Designer Label

Int: In 1985, Barbara, you became British Fashion Designer of the Year after a swift rise to
fame: there can’t be many people who progressed from art college to their own labels in
such a short time. Is it still a thrill to see people dressed in clothes you have designed
yourself?

BB: Yes, it never stops really.

Int: Do you remember the first time it happened?

BB: Yeah, it was very funny because I was driving along a smart area in London and I saw
this woman walking along the pavement, and I screamed to a halt and wound my window down and
said, ‘Hello, what do you think of it?’ and she looked shocked —

Int: Complete stranger.....

BB: Yes — I didn’t know who she was at all — I can’t tell you how silly I felt and drove off in
complete confusion.

Int: Have you ever been tempted to watch shoppers?

BB: Yes — I was once actually shadowed by a store detective in London. I was delivering several bags
of garments when I noticed some woman picking something of mine off the rails and then going
along a bit further and picking about three or four other things. Then she went into the changing
room and I just couldn't bear not knowing whether she was buying mine or not, so I hung around — it
took her ages and eventually the store detective approached and asked if I required any help.

Int: _Loitering with intent to steal!

BB: Seemingly.

Int: But I suppose the other side of the coin is when someone puts something on and says,
‘This is awful!’ That must be very depressing.

BB: Well, you cant please everyone all the time...and they've got to look right in it and
you've got to tell them when they don’t, because otherwise they won't come back.

Int: Would you say the relationship between British manufacturers and designers is the
same as in other countries?

BB: I feel designers are valued more abroad where the trade’s quite different. The Italians for
example have worked out a two-tier system — which is better. They know that if they make 300
shirts to one design now, they’ll sell 10,000 of them in future. But here everything's geared to High
Street chain stores which have 5,000 jackets in one style. Then I come along and say, ‘Can you make
350 jackets to my design?’ and of coursethey don’t want to know because the pattern’s slightly more
complicated and not easy topush through a factory.