Antonia Campbell Hughes
Who? Dublin-based designer Antonia Campbell Hughes is a new name to watch in the fashion circuit. Known for her subversively dark yet sensual designs, the 24-year-old designer has built a loyal fan base that includes P.J. Harvey, Samantha Morton, Anna Friel and Charlize Theron.
How did it happen? 'It's funny because I was never into fashion when I was young,' says the designer (above left). 'In fact I was quite anti-fashion and I was into the rock and goth subcultures. I started creating my own clothes because I could not find things I liked and eventually I got into fashion design.'
Hughes attended a design college in Dublin and later moved to New York and completed various fashion design internships. In 2000 she launched her collection and has since expanded her label internationally. In the near future, the designer will be unveiling an accessories line that includes belts and shoes. She may also launch a menswear range.
What do the clothes look like? 'My clothes are generally quite androgynous,' she says. 'They are dark and conceptual.' The spring-summer collection, titled Vertebrae Wingspan, features deconstructed knitwear and intricate leather pieces inspired by the exoskeleton of moths. 'I wanted to create the fragile nature of clothes when they are decomposed by moths and at the same time create pieces that are inspired by the physicality of moths.'
What hurdles does the designer face?
'The biggest difficulty with being in fashion is that you have to realise it is a business at the end of the day. It's really about being creative but also maintaining market awareness and learning the trade day by day.'
Where are the clothes available? Antonia Campbell Hughes is available at Ztampz in Hong Kong (tel: 2882 3856), Naked in Los Angeles, Bond 07 in New York, Rico in Tokyo and Surface to Air in Paris.
