Lady of all things leather, Claire Barrow is making a name for herself with her customised leather jackets and shoes.
Currently on a break from her studies at Westminster, designer-artist Claire Barrows has hopped the internships and become her own boss, using her tumblr, The Milk of Danzig, to tout her artistic creations and customisation service. Her designs are a nod to the 90s complete with pastel colour-blocking and Care Bear and My Little Pony prints, whilst punkish influences can be seen in her sardonic R.I.P. meat jacket. i-D Online grabbed a quick chat with the fashion artist.
What made you decide to start painting leather jackets and shoes? I draw and paint a lot, I see myself as an illustrator as much as a designer so my interest in creating images has just grown. I guess for the leather jackets I was inspired primarily by punk jackets and subcultures who would paint on their jackets to express themselves as individuals. People have painted leather jackets this way since the 1950s but I’m taking it into a different context.
Who do you want to see wearing your jackets? I love to see anyone wearing my jackets, if they like them then that’s great. I put my heart into each one.
You’ve recently started painting shoes as well, what do you plan to put your mark on next? I am doing bags and more shoes and who knows! I really want to paint a car or a boat. It sort of questions again whether it is really art or fashion in the most simple sense…..
What’s your favourite thing to do? I really like eating, talking to my friends and talking about myself – not at the same time.
Text: Laura Chatterton
Photography: George Harvey
Styling: Hazel Ong
