DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT: Cat Swanson

Designer Catherine Swanson was born in Agana, Guam, but spent most of her childhood in Port Arthur, Texas. During her teens, Swanson, influenced by her parents (an artist mother and a physician father), manifested an appreciation for the medical as well as the fine arts.

In her early college career, at the University of Texas at Austin, Cat focused on language, studio art, and pre-medical studies. It was not until her third year that fashion became her main point of interest.

Maturing as a young artist and designer, Cat enhanced her studies by completing coursework at both Central St. Martin's and Oxford University in England. Upon gaining both a B.S. degree in Fashion Design and B.A. degree in English from the University of Texas, Catherine moved to London to work under leading British designer, Arkadius.

While in the United Kingdom, in 2002, Cat was invited to be one of 20 international designers (including Betsey Johnson and Julien MacDonald) to design an ensemble for the BMG 'Elvis Inspired' fashion auction held at Sotheby's in London.

In September 2003, Cat Swanson debuted her first collection, Tiger Lily, which premiered at 7th on Sixth in Bryant Park. The collection garnered much attention from the fashion industry with a full page article in The New York Times which lead up to the show. Tiger Lily received rave reviews from WWD and Papermag.com as well as major editorial credits in Gotham, Blackbook, Glamour, Spin, Clear, Planet, Brilliant, Vegas, and Fader magazines. A myriad of music industry celebrities, including Liz Phair, Lil' Kim, and Britney Spears have been seen wearing Cat Swanson designs.

Although the future seemed bright on the forefront, tragedy struck close to home. After surviving a plane crash in Florida on Thanksgiving Day that took the life of her father, Cat Swanson returned to New York to present "Imminent Storm," her Fall/Winter 2004 collection, this season, introducing designs in fur. The collection again received positive reviews in publications such as The New York Times, Brilliant Magazine, WWD, and Fashion Wire Daily, as well as on Fashion Television.

September 2004, Cat Swanson continues to expand sales nationwide with the latest collection, "Quetzal", inspired by the bright colors and free spirit of South America. Returning once again to New York during Olympus Fashion Week, the Cat Swanson Spring/Summer 2005 collection received wonderful reviews in write-ups from Fashion Windows, Fashion Wire Daily, and WWD.

The Cat Swanson current collection is selling at high end boutiques across the nation and is being represented by M. Shlafer Associates in New York.

www.catswanson.com