How sensational is it to be able to wear one piece of clothing eight different ways? I’m sure I’d get all twisted up, but would have fun trying.

Not all of fashion designer Karen Lee’s garments are this versatile, but many are. Indeed, a piece from her new collection, to be launched at FASHFEST on Friday 3 May, will be seen on the runway three times, with a different look each time (my bet is that guests won’t be able to pick it, which is, after all, the whole point).

To me this is not only innovative design it represents great value-for-money for those who find Karen’s style a perfect fit.

Karen is a passionate soul who is tremendously excited about showcasing her work at FASHFEST. ‘The event is giving a voice and an outlet to many designers,’ she says. ‘It’s providing a different aspect to what Canberra is, taking away from the public service image the city has. And it’s always good seeing your clothes on models. They bring out the important three-dimensional aspect.’

Having graduated with a Degree in Design (Fashion) from Canberra Institute of Technology in 2008, Karen has stayed in Canberra, focusing on creating two small collections a year along with a number of one-off pieces under her independent label ‘Karen Lee’. These one-off pieces are created with fabric that would otherwise become scrap. ‘Very often my collections include an exciting combination of new and old fabrics plus created textiles,’ she says.

I love Karen’s designs for their simplicity. ‘I sell at the Handmade Market and to make it work for me my designs have to be pared back so they don’t take a long time to make,’ she explains. ‘But they also have to be sophisticated and appealing to the wearer.’

Don’t let the word ‘simplicity’ fool you, however. There’s always a twist with Karen’s designs and you can bet your bottom dollar it’s complex to create a garment you can play with eight different ways.

Karen’s experimental pieces are just as intriguing as the way she makes them. She’s a knitter and has knitted a scarf with her arms, instead of knitting needles (which she says is easy to do once you ‘get the hang of it’ although it’s left me scratching my head). The one included in her current collection is a grey colour with blue and white (top right) tones in it, which makes it look silver in some light. And she has created another experimental scarf from a piece of fine cotton that she has stitched to create (above left) a bubbly effect.

A former technical writer, Karen decided on a career change. After thinking through her options—architecture, interior design or fashion—she ended up in the world of style and creating garments for the female form. ‘For me it’s about designing quality, well-made clothing that enhances changing body shapes,’ she says. ‘My inspiration is drawn from life experiences, observations and technical knowledge.’

The Karen Lee label is about designs for the consumer, not about following the current trend.