Matthew Williamson – 10 Years In Fashion

Matthew Williamson is a unique success story within the British fashion industry. Setting out on his career as a fashion graduate with no financial backing in 1997, he now has his own store in the heart of Mayfair, and his acclaimed collections are worn by international celebrity clients.

2007 marks ten years of Matthew Williamson’s career in fashion, and to celebrate the Design Museum will hold a retrospective of his work from 17 October to 31 January 2008.

Matthew Williamson – 10 Years in Fashion will focus on the process and use of pattern, print and colour which have defined Williamson’s work. Centralised around 4 main themes: Colour and Psychedelia; Hyper-nature; Global extravaganza; and Lifestyle, the exhibition will feature iconic pieces from the past decade, including dresses made famous on the red carpet by Sienna Miller, Jade Jagger, Nicole Kidman and Kylie Minogue.

A specially commissioned film will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the energy and vision that goes into launching a new collection. Williamson’s sketchbooks will also be on display, providing an unparalleled insight into the way he has worked since his days as a fashion student, from an initial inspiration of a pattern, texture or colour, to the finished product worn on the catwalk.

Born in Chorlton, Manchester, Williamson grew up there until the age of 17, when he moved to London to study at Central St Martins. In the summer of 1997, a phone call to British Vogue led to meeting Plum Sykes, then fashion assistant at the magazine. Encouraged by her reaction to his ideas, Williamson created a women's wear collection which resulted in a September fashion show Electric Angels during London Fashion Week, in which Jade Jagger, Helena Christensen and Kate Moss agreed to model. The show was an immediate success.

Over the past 10 years Williamson's collections have continued to grow cementing his reputation as one of the UK's leading designers. He won Elle Designer of the Year 2004, has been nominated three times for British Designer of the Year, and in 2005 was awarded the prestigious Moet and Chandon Fashion Award. In 2005 Williamson became Creative Director at Emilio Pucci.

The Design Museum exhibition, sponsored by Coutts, will tour in spring 2008 to Urbis in Manchester.

Design Museum, Shad Thames, London SE1 2YD
Tickets: Adults £7; Students + Concessions £4; Free To Under 12s
Opening: 10.00-17.45 Daily. Last Admission: 17.15
Public Information: Designmuseum.Org