About Us
About the designer...
Tatum Kelly was born and bred in Johannesburg. After completing an honors degree in Fashion Design and a certificate in Fine art, she dedicated herself to teaching her craft at some of South Africa’s most prestigious Fashion institutions. She currently resides at the “Future Excellence design institute of South Africa” in Cape Town. Along with this she contributes to her own advancement in the field of fashion through her design studio “Paper doll” in Cape Town.
“Paper doll design studio” caters to the creation of “one of a kind”, exquisite garments with a young, fresh twist! The garments are perfectly molded to each client, pulling out all the stops in creating their dream outfit.
Specializing in corsetry, tailoring and eveningwear design, she certainly has what it takes to produce exactly what you require at the price that’s right for your budget too.
In 2009 “Paper doll Design studio” expanded into creating Burlesque, Belly dancing and other dance costume and accessories, for all those lovely creatures of dance-
What we have done...
Fashion design and garment construction
Since its establishment in 2007, Paper Doll design studio has interacted in a vast scope of fashion and art orientated projects.
Initially, we tested the waters by using our skills to help others, creating patterns from samples and grading by hand for numerous designer's ranges and shops including:
Simone Dumas- Eden wear
Online boutique specialising in latex garments for ladies and men, launch 2008
Lucy Van Wyk and Linda Weiffering- “Klere”
Fashion illustration for range corporate Identity, patternmaking and grading for Spring/Summer 2007 launch range
Catherine Moore
Spring /summer range 2007, sample patterns
Domanique Sable-“Crazy cloud clothing” (affiliated with Circus Ninja-Big Blue)
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5169769257&v=wall
Launch range patterns and sample garments for show
Caroline Krog- “Pandora’s Bra studio”
Swimwear range 2007 spring /summer
http://www.pandorabrastudio.co.za
Lynette Wert- “Ella”
Plus size woman’s wear sample patterns and grading
Tallulah’s Boutique Cavendish/ Fishhoek
Continuous contribution to the sampling and grading of shop garments from 2009 to present day.
Once established as a pattern and grading authority, Paper doll continued to cast its net wider, taking on private clients for matric dance garments, bridal wear and a wide selection of once off garments.
Working closely with the client to realise their dream garment while still remaining cognisant of their unique body type, colouring and fabric requirements.
Requests continued to flow in for off-beat clothing, picking up on this trend, Paper doll, in 2009 expanded into dance wear and costuming. This area of specialisation has manifested itself both in small; intimate projects, such as costuming burlesque dancers, as well as high profile events, such as the Loerie awards 2010 dancer’s outfits.
2010 saw many changes in the structure and focus of the ever growing Paper Doll brand, with the inclusion of creating corporate wear for various companies. This segment of the brand evolved almost organically, with the initial corporate projects involving many great names including:
The Cosira group- The dressing of the “Cosira Girls” for the launch of their newly built Steel mill, Vulcan, in Johannesburg.
Kuoni Private Safari, adjustment to staff clothing as well as construction of the director’s uniform.
First Resorts, uniforms for the Cape Town branches.
In addition, we have participated in the esteemed J&B Met 2010, outfitting the Cavendish mall managerial staff in custom made millinery.
Photography projects and creative collaborations
Since its creation, Paper Doll has prided itself on being in touch with its creative side; this is expressed most prominently with our extensive collaborations.
Since photography goes hand in hand with fashion design and with the networking possibilities of face book, we have been very fortunate to be able to interact with some of Cape Town’s talent in this area.
On a TFCD, or “Time for CD” basis, we have grouped together models, make-up artists, hairstylists, stylists, photographers and, of course, the clothing, in order to create amazing photo shoots.
We have worked with the following talented photographers since 2007:
Yvette De Beer- Innovate Photo- The “Innovate photo project Paper doll”
Derek Antonio Serra- The “Fashionata” project and the follow up, “Fantasion” project
Mark Freeborough- Mark freebs- The recycled paper dress project featured in One Small Seed’s online magazine “Picture This”, link below.
http://www.onesmallseed.com/newsletter_picThis06/news_pic_this06.html
Samantha Hanlon- Sunkissed Studio’s- The Touch of Madness Victorian corsetry shoot and the model portfolio shots
We are eternally thankful for their contribution to the face of “Paper Doll”
Fashion Illustration and Art
A continuous theme running through all our endeavours is one that embraces the playful, imaginative side of the brand. This is most explored through our love of fashion illustration and art, which we use as a cathartic tool and stress reliever. Whether or not the images are understood or even enjoyed by others is of no concern to Paper Doll’s head designer, Tatum Kelly, as they are a labour of love.
