Today we’d like to introduce you to Katherine Williford.
Hi Katherine, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
After pursuing a BA in Fashion Design at SCAD, I began working at a mall brand as a designer for tops and sweatshirts. Pretty quickly, I became disenchanted with corporate fashion. There was a huge lack of transparency but, most of all, I missed the comforting tasks of patternmaking, cutting and sewing real clothing. I left the job after two years and decided to travel through Europe, unsure about next steps my career. I ended up in Budapest, Hungary, where I found a thriving creative scene. I was able to secure a self-employment visa by starting my brand, Pamut (which means cotton in Hungarian). I began cutting, sewing, and screenprinting tees out of my small flat in the city center. It was exhilarating to create clothes for real customers! After three years in Budapest, I moved back to my hometown of Raleigh. Pamut has always centered around local production and natural fibers, and has grown to be a size-inclusive business (XS-4X) with both direct and wholesale customers all over the US. Pamut also offers custom tailoring, allowing customers to achieve a perfect fit with any garment.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest struggle I’ve had as a designer and brand owner has been maintaining the brand while transitioning to motherhood. I had my daughter in 2023, six years after moving back from Budapest. My time is a lot more valuable now than when I first started Pamut, and I split it between home and work. I had to learn to rely more heavily on my employees at work to properly execute and ship our garments. I’ve also had to emotionally step back from a lot of aspects of the business (social media in particular) in order to be a more present mom. I’m due with my second in November and expect a fresh new set of challenges!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At Pamut, our mission is to craft classic garments that fit our customers perfectly. We use only luxe, natural fibers (linen, silk, hemp, and cotton) for our garments, allowing for breathable pieces that last for years.
I’m so proud that we’re able to make all of our pieces to order right here in our Raleigh studio. This gives us the ability to tweak sizing and customize our styles based on customer measurements. As far as I know, we are one of the only brands in the US offering both custom and standard fit garments for sizes all the way up to 4X!
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Many people are surprised to find out about Pamut’s Hungarian origins (It usually only comes up when customers ask what “Pamut” means)! From my time in Budapest, I learned Hungarian, picked up tons of delicious traditional recipes, and made amazing friends that I still keep in touch with. The city of Budapest will always have a part of my heart.
Pricing:
- All garments are laundered and preshrunk
- Garment pricing $128-$386
- We do offer private studio appointments upon request
Contact Info:
- Website: https://pamutapparel.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/pamutapparel
