Britain

Designer Diaries – Althea McNish and Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth

“Designing, for me, is part of me. It’s not just something that I acquired as a means to an end. I breathe and sleep and dream it.”Althea McNish Althea McNish was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, in 1924. She was the only child of a dressmaker and a teacher who was also… Continue reading Designer Diaries – Althea McNish and Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth

Britain

Designer Diaries – Duchess of Cornwall and Anna Valentine

Is it floaty? Is it flowy? Is it worn by the Duchess of Cornwall? It's probably an Anna Valentine design. In 1986, after meeting in a pattern-cutting course, Anna Valentine and Antonia Robinson formed a small design studio in South London. They named it straightforwardly: Robinson Valentine. Anna was the creative engine powering the duo,… Continue reading Designer Diaries – Duchess of Cornwall and Anna Valentine

Britain · Rwanda

Designer Diaries – Kigali Fashion Show

In June, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall attended the 2022 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). One of the events that we were not able to cover during that busy month was Kigali Fashion week. There is a fashion show during the week, and the royal couple attended as part of their… Continue reading Designer Diaries – Kigali Fashion Show

Belgium

Designer Diaries – Queen Mathilde and Dries Van Noten

“I’m known for color and prints and embroideries. Normally the more clashing it is, the more that I like it!”Dries Van Noten, Vogue interview 2007 Yes, this casual looking fellow has designed clothes worn by Queens and movie stars. Born in 1958, Dries Van Noten was one of the "Antwerp Six" collective that debuted their… Continue reading Designer Diaries – Queen Mathilde and Dries Van Noten

France · Norway

Designer Diaries – Queen Maud and Callot Soeurs

In 1895 four sisters, Marie Callot Gerber, Marthe Callot Bertrand, Regina Callot Tennyson-Chantrell and Joséphine Callot Crimont, opened a modest, but elegant, fashion design house in Paris. It was by no means a frivolous enterprise. They came from a family of textile merchants and had grown up surrounded by beautiful designs and luxe fabrics. Their… Continue reading Designer Diaries – Queen Maud and Callot Soeurs