AFTER 14 years making headlines for others, PR consultant Katy Barraclough is trading gatekeeping for shopkeeping with the launch of her online store.

Haykin, which opens today, is a celebration of its founder’s fascination with bold, bright colours and her affection for simple, timeless design. The Ilkley store features a vibrant collection of homewares and style finds, which have been discovered in all corners of the globe, as well as closer to home.

Through local and global sourcing, Haykin aims to represent designers, makers and small brands that share an aesthetic that is joyful by colour and dynamic by design.

Since leaving her job as a PR consultant, Katy has spent the past ten months passionately pursuing products for the store. From trade fairs in Stockholm, Paris and Amsterdam to Instagram and Pinterest marathons, the search for goods of colour and simplicity has uncovered an inspiring group of designers, makers and independent brands that are fresh, exciting and, in some cases, new to the UK.

“Nothing beats the thrill of finding an inspiring new brand or work you have never seen before so, where possible, I have tried to keep this in mind when sourcing stock,” said Katy.

This drive to find little-known brands has already paid off with the launch of Odd Pears socks from Australia’s Gold Coast. Haykin will be one of the first UK retailers to sell these fun, colour-loaded odd socks, which come in myriad colours and patterns.

Speaking about the driving force behind Haykin’s aesthetic, Katy added: "My pre-occupation with colour, pattern, form and function dates back to my late teens as an art student in Bingley, discovering artists like Mondrian and Saltaire icon, Hockney. I was particularly enamoured with Hockney’s use of bold, brave pastel colours and, for me, his work transformed my appreciation of art: I saw that it could be playful and exciting while still telling a story.

“With Haykin, I wanted to create a store that echoed this balance of colour and purpose: the bolds, brights and pastels bring personality and intrigue but a clean, clever design style ensures everything is useful and, where possible, timeless.”

Visit haykinshop.com or follow the store’s latest news and updates via its blog blog.haykinshop.com, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram @haykinshop.