CATHERINE WALKER (1945 - 2010)
Catherine Walker was born in France in 1945. Following a Master's degree in Philosophy from the Universities of Lille and Aix-en-Provence, she visited London, but stayed longer than
she expected after meeting and marrying a young English solicitor John Walker. Following a tragic accident in 1975 she was widowed with two baby girls.
She began her commercial life the following year in 1976 selling clothes from a basket walking up and down the Kings Road in Chelsea, while studying at night to become a designer. At
the British Fashion Awards in 1990 she was awarded Designer of the Year for Couture and again in 1991 Designer of the Year for Glamour.
Catherine Walker always remained an anomaly in the fashion world – no formal training, shunning the limelight and never showing her collections on the runway.
CATHERINE WALKER & CO
Following Catherine Walker's death in September 2010, her partner, husband, and co-founder of the company Said Ismael took over as Design Director of Catherine Walker & Co. Following an expansion of the company in 2011, the company is now celebrating its 35th anniversary year and continues to enjoy its role as a leading British couture house.