Claire Joseph’s Spiral Collection brings a couture-level custom

fit to relaxed, everyday pieces - blending an architectural,

complex cutting technique with a minimalist, modern aesthetic.

Mentored by a protege of the iconic 20th-century designer

Charles James who invented complex draping and cutting

methods, Claire Joseph has been extending and perfecting this

spiral draping technique since the mid-1980s.

Many of her pieces are cut from a single pattern, darting and

seaming into a tailored garment. Unlike most garments cut on

either the straight or bias grain of the fabric, the spiral structure

cuts through multiple grains - from cross grain, to bias, to

straight grain, and back again. This allows the fabric to wrap

and conform to the body, creating body-enhancing forms that

naturally shape, without clinging or restricting.

The artisanal Spiral Collection is designed and produced

in Los Angeles. Materials and collaborations are globally

sourced. Using the client as inspiration, seams as sentences,

and cut as grammar, Joseph has developed a conceptual

collection of colour and shapes that fit to the body.

A multi-hyphenate artist and clothing designer, Joseph

graduated from UCLA and opened a studio in Los Angeles,

designing clothing and textiles for private clients, boutiques and

films. In 1988, Betye Saar, a friend and mentor, recruited

Joseph to collaborate on her “Shadow Song” series of 11

paintings on silk, including the seminal “Celestial Universe,” a

95” x 125” dye on silk, which is co-signed by Joseph.  Saar

encouraged Joseph to travel to Italy to pursue her aspiration of

working for Romeo Gigli, and in 1990, Romeo Gigli chose her

to be his colourist, developing and leading his hand dye,

painting, and Shibori studio in Milan. She also headed up

Gigli’s textile research and development, spanning couture

fabrics to outerwear. It was there she met and worked with

Alexander McQueen, and introduced him to the work of Charles

James and traditional women’s pattern making.

In 2000 - 2008, Joseph opened a store in Hollywood, and

then went on to work with prominent British artists Banksy,

Paul Insect; Antony Micallef, collaborating to build many of

their most ambitious sculptures and museum installations.

Joseph has fitted over 3,000 people. Using the client as

inspiration, she employs her signature spiral draping

techniques to create dresses for every occasion. She has

designed gowns for the Oscars, Emmys, and Golden

Globes. Her work includes casual and couture clothing,

oil paintings and water colors, textile art and interior

furnishings.