Janet Kennedy (28 June 1934 - 8 July 2021) was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

print designer known for her work on childrenswear for Clothkits.

Biography

Kennedy was born to Stewart and Connie Eady in

Pinner Pinner is a London suburb in the London borough of Harrow, Greater London, England, northwest of Charing Cross, close to the border with Hillingdon, historically in the county of Middlesex. The population was 31,130 in 2011. Originally a med ...

Middlesex Middlesex (; abbreviation: Middx) is a Historic counties of England, historic county in South East England, southeast England. Its area is almost entirely within the wider urbanised area of London and mostly within the Ceremonial counties of ...

. She studied at the

North London Collegiate school North London Collegiate School (NLCS) is an independent school with a day school for girls in England. Founded in Camden Town, it is now located in Edgware, in the London Borough of Harrow. Associate schools are located in South Korea, Jeju I ...

under

Peggy Angus Margaret MacGregor Angus (9 November 1904 – 28 October 1993) was a British painter, designer and teacher. Born in Chile, she spent her career in Britain. Biography Early life Angus was born in Chile on 9 November 1904, in a railway station, t ...

. She then left to study sculpture at the

Edinburgh College of Art Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) is one of eleven schools in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Edinburgh. Tracing its history back to 1760, it provides higher education in art and design, architecture, histor ...

. Through Angus, Kennedy was introduced to artists in South-East England who were also interested in art for daily life. She established herself near

Lewes Lewes () is the county town of East Sussex, England. It is the police and judicial centre for all of Sussex and is home to Sussex Police, East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, Lewes Crown Court and HMP Lewes. The civil parish is the centre of ...

and in 1971, joined a local company, Clothkits, a mail-order known for its kits to make colourful and easy-to-make children's clothes, as well as accessories and toys. Clothkits expanded considerably during the 1970s, shaping British childrenswear fashion and establishing Kennedy's reputation as a pattern designer. Kennedy was married to Tyl Kennedy; they had four children.

References

British textile designers 1934 births 2021 deaths Children's clothing designers People from Pinner Alumni of the Edinburgh College of Art {{Fashion-bio-stub