Martine Sitbon is a familiar name on the fashion scene. The French-Morrocan designer, who was once creative director of Chloe, made a name for herself in the 1980s and 90s with clothes that were inspired by rock music and later evolved into something more feminine as she started to experiment with textiles and decoration.
She built an empire with her name splashed across a range of products, from candles and menswear to shoes, handbags and watches. Just when it looked like she was poised for even bigger things, Sitbon announced in 2004 that she would be showing her last collection.
'We had to stop because it got difficult with my previous partner. Like everything, it got complicated,' she says.
'For me it was horrible, but looking back it was the best thing that [could have] happened. I kept running for 20 years. I hardly had time to stop and think. Things had changed, fashion had changed, the customer had changed.'
Sitbon had been in the industry for so long that it was hard to imagine her doing anything else. Born in Casablanca, she moved to France at a young age. As a child of the 60s, she would spend her days listening to music and visiting the flea market.
'Although fashion wasn't obvious to me from the start, I always loved to draw as a young girl. Fortunately, my big sister, who is 10 years older than me, recognised that I had talent. After school I didn't want to go to university and naturally my parents were upset,' she says.