Expanding at his own pace.
Matthew Williamson has long been a favorite amongst style-setting, A-list “It” girls across the U.S. and Europe. His colorful patterns and exotic textures mark a signature style that graces the red carpets and fashion glossies. Since age 11, Williamson knew he wanted to become a fashion designer. After graduating from St. Martins in London, he had brief stints at Zandra Rhodes and Marni before setting up his own label in 1998 with his partner, Joseph Velosa. Without financial backing from a large fashion house, his celebrity friends make up for his lack of an advertising budget. As a one man dynamo, he is on the fast track to success, so what lies ahead? We’ll see this September…
You have always “broken the rules” when it comes to fashion. What type of woman do you have in mind when designing?
I try to think of lots of different women when designing so I don’t design clothes which are limited to one type of person. Some of the women I work with are friends and family, whilst other more famous women that I have collaborated with, such as Jade Jagger, Helena Christensen, and Kate Moss remain constant sources of inspiration when it comes to style. That’s when it works best of all, when the woman really gets what you do and needs no convincing. These 3 women are good examples of that.
Since I’ve been showing in New York fashion week, I’ve been working with more American women, such as Beyoncé Knowles, Madonna, Kirsten Dunst, Britney Spears, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Rachel Griffiths who all wear my line.
Every season you reinvent your collection, where do you find inspiration behind your bold color palettes and unique textures?
Traveling to places such as India, Mexico, Brazil, Thailand, Miami, and Bali always are great places for colour and pattern ideas.
Where do you see your line progressing in the future?
I hope to open a store next year, advertise, do a perfume and shoe line, and expand at my own pace. I’m learning to enjoy the freedom of being an independently owned fashion house. I want the clothes to become better each season and I’m focusing on my skills and refining them.
Can you give us a preview or hint at the theme of your upcoming Spring 04 collection?
It’s going to be really exotic and seductive with lots of great unusual colour combinations. It’s quite bohemian but in a new way, I hope.
What advice would you give to an aspiring fashion designer?
Realize that you’re not super human and get someone to help you out from the start as you can’t do it all alone. Write down a list of what you think you are good at and what you think you are bad at. The list of bad things are the things you need to find in someone else. Be careful what you wish for
– Hillary Latos
Reading by Lena, who has no idea this palm belongs to Matthew Williamson.
1. Extreme conflict between love of the feel and trappings of tradition and a desire to lead an extremely ecclectic lifestyle. They love the traditions they were raised in, but strongly want to live them in their own way. There will be issues here in how to live their own life their own way without ever letting anyone down.
2. Very free-thinking. They will think outside the box and find unique solutions to problems that arise.
3. For himself, he wants independence and fame. The conflict between this and his kinship ties should be interesting.
4. His heart is the strongest part of his personality. Leads with his heart first. His brain kicks in to explain it, but decisions are made by the heart.
5. A sweet and somewhat obedient child, rebellious only in his fantasies until rather late in his teen years. The rebellion was sublimated into his creativity. He has become accustomed to channeling his independence and rebellion into creative works and that is where it will show the most.
6. Very intelligent and perceptive. Able to both leap to the right conclusion and to explain why he has reached that conclusion from an intellectual viewpoint as well.
