About Christa Davis

Born in London, Christa graduated from Newcastle Polytechnic with a degree in Fine art in 1991. After returning to London, she became a regular stall holder at Portobello Road Market, originally selling period homeware and vintage clothing.

Christa took a studio and started customising vintage clothes, creating an original deconstructed look that was to become part of a ground breaking new movement in fashion.

As she became more established she opened her  second studio as a shop in West London where she became particularly renowned for her vivid use of colour and hand dyed luxurious fabrics, combining modern fabrics with vintage designs. Her clothes were also stocked in pioneering boutiques such as The Cross and Koh Samui, London.

It was at this time that Natalie Massenet, formely at Tatler, discovered Christa’s work and helped her to take it world wide. Christa’s clothes were regularly featured in the fashion press including Vogue & Harpers Bazaar as well as many international publications and she was also stocked by leading department stores such as Saks 5th Avenue New York and Joyce of Hong Kong.

In 1996 she opened her shop on All Saints Road, which proved hugely successful and by 2000 she had been selected as part of Vogue’s Class Of 2000; their choice of the new Millennium’s most important and talented fashion innovators. She was also chosen as part of the Invasion of the British, one of six British designers including Galliano, Alexander McQueen and Elspeth Gibson, chosen by Saks 5th Avenue as the best in British Fashion.

In 2000 she became pregnant and took the decision to close the shop to concentrate on her family.

Christa has continued to design and develop ideas, and recently launched four new labels, Christa Davis (a continuation of her women’s wear) Little Davis and Baby Davis (original children’s clothes made from vintage fabrics and reconditioned cashmere) and Davis Lost and Found (accessories, homeware and vintage clothing).

Christa is concerned that her business has as low an impact on the environment as possible and makes many of her clothes from recycled fabrics and operates a fair trade policy, manufacturing in the UK and Europe.

Christa now sells her clothes directly to her customers from her studio now based in Hackney, as well as through her web site. She has also recently embarked on the new phenomena of selling in customers homes, bringing her designs to women whose professional and family commitments make it difficult for them to find time to shop.

She currently lives in Hackney, with her family.