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The creative

Name Kirsten Hecktermann Job Title Textile creator and consultant Qualifications Trained chef, retrained in textiles through short courses and research. Career History Defeat into triumph – it’s a standard plot device and a key element in the story of Kirsten Hecktermann’s career. Brought up in Kenya, questions of finance and perhaps the desire to thwart familial expectatations meant Kirsten chose catering college over university. Once qualified she applied for a catering job on the set of “Out of Africa” only to be told “women were not employed to cook, it was men only”. She left the office feeling, to put it politely, a little peeved and with no idea what, or more specifically who, was just around the corner. She literally walked into Wardrobe Master Kenny Crouch who, with the kind offhand inquiry that can change a whole life, asked her if she could sew. The films Kirsten worked on over the next 10 years give an idea of the impact of that chance meeting: Mission Impossible, Carrington and Road to Wellville. Returning to England Kirsten supplemented her existing knowledge with “hours and hours in Chelsea Library”. The research aspect of life in a costume department was fascinating – the learning curve almost vertical – but on-set politics and the sheer extravagance of the industry meant Kirsten decided to shift her focus. Her sister Joan, who just happened to work at World of Interiors, called on Kirsten’s fine sewing skills to help on photoshoots. Concepts were diverse and Kirsten relished the chance to turn her hand to the creation of anything from a Napoleonic tent to a Flamenco dress. Around the same time she began designing cushions and textiles. Nurturing her own business is the latest stage in Kirsten’s career evolution. It’s founded on her belief that adaptability and a willingness to keep learning are essential – staying still is clearly not an option. Alternative design paths Stylist, trend forecaster, interior or fashion designer, colourist, illustrator, photographer

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Bill Batten