Kit Willow Podgornik back with new label KITX two years after being fired from Willow, the brand she founded

THE founder of Willow, who in 2013 was abruptly fired from her eponymous brand two years after partnering up with Apparel Group, has ­­­­­­­­­­re-emerged with a new label.

Kit Willow is launching her new label KITX I'm after a photo of her. Picture by Chris Pavlich

KIT Willow Podgornik says she’s back “in the light” as she prepares to launch her new fashion line, KITX.

The founder of Willow, who in 2013 was abruptly fired from her eponymous brand two years after partnering up with Apparel Group, has ­­­­­­­­­­re-emerged with a new label five months after Fashion ­Confidential broke the news of her imminent return to the fashion fore.

“All I can say is 12 months makes a big difference,” she told Fashion Confidential yesterday from her Surry Hills studio. “In the deepest of darkness is the lightest of light and it was very clear to me what I needed to do. Even in that darkest of darkness it just felt further away than what it is now. I’m in the light now.”

Kit Willow is launching her new label KITX. Picture by Chris Pavlich

Designer Kit Willow (centre) with models at the end of the Willow fashion show during New York Fashion Week in 2008.

The designer will head to Paris in March to present her wares to European boutiques. She has already fielded interest from Australian department stores and is looking for a location for a retail store. She set a strong precedent for fast growth, with Willow being picked up by David Jones in its first season. The label is still stocked exclusively with the retailer.

Podgornik is not going it alone, either. MBP Advisory managing director Lawrence Myers and Melbourne barrister Laini Liberman listed as investors of KITX, which will launch its first collection in stores later this year.

The brand will consist of footwear and women’s ready-to-wear ranges, and has an ethical focus with Podgornik working with ­sustainability groups such as the Global Organic Textile Standard.

The Sydney-based ­designer said the reaction from her close friends and ­industry peers had been overwhelmingly positive since she shared the news.

“Everyone’s very excited and there’s a lot of positivity around it and support from every angle,” she said.

Podgornik said she had stayed “honest and true” to her signature design ­aesthetic, but had focused on using sustainable fabrics such as organic cotton, hemp and ethically-produced tencel and viscose. Jersey tees will be priced from $70-$80 with more intricate items such as dresses fetching up to $1500.

“I can only be honest and true to my design, where I lay my heart and soul and vision and create products with a great team. It is what it is and I think things find their own way.”

Podgornik settled out of court with the Apparel Group, which owns Willow, Saba, Sportscraft and Jag.

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