Press Kit
Press Kit & Media Information
About
Twenty years of uncompromising gothic & alternative fashion - built from the inside out.
Kate's Clothing is one of the UK's longest-running independent retailers of gothic, punk, and alternative fashion. Founded in 2004 by Kate Whitegroatt - a Chemical Engineering graduate who chose obsession over convention - the business has grown from a passion project into a trusted destination for the alternative community worldwide.
Kate curates every item personally. She wears the clothes, lives the aesthetic, and has done for over two decades. If it doesn't meet her standard, it doesn't make the cut. No knockoffs, no trend-chasing, no compromise.
"I'd rather stay smaller and honest than bigger and hollow." - Kate Whitegroatt
Alongside established brands like Dark in Love, Punk Rave, and Killstar, Kate's Clothing develops its own in-house labels: Necessary Evil, a gothic fashion line moving toward UK-made production, and ANTIBrand, a bold made-to-order collection featuring original artwork on footwear and apparel.
The business is female-owned, founder-led, and resolutely independent. Kate has navigated four warehouse moves in five years, built a loyal international customer base, and remained stubbornly, unapologetically goth throughout.
At a Glance
What Makes Us Different
Founder-Curated, Always
Every product is personally selected by Kate - not an algorithm, not a buyer. She wears what she sells and has done for 20 years.
In-House Design
Necessary Evil and ANTIBrand are Kate's own labels - UK-made, original artwork, made-to-order to minimise waste and maximise individuality.
Size-Inclusive Range
Gothic fashion that fits. Styles stocked up to UK 26, with a dedicated size-filtering tool built into the site for easier shopping.
Community-First Retail
Free UK exchanges, a loyalty rewards programme, and customer service with a real human on the other end - often Kate herself.
Ethical & Sustainable Direction
Moving toward UK-based manufacturing for Necessary Evil. Made-to-order production for ANTIBrand and Gothic Attitude reduces overstock and waste.
Genuinely Alternative
Subculture isn't a marketing angle here. Kate has been part of the goth community her entire adult life. The authenticity isn't performed.
Press Coverage
Kate's Clothing has been featured in press spanning two decades - from a BBC feature at the business's founding to contemporary alternative culture media.
One of the earliest features on Kate's Clothing, published by BBC Birmingham at the business's founding - covering Kate's pivot from Chemical Engineering to gothic fashion retail.
FeatureNatasha Scharf - author of the definitive goth culture books Worldwide Gothic and The Art of Gothic - has featured Kate's Clothing on her blog and contributed a guest post to the Kate's Clothing site.
Author EndorsementLichfield Live July 2025Local news coverage of Kate's made-to-order footwear featuring Lichfield Cathedral - described as "a love letter to our city from someone who proudly calls it home."
Local NewsCrypt Magazine October 2025A full-length feature interview on Kate's homeware curation, the resilience behind two decades of indie retail, and how the business has stayed true to its roots through every logistical challenge.
Feature InterviewCurtis Allen December 2025Alternative wedding DJ Curtis Allen recommends Kate's Clothing for alt wedding guests, highlighting ANTIBrand boots as his personal DJ footwear - and noting he was a customer long before knowing Kate personally.
RecommendationRADGE Magazine February 2026Featured alongside bold independent British brands, with Kate quoted: "If it stops challenging norms, it stops being alternative, and then there's no point."
Editorial FeatureDownloadable Assets
All assets are available for use in editorial and press contexts with credit. High-resolution logos are available on request via the media contact below.
High-res logos available on request. All photography to be credited on use.
Media Contact
Get in Touch
For interview requests, product loans, image licensing, or any other press enquiry, please reach out directly to Kate. Response within one working day.