are numerous – not least for those just beginning their careers, both indebted to rocketing student loans and facing the economic uncertainty of starting a business from scratch. But London’s designers, particularly the young, are resilient; the city’s historic impulse to survive plays out in ever more resourceful, and inventive, ways.chief critic, gathered four such designers to talk about the future of fashion at London’s V&A museum.
“Now, working a lot directly with private clients – women artists, especially in Ireland – I can deal with people I admire and like. I’m friends with these women, we socialise, we have a lot of the same interests... but I’m straight with them, I ask for money up front. If you’re straight with people they have more respect for you.”
Matty is wearing a vintage corset from National Theatre Costume Hire, printed long-sleeved T-shirt dress by Matty Bovan, and vintage ruffle-collar blouse from“I teach up north, and teach in London; I do collaborations to help with income. When I left college I immediately started illustrating for people, even though I didn’t specifically study it. I think they call it being a polymath.
“It means there is more than one way of doing things: I love make-up and beauty, I love styling. I’ve done modelling, which is funny because that’s very different. Rottingdean Bazaar, I modelled for them, and they are very good at that polymath thing. I think we saw a lot of designers who we became friends with, or interned for, that went under badly – you know, like serious money, serious problems – so we were like no, we can’t let that happen to us.
“For me, I have a very straightforward thing – when I’m in Paris at the showroom and the buyers come in, I always feel like if I can be a friend to this person, if I could go for a drink with them and not talk about fashion and have a human connection, then that’s the critical thing. They’re going to be the ambassadors for your brand, when the sell through is not good are they going to pick it up and try and push it, re-merchandise it, believe in you.