scout, and they became business partners in 2005.

She uses knit in a thoroughly innovative and modern way. Natural and synthetic yarns are often combined to create unusual textures. Metallic rings or snippets of leather and suede are worked into a patchwork of different surfaces. Her shapes and colour blends are surprising. Inevitably the majority of Tough’s designs are hand-knitted.