1. sewmag.co.uk 13
sew LIVING
ZANDRARHODES
Sew meets
AT AN EXCLUSIVE VISIT TO HER PENTHOUSE, THE ICONIC FASHION DESIGNER
SHARES THE INSPIRATION BEHIND HER NEW FABRIC COLLECTION, LACE MOUNTAIN
Zandra Rhodes feature_Layout 1 27/11/2014 11:22 Page 1

2. 14 sewmag.co.uk
When the day arrived, we hopped on a train
to Bermondsey, London to where Zandra lives
above the Fashion and Textile Museum, which
she founded in 2003. An unmissable building
designed by Mexican architect Ricardo
Legorreta, its vibrant orange exterior seemed
a fitting residence for the flamboyant designer.
As we stepped into what felt like a magical
compartment inside the fashion icon’s mind,
we were greeted by the Coats Crafts team and
handed a glass of Prosecco. The open space
was a sensory explosion of colours and textures;
every surface displayed some beautiful artefact
reflecting a thousand shades, intermingled with
exotic flowers, plants and other natural elements,
including Zandra’s stone collection which
contained a piece of the Berlin wall. “I don’t
believe there’s such a thing as clashing,”
Zandra told us.
The Lace Mountain
After mingling with the other guests, including
Sew columnist and super stitcher Stuart Hillard
who had created a stunning quilt for the occasion
using Lace Mountain fabrics, it was time to meet
the lady herself. Despite her iconic status, Zandra
was warm and genuine, and eager to tell us about
her inspiration for her collection. “My favourite
When the Sew team was invited to
meet Dame Zandra Rhodes at her
London penthouse for the launch of
her Lace Mountain fabric collection
for FreeSpirit, we pinged an RSVP of
acceptance back immediately. A living
legend of British fashion, Zandra is
recognised all over the world for her
trademark bobbed pink hair, bold blue
eyeshadow and her outlandish printed
textiles that have been influencing
global fashion for over 40 years. And
we’d been offered two golden tickets
to step inside the Princess of Punk’s
dream factory for a day.
print is the one with the Lace Mountain itself,
which is Ayers Rock in the middle of Australia;
this is where it all started,” she told us. “I first went
there in 1971 and they’d say ‘ah, that’s just Ayers
Rock’, as it wasn’t such a big deal in those days.
But I was lucky enough to go there and draw what
I saw. It has given me a good run for my money!
“Many of the motifs in my new fabric range
are derived from my vast repertoire. Coats Crafts
helped to adapt my ideas into prints that will
make up into fabulous quilts. I was pleased that
they had a clear vision. I always like to find out
where a company wants me to take a collection
as I’m not a quilter and could go down totally the
wrong path.”
Finding time
Zandra was introduced to the world of fashion by
her mother, a fitter for a Paris fashion house. “My
mother didn’t quilt, but in the holidays she either
knitted or did petit point. Sadly I don’t get time to
do much sewing now. I started a tapestry cushion
years ago, but it’s still only half finished. I thought
I’d do it every time I had friends round, but I’d
always want to be doing something else. I’d quite
like to go back to the beginning, because you’re
free to try all these things - all the restrictions
come later. I try to get myself away to think,
ZANDRA
RHODES
Sew meets
The designer strikes a pose for photographer Ant.
Editor Lorraine shares a joke with the fashion icon.
Zandra Rhodes feature_Layout 1 27/11/2014 11:22 Page 2

3. sewmag.co.uk 15
To view the full Lace Mountain range and to
find a stockist, visit www.makeitcoats.com
sew LIVING
Lace Mountain by
FREESPIRIT
Our top picks
but it gets harder and there are more and
more pressures.”
After so many years in the industry, we were
eager to find out how Zandra feels about the
ever-evolving digital side of design and branding.
“I do sketches, I do not use software,” she explains
passionately. “I drew these designs of Australia in
my sketchbook, it was sunrise and freezing cold
and I simply drew the rock. It developed as it did
because, if you draw, you see things you don’t
notice otherwise. I’m sure it’s similar to how
you get a piece of fabric and make the quilt.
It leads you on, it’s inspiration! I find computers
and email a distraction. Years ago, I could ignore
my mail, I could let it pile up. If it was a bill,
I could ignore it. Now it builds up in front of
you every day and it doesn’t necessarily mean
anything. I don’t know how people find the
time for technology.”
To inspire, and be
inspired
Zandra’s talents do not stop at fashion and printed
textiles, with numerous collaborations with other
prestigious brands, from Royal Doulton to Mac
cosmetics. But how does she decide what to put
her name to? “Most of the time the brand will go
to my agent to see if I’d be interested in doing it,
1, Solar
3, Tribal
4, Midnight
2, Solar
5, Midnight
then we work it from there. I believe if you
can’t stand up and say ‘that’s my work’, then
what are you bothering for? My passion stays
alive because I have faith in what I’m doing
and want to see it printed. Seeing people in
my designs – that’s great!”
Having spotted Zandra at Graduate Fashion
Week this year, we asked how she felt about
supporting young design talent. “I think they need
encouragement. This country leads the world in
design and it’s not easy.”
Despite being 74 years old, Zandra doesn’t
seem to be slowing down. “I need to finish off a
catwalk collection for tomorrow,” she tells us, as a
girl runs up from her studio on a lower level for
the designer to approve sketches. “I’ve also got
Andrew Logan’s Alternative Miss World this
weekend, then I fly to California to do the show,
fly back here and add to it, then go to Kuala
Lumpur as I have been asked to do a collection
there, too. My partner decided to retire to live
by the sea in California – out of every month
I usually spend three weeks there and just
one here.”
We look forward to more fabric collections
from Zandra Rhodes and FreeSpirit in the near
future and hope we get to meet up with the lady
herself again soon. In the meantime, we can’t
wait to get stitching with Lace Mountain!
A bespoke chandelier by Andrew Logan.
Zandra’s favourite Lace Mountain print, 1, Solar.
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4. 16 sewmag.co.uk
Inside
ZANDRA’S
worldWetookasneakpeakaroundthe
designer’sLondonapartment,
here’swhatwefound...
Editor Lorraine and Deputy Steph
pose with the great lady herself.
Zandra’s apartment is an
Aladdin’s cave of gifts and
artefacts she has collected over
decades of travelling, including
a piece of the Berlin wall as
part of her rock collection.
Zandra’s penthouse features
many mosaic pieces by sculptural
artist and self-proclaimed
eccentric, Andrew Logan.
We met up with Sew columnist
Stuart Hillard, who designed
this gorgeous quilt using the
Lace Mountain range.
“I believe if you
can’t stand up and
say ‘that’s my
work’, then what
are you bothering
for? My passion
stays alive
because I have
faith in what I’m
doing and want to
see it printed”
Zandra Rhodes feature_Layout 1 27/11/2014 11:23 Page 4