Academic Inspiration.

Though I had developed a strong interest in couture. The collection that fuelled my academic interest and it would be fair to say along with Alastair Blair’s kind invitation, was John Galliano Spring-Summer 1988. It was the most incredible collection and the most interesting and accomplished way to present clothes. Sitting at home, I didn’t care for anything else in the world, I was reading W magazine. In those days it was a broadsheet paper and I marvelled at the clothes, I just couldn’t get enough of them. The colour palette, the checks, the bows, the attitude of it all. It really blew me away and was very deeply emotional for me. The technique was flawless and it changed the way you thought or approached designing even a simple skirt or blouse. Very much akin to the way Rei Kawakubo also did at the time. The article in W-Magazine was a full pager with quotes from industry luminaries about the collection. Such was its gravitas it earned pride of place on my wall and was also the catalyst for my application to Central Saint Martin’s School of Art.