About Karen Cohen

After Graduating with a Degree in Fashion Design in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Karen Youngs started her design career in 1985, in London, working for an exclusive boutique in Beauchamp Place, Knightsbridge, designing ball-gowns, cocktail wear and tailored suits.  She was then approached by an International company, based in Hong Kong, to design men’s and ladies outerwear and lingerie, from their Studio on Great Marlborough Street, in what had previously been Karl Lagerfeld’s studio.

Her specialised knowledge and interest in stretch fabrics, took her to Courtaulds, where she designed swimwear and beachwear for a number of leading UK retailers, including Knickerbox, Next, BHS, River Island and Tesco.

In 1990, Karen was promoted Head of Design for swimwear and activewear with Gossard, based in Cape Town, South Africa. With responsibility for international markets, specifically Italy, the UK, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Finland, and the South African home market, she designed under many brands, including Gossard, Hang Ten and Rhythm.

In 1992, she was invited to become the first fashion designer to design and manufacture the entire swimwear range for Miss South Africa Contestants.

Karen then spent a year in Milan, before being coaxed back to the UK by William Baird, to develop swimwear and other Lycra based garments.

In 1994, Karen was appointed Design Director of Capital Leisurewear, a Leicestershire based company, manufacturing ladies and children’s swimwear, activewear and leisurewear.

She married in 1999, changing her name to Karen Cohen, has a daughter and lives in a village near Nottingham

Having enjoyed many years, working closely with leading UK retailers, including BHS, Next, Tesco, Boots and George Clothing, she has established herself as an extremely busy freelance designer in Nottingham.

During the last 5 years, she has designed exclusive swimwear ranges for M & S and Boots and high fashion trims for many leading manufacturers and retailers in the UK, Continental Europe and South America. Sophisticated embelishment and jewellery design has been the inspiration for her recent work and her research involved travelling extensively around Europe, the USA and The Far East.

On 13th November 2010, Karen realised her lifelong ambition and opened a Boutique and design studio, selling an exclusive range of quality garments, accessories and jewellery, alongside a small range selected from specialist manufacturers, that compliment her own designs