Kim West facts for kids

Kim Elizabeth Boome, known professionally as Kim West (born February 4, 1959 – died September 21, 2022), was a British fashion designer. She was famous for using latex in her clothing. Kim West was one of the first designers to make latex fashion popular for everyday wear.

Early Life and First Designs

Kim West was born in Gloucester, England, in 1959. Even though she didn't go to fashion school, she loved designing clothes for herself from a young age.

In 1984, she created a dress using latex. This unusual design got a lot of attention. People were so interested that she started making latex clothes for others too.

Making Latex Fashion Popular

Kim West's unique designs quickly became popular. Famous people like Adam Ant, Samantha Fox, and Tony James wore her clothes. But Kim wanted her designs to be worn by ordinary women, not just celebrities.

In 1986, one of her latex cowgirl dresses was featured on the front cover of a major newspaper magazine, the Telegraph magazine. This helped her designs reach a wider audience.

Opening Her Own Shop

In 1987, Kim West opened her first shop in Kensington Market in London. Her clothes started appearing regularly in popular magazines like ID and Sky Magazine.

Even though latex fashion was becoming more accepted, it was still seen as a bit unusual. Some news articles even commented on celebrities like Kylie Minogue wearing her designs.

Celebrities and Films

More famous people began to wear Kim West's latex clothes. This included TV presenter Janet Street-Porter, swimmer Sharron Davies, actress Helena Bonham Carter, and model Isabella Rossellini.

Her designs also appeared in movies, such as the 1986 film Mona Lisa. A famous costume designer named Sandy Powell also used Kim's clothes for dance groups.

New Techniques

Kim West was the first designer to print patterns directly onto latex. This was a very difficult and expensive process because latex is stretchy.

In 1988, she partnered with Jessamy Calkin to open a shoe shop called Heels of London. Even pop superstar Madonna bought shoes from their store. Kim West also made clothes for another well-known designer, Vivienne Westwood.

Later Years and Re-launch

In 1994, Kim West moved to Los Angeles, USA, but she returned to London in 2000.

Bringing Latex Back

In 2009, Kim West re-launched her clothing line online. By this time, latex fashion was much more accepted. The Telegraph newspaper wrote about her return, saying, "Twenty-five years after she pioneered the idea, Kim West is launching a new collection of latex clothing for the discerning female."

In a 1992 TV interview, a host asked Kim if women would be wearing latex to the supermarket by the time she was 60. She confidently replied, "Absolutely!" Kim West remained a unique designer, focusing mainly on latex clothing that people could wear every day.